Solo Select founder Melanie Smith joins The Score 30 days out from the second Solo Select Rope Horse Futurity, Sept. 30–Oct. 1 at Circle T Arena in Hamilton, Texas, where a minimum $620,000 in added money is on the line for 4-year-olds in heading, heeling, breakaway and tie-down.

Smith explains where the added money comes from (a cut of every 2026 breeding fee), what makes a horse eligible (one paid contract to a nominated stallion equals one entry, any sire), and how the 40/60 payout works: every entry runs for the 40% contract pot, offspring of Solo Select stallions that make the short round draw the 60% sire pot, and unclaimed sire-pot money rolls back to contract holders. She also makes the case for the clean-slate finals, the $50,000-added Intermediate on each end, and the long-term goal of the whole program: making yearlings, 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds worth more money.

The second half gets into managing junior stallions—setting Third Edge’s fee, why hype doesn’t matter if the babies don’t win, and why Solo Select breeds its own mares to its young horses—plus the cutting, cow horse and $100,000 recipient mare incentives.

Entries close Sept. 28. Enter through ARHFA. Breeding questions: Solo Select stallion office, (903) 436-6615.