Baker and Sevens topped the 6-&-Under Heading, backing into the box cold in the short round to mark the high score of the day and take the title.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” Baker said. “I kept him home, kept him fresh, and brought him out when it mattered.”
Sevens Hank 2: He’s Backkkkk
Sevens Hank 2 is a full brother to Sevens Star Glo, the horse Cade Rice rode to back-to-back ARHFA world titles. Matt Liston and Bob Tonkin owned the horse, and Baker picked him up in a trade involving part ownership of Relentless PYC—the winningest show horse of 2024 (“Nala”).
“He just has a lot of expression,” Baker said. “He runs hard, stays flat and never elevates through your hand. He pulls down into the bridle the way you want one to.”
Baker hauled Sevens as a 5-year-old, picking up wins at Buckeye and rounds at Scottsdale and Houston. After Houston, the horse came up sore, and vets found a small chip in his ankle. The vet took it out, and Baker gave Sevens the rest of the season off.
“The vet said it wasn’t a big deal, but we needed to take it out,” Baker said. “It was late enough in the year I figured I’d just ease him around until it was time to show him again.”
Sevens had been sound for months before Ardmore, but Baker stuck to the plan.
“He’s just so good that I wanted to save him for the bigger ones,” Baker said. “I said from the start I was going to crack him out at Ardmore and then take him to Guthrie for the Royal Crown before the big show in Utah.”
At the Oil Can Classic, Sevens stayed consistent through four runs. His short-round trip topped the charts—not because he did anything different, but because he stayed the same when the pressure was up.
“When a horse backs in the box after three runs, stands there cold, runs hard, stays pure through the turn and faces sharp, the judges notice that,” Baker said.
Sevens stayed under Baker’s saddle even after Trevor Brazile’s shoulder surgery.
“We both were riding him at first, but Trev was getting ready for shoulder surgery, so I kept him going,” Baker said. “After that, he was just part of my crew.”
Standing next to Baker, Brazile added with a grin, “We like winning first, not second.”
@Miles Baker and 6-year-old gelding Sevens Hank 2 won the Futurity Heading at the ARHFA Oil Can Classic in Ardmore, worth $10,338.50 for a 912.08 on four head. Sevens Hank 2 is by CSR Dual Glo out of Sevens Tootsie Time by Hes Dun His Time. Baker used the @Cactus Ropes Future for his win and you KNOW his horses are all eating @Equinety and using @Cactus Saddlery Relentless pads… annnnd Brock Hanson heeled with his @FastBackRopes. (It’s a given Miles was under his @resistol1927 too.)
In Baker’s lineup, Relentless PYC has long been the standout—finishing 2024 as the high-money futurity mare in the business, having won the $50,000 4-year-old Futurity at the Old West in Utah and picking up titles all year long. But Baker said Sevens could push her this year.
“If Nala’s at her best, she should win anywhere,” Baker said. “But honestly, I think that bay’s going to be hard to get around this year.”
Sevens hasn’t been shown much, giving him a freshness judges notice.
“He’s something new,” Baker said. “Judges haven’t been seeing him a bunch yet, so he’s going to catch their attention.”
Keeping Sevens Sharp
Baker and Brazile often talk about how expression fades as rope horses age. But Sevens came back from his time off looking sharp.
“He’s got the mind of an older horse but still has that younger-horse expression,” Baker said. “He stands there cold and fires. That’s what wins.”
What’s Next
Sevens will head to the Royal Crown in Guthrie, Oklahoma, before the Gold Buckle Futurity and the Old West Futurity in June.
“He’s a great horse,” Baker said. “If I just stay out of his way, he’ll do the rest.”
