Drew Ellen Stewart kept her momentum rolling at the 2026 Patriot, delivering a pair of consistent runs to win the 19 & Under Goat Tying Semifinals and punch her ticket to Sunday’s finals.
The 17-year-old standout stopped the clock in 6.23 seconds in the opening round before backing it up with a 6.21 in the short go, securing the average title with a 12.44 on two head. Her win added nearly $4,000 to her Patriot earnings and capped a dominant week in the goat tying pen.
“It was a good run,” Stewart said of her first run. “My horse worked good and I just tried to slow down on my tie and put a good, legal tie on.”
Entering the short round as second high call behind friend and fellow contender Wacey Trujillo, Stewart focused on being aggressive while staying deliberate on the ground.
“I just wanted to get down there fast and be real direct,” Stewart said. “The goat strained a little, which worried me, but it stayed down and I was thankful for that.”
Stewart’s consistency throughout the week has been unmatched. She also topped the 19 & Under Last Chance Qualifier and claimed the 3D Open Goat Tying win earlier in the week, pushing her Patriot winnings past $10,000 before the championship round even begins.
A former barrel horse now turned high-octane goat horse has played a major role in her success. The athletic mount has handled a demanding schedule across events, matching Stewart’s track honed speed and helping her stay competitive in one of the fastest goat tying lineups of the year.
With the finals looming—and a potential six figure bonus on the line—Stewart plans to bring out her signature cheetah-print shirt, a tradition she reserves for big moments.
“If there’s a big finals, the cheetah shirt is coming out,” Stewart said.
