Riata paid out the final installments of its Stallion Incentive Bonus on Dec. 20 at the Kimes Million Dollar Breakaway in Scottsdale, distributing $30,000 to breakaway ropers across the Last Chance Qualifier and Million Dollar rounds.
Riata payouts began in the Last Chance Qualifier, where Desi Dotson posted the fastest time among six competitors riding Riata horses. Dotson clocked a 7.10 on two head aboard Goldie Hawns Diamond, by Metallics Malice, to earn a $10,000 Riata bonus.
Three ropers riding Riata horses advanced to the Million Dollar semifinals. When none of the three qualified for the finals, the remaining $20,000 in Riata bonus money was awarded based on the fastest semifinal times.
Alyssa Bigon earned the top Riata bonus in the semifinals with an 8.52 on three head aboard Tragicepicamazing, a Riata mare by TFouroverdrivinnfame. Bigon collected $10,000 for the fastest Riata time.
Landry Haugen followed with the second-fastest Riata time, earning $6,000 aboard Savvy This, by Metallic Cat.
Dotson finished third in the Riata standings with her semifinal run, adding $4,000 to the $10,000 she won in the qualifier aboard her Metallic Malice mare.
A potential twist nearly reshaped the entire Riata payout. Beau Peterson, one of the top 10 breakaway ropers in the world and an invitee directly to the finals, did not compete on her Riata horse during the event.
Peterson had recently earned a check on TLC Dulce Kat at Oklahoma’s Richest Breakaway and needed just one successful finals run on a Riata horse to claim the full $20,000 bonus. Without that run, the semifinals times determined the payout.
From Oklahoma’s Richest through the Last Chance Qualifier and into the semifinals, Riata awarded bonus money to ropers competing on Riata horses. Across multiple events and formats, Riata continued its commitment to supporting breakaway ropers.
