Josie Conner continued her season-long momentum at the 2025 Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway Finals on Wednesday night, Dec. 18, earning $45,000 across Rounds 1–3 inside Westworld’s Equidome.
Conner opened the Finals with a second-place finish in Round 1, stopping the clock in 2.07 seconds to earn $20,000, then came back strong in Round 3, where she posted the fastest run of the night—a 1.78-second effort—to claim the round win and another $25,000.
After missing in Round 2, Conner said her focus entering the Finals was less about pressure and more about embracing the opportunity in front of her.
“We really don’t get opportunities like this,” Conner said. “You could come in with a bunch of pressure—you’ve worked so hard at this, you really need to capitalize—or you can look at it like I choose to: I did all the hard work to get here. I’ve proven I should be here. Now it’s time to go have fun and let all this hard work show for itself.”
Conner credited both preparation and confidence in her horse, Dutch, for her sharp performance on Night 1. After a brief break from competition leading into Scottsdale, she felt the timing worked in her favor.
“I think it ended up working out good for me because I did spend a lot of time at home and was really prepared,” Conner said. “As long as you have the mental aspect of it, and confidence in yourself and your horse and your ability, it makes the rest easy.”
Round 3 proved pivotal, as Conner rebounded from her no-time in Round 2 with a decisive run that showcased both execution and trust in her horse.
“I really knew I needed to try the barrier in Round 3,” Conner said. “It ended up being an excellent calf, and because I hit the barrier so well, the calf was right there—and Dutch did what Dutch does—and we won the third round.”
As Conner looks ahead to nights two and three, she plans to keep roping fast—as long as the throw makes sense.
“I stacked up a bunch of money on the first day, and I’m not saying I’m changing the game plan,” Conner said. “I really just want to make the best run I can every time. If the round win isn’t there, you’ve just got to be smart and get one caught.”
With multiple rounds still to come and average money on the line, Conner remains firmly in contention as the Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway Finals roll on through the week.
