Macie-Rae Warken clinched the 2025 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Show Open Breakaway World Championship aboard family-owned mare Gunna Mambo with a blistering 1.91-second run, earning $18,398.
Unlike other roping disciplines at the AQHA World Show, the second-ever Open Breakaway Championship was based on time, not score.
Calf Roper Marcos Costa topped the preliminary round on Stevies Pride N Joy—a horse he went on to win the Junior Tie-Down Roping with. And the remainder of the field was filled with NFR calf ropers, NFBR Qualifiers and salty futurity trainings like Beau Peterson, who finished No. 3 and No. 4.
But 18-year-old Warken, who hails from Coronach, Saskatchewan, has ice water in her veins.
“I just come here to try to win first,” Warken said. “That’s the goal.”
Gunna Mambo must share a similar mentality, considering this isn’t the pairs’ first big win together. In 2024, they topped the 6-and-Under breakaway at the Old West Futurity in Utah for $20,000. And though Warken had one more year of futurity eligibility on Gunna Mambo in 2025, she opted to haul her to a mix of shows and jackpots to keep her sharp.
And that mix of different environments and practice paid off when Gunna Mambo’s ability to stand quietly and score perfectly at the AQHA World Show resulted in a World Championship.
“She always just wanted to stand in there and score, and I think that’s the hardest part—so I can go get a good roll at the barrier,” Warken explained. “That makes her showy too.”
Professional breakaway roper and friend Bethanie Harkey shared intel with her on the calves’ tendencies, which Warken credited for her tactical ride.
“She said [that calf] was trying a little more and stepped right right” Warken said. “So I wanted to get a good roll at him.”
Her father Vaughn, who was packing up her gear after the win, said Warken has now earned around $225,000 at horse shows this year—a figure that surprises even her.
“Honestly, it doesn’t make sense in my brain,” Warken laughed.
Now with her WPRA permit filled—thanks to a strong showing at the WPRA Finals—Warken is eyeing bigger ProRodeo stages. She plans to enter major winter rodeos like Austin and is aiming to qualify for the winter building rodeos in 2026 by climbing into the top 30 in the world standings.
“We’re just so much closer to everything now,” she said of her family’s recent move to Lingleville, Texas. “Before it was 16 hours to a show. Now it’s a couple hours. It’s going to make all the difference this winter.”
Next up? The Million Dollar Breakaway in Scottsdale, where Warken is competing in the Last Chance Qualifier. She’s also entered in the Masters Tour, Plaza Ropings, Chris Neal’s Vegas roping and the Vegas Toughest.
“Now I’ve got my card and I’ve got two good horses. I’m going to give it a shot,” Marken said.
With momentum on her side and Gunna Mambo ready to fire, it’s safe to say this won’t be the last sub-two-second run we see from Macie Rae Warken.
