Rodeo Daily

Western Pleasure to Futurity Champ: Mancinelli-Lear Dominates Dinosaur Classic

Kelly Mancinelli-Lear's transition from Western Pleasure to barrel racing pays off big, clinching top honors with KN Epic Faith at the Dinosaur Classic futurity.
Madi Roelofsen|
Western Pleasure to Futurity Champ: Mancinelli-Lear Dominates Dinosaur Classic
Western Pleasure to Futurity Champ: Mancinelli-Lear Dominates Dinosaur Classic

Over the past weekend, barrel racers gathered in Glen Rose, Texas, to compete at the Dinosaur Classic. This was the first chance for them to qualify for The American in 2025, in addition to winning a substantial prize. The event had a total of $20,000 in added money up for grabs, with $10,000 going to the futurity, $7,000 to the Open 5D, $2,500 to the Derby, and $500 to the Thursday night jackpot. 

The Somervell County Expo Center has been hosting super-show barrel races for years and, along with WinMore productions, did an excellent job making sure the event went smoothly. 

In the futurity round one, stand-out futurity trainer Ashley Schafer of San Antonio, Texas, and her horse Move Over Ol Son by BHR Frenchies Sock out of a Blazin Jetolena daughter, set one of the fastest times of the weekend with a 14.961. 

Kelly Mancinelli-Lear of Cleburne, Texas, won fourth place in the futurity on both days, which helped her secure the top spot on the leaderboard, along with her palomino KN Epic Faith by Epic Leader out of a Letta Hank Do It daughter. The duo won the Dinosaur Classic Futurity Championship, $5,228 and a champion buckle.

"This was my very first futurity aggregate win. I was excited and even a little in shock." said Mancinell-Lear, "My mare has so much heart and try; she's from a stand-out breeding program, and Jennilee Thompson did a phenomenal job training her."

Mancinelli-Lear has a background in the Western pleasure industry and has an impressive resume with her Pinto Hall of Fame mare, Singin Saddie Sue, whom she has owned since she was a yearling. Together, they have won 16 world titles. During Mancinelli's time at the Colorado State Vet School, she became interested in barrel racing.

"I couldn't show in the winter time, so I got a little Doc Bar bred gelding and ran him." said Mancinelli-Lear, "My sister actually ran and won money at the Pink Buckle years ago, so I decided to get into it as well."

Mancinelli-Lear has only been in the world of futurity for a few years, but she's already making a name for herself in the industry and shows no sign of slowing down.

For full Dinosaur Classic Results, go to uwinmore.com.

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Madi Roelofsen
MADI ROELOFSEN

Madi Roelofsen is a writer for Sports Illustrated's feature, Rodeo Daily. Madi not only writes about the western lifestyle and rodeo world but lives it daily. She attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and competed in the barrel racing as part of their rodeo team. Roelofsen graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in animal science. Madi enjoyed not only competing in rodeo events but also spectating the greatest sport on dirt. In 2017, while on vacation attending the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, she met her husband Tim Roelofsen. They got married a few years later in 2020. Tim had already established TVR Working Horses but together they grew their program and enjoy raising foals, training colts, barrel racing, team roping and standing their stallions (TVR Eye Needa Corona and CR Baron Bee Joy "Big Sexy") in both Texas and Iowa. They stay busy with the horses, farming alfalfa and raising their baby girl, Texi. Madi has always been passionate about horses, from learning about different bloodlines, breeding the foals themselves to training and competing. She expresses that passion within the articles she writes to open up the world of horses and rodeo to everyone.  Twitter-@Madi_Roelofsen  Facebook- @TVR Working Horses

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