Sissie Wherrell crowned 2025 PBRIP Open Sweepstakes Champion
By Laurel Cox
When Sissie Wherrell brought Good As Bully Gets to the 2025 APHA World Championship Show, she didn’t expect to leave as the Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program Open Sweepstakes Champion. After a year of inconsistencies in 2024, the horsewoman from Blanchard, Oklahoma, simply wanted a clean run.
“I was completely blown away,” Sissie said about the win. “I thought ‘Well, if I could go in there and run [in the 2D], I’ll be good.’ ”
Much to Sissie’s surprise, “Annie” surpassed the horsewoman’s goal of landing in the 2D. The 2017 bay solid mare by As Good As Nick Gets out of Dial Three Four Four (QH) ran a 16.918, placing her at the top of the 1D. Annie was on her best behavior at the sweepstakes, Sissie says, and she couldn’t have asked for a better run.
“When she goes in there and works like she did and just lays down a run, it’s very rewarding,” Sissie said. “It makes all the blood, sweat and tears worth it, that’s for sure.”
The win earned Sissie $5,105.60—a total that wouldn’t have been possible without PBRIP’s added money and the Texas-Bred Incentive from the Texas Paint Horse Breeders Association. Sissie is grateful for the money being added to the Paint Horse community to encourage entries, and it made her surprise-win that much sweeter.
“PBRIP really tries to do a lot, and I certainly appreciate Carly [Peercy] and the money being put out,” she said. “It really makes it worth it.”
2025 PBRIP Sweepstakes
The PBRIP Open Barrel Racing Sweepstakes took place July 5 at the 2025 APHA World Championship Show. APHA and the Texas Paint Horse Breeders Association sponsored the event with $42,000 of added money, plus a $5,000 Texas-bred incentive. The 2025 PBRIP Sweepstakes paid out a total of $67,190 across 5Ds, the added futurity sidepot and the fast-time bonus for Texas-bred Paints. This year’s sweepstakes had 106 entries, up from 78 entries in 2024.
1D
Champion: Good As Bully Gets & Sissie Wherrell – $5,105.60*
Reserve Champion: KC Allaboutdabase & Cindy Arnold – $3,213
2D
Champion: Jesstreakinontherez & Mindy Holloway – $3,633
Reserve Champion: Kim Kar Dashin & Amanda Clark – $3,027
3D
Champion: Dun It Shiney & Tori Hawks – $3,410.40
Reserve Champion: Totally Epic & Tori Hawks – $3,042*
4D
Champion: Yogis Shawne Twister & Hele Bon Thompson – $3,187.80
Reserve Champion: TL Rocnroll C & Tammy Lowe – $2,656.50
5D
Champion: Dashin Like Dolly & Dylan Spin – $4,249.20**
Reserve Champion: Techtronic & Russell Schnitz – $2,471
Futurity
1D
Champion: Oakleys Too Cool & Teresa Watson – $1,926
Reserve Champion: Dashin Like Dolly & Dylan Spin – $1,284
2D
Champion: Blazin On By & Jaylan Clary – $2,140
To view full results from the PBRIP Sweepstakes, visit apha.com/worldshow/results.
* Total payout shown includes sweepstakes payout and Texas-bred bonus
** Total payout includes sweepstakes payout and futurity payout
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.