Ilyssa Riley picked up her second Texas Circuit Finals title to get her 2025 season rolling in the right direction.
“I always say I smiled for a month after I won it the first time and I’m honestly just as happy the second time. I was so proud of (her horse Money),” Riley said.
Riley had a hefty lead in the Average when she won it the first time but this year, the barrel racing came down to the very last Go-Round and Riley came out on top by just one tenth of a second.
To make things even better, Riley’s main mount Money had to sit out the Texas Circuit Finals last year after having surgery and the big bay made his return earlier this season but his return to Waco ending with victory is the icing on top.
“I was happy to be back on Money this year. He really likes Waco so I was happy to be able to take him back this year,” she said.
Riley’s jouring with Money has included a lot of big firsts including the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in the beginning and the National Finals Rodeo along the way.
Although Riley’s 2024 season ended earlier than she hoped, she is stepping into 2025 with a win already to her name thanks to an impressive trip at the Texas Circuit Finals.
