The first event of the 2026 Gold Buckle Futurities season made one thing clear: the next generation of rope horses is being shaped by some of the most versatile sire power in the industry.
From proven cutting and cow horse bloodlines to reining sires now making major noise in the roping pen, the Leading Sire race presented by Metallic Rebel is already packed with depth, crossover talent and serious earnings.
Here’s a look at the Top 5 sires following the first stop of the 2026 season.
Metallic Cattack | $148,593
Standing at Solo Select Horses
Leading the board after one event is Metallic Cattack, whose offspring accounted for nearly $150,000 across multiple events and disciplines.
An APHA World Champion Tie-Down Horse himself, Metallic Cattack’s offspring showed dominance across both ends of the arena, led by multiple standout performances from Trevor Brazile and the McCartney family.
Kryptoniite, out of Fun N Fancy Free, earned $58,187 alone across the Futurity Tie-Down and Futurity Heading with Trevor Brazile. In the Futurity Tie-Down, the pair finished third in the Open Average with an 868.94 on four for $4,010, third in the Open Stallion Incentive for $4,525, won the Intermediate for $6,075 and won the Intermediate Stallion Incentive for $8,637.
Back in the Futurity Heading, Kryptoniite turned things up another level. Brazile won Round One with a 225.14 and Round Three with a 228.23, before winning the Average with a 903.63 on four for $11,000. The pair also topped the Stallion Incentive for $10,940 and the Breeder’s Incentive for $6,000.
Thiccthirty, out of Nurse Connie, matched that momentum with a massive $58,002 week of its own. With Cheyenne McCartney in the Futurity Breakaway, Thiccthirty won both Round Two and Round Three before claiming the Average title. The horse marked a 230.49 in Round Two and a 231.67 in Round Three. The Average win came with a 922.95 on four for $10,220, while the Stallion Incentive added another $10,450 and the Breeder’s Incentive another $6,000.
Then Cody McCartney climbed aboard for the Futurity Tie-Down, where Thiccthirty swept all three rounds with scores of 223.26, 223.20 and 222.87. The pair won the Average with an 895.30 on four for $8,020, along with the Stallion Incentive worth $11,312 and the Breeder’s Incentive for $6,000.
Tom Cats R Popular, out of Lotta Popular Grace, added another $32,404 to the sire total with Chance Thiessen in the Maturity Tie-Down. The pair won both Round One and Round Two with scores of 222.29 and 225.0, finished third in the Open Average with an 880.56 on four for $6,000 and won the Intermediate for $7,280. They also finished second in the Open Stallion Incentive for $7,312 and won the Intermediate Stallion Incentive for $8,812.
Gunners Special Nite | $68,602
Standing at Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses
Gunners Special Nite followed in second with $68,602 in progeny earnings.
Already an $8 million sire in the reining industry, Gunners Special Nite’s offspring showed just how naturally that athleticism, and trainability is translating into the roping pen.
RR Gunners Affair, out of Cowgirl Affair, led the charge with Trevor Brazile in the Maturity Heading. The pair won the Average with a 908.03 on four for $14,000 and topped the Stallion Incentive for another $12,200.
This Star Is Special, out of Stars And Sparks, added $18,630 in the Futurity Heeling. Brazile piloted the horse to second in the Average with an 889.99 on four for $9,900 before also finishing second in the Stallion Incentive for $8,730.
RR Gold Starr, out of Belle Starr Dun It, continued the momentum with Miles Baker in the Maturity Heeling. The pair finished fourth in the Average with a 903.26 on four for $6,720, fourth in the Stallion Incentive for $5,257, second in the Intermediate for $6,450 and second in the Intermediate Stallion Incentive for $5,655.
Relentless Nite, also out of Belle Starr Dun It, rounded out the week with Treston Brazile in the Limited Heeling. The pair earned fourth in the Average with an 886.80 for $3,450 and second in the Stallion Incentive for $4,575.
Dont Stopp Believin | $67,137
Standing at Valley Equine Reproduction
With $67,137 earned after one event, Dont Stopp Believin continues proving that elite cutting horse genetics are translating exceptionally well into the roping arena.
A 2025 QData NCHA Top 10 Leading Sire with more than $6.2 million in progeny earnings, the stallion’s offspring showed consistency and cow sense throughout the Maturity Heeling.
SJR Stylish Believer, out of SJR Stylish Diamond, accounted for $41,495 with Justin Johnson. The pair finished third in the Average with a 909.36 on four for $10,460, third in the Stallion Incentive for $7,010 and won the Breeder’s Incentive for $6,000. They also dominated the Intermediate, winning both the Intermediate for $8,600 and Intermediate Stallion Incentive for $9,245.
Dont Stopp Trackin, out of Marking Your Tracks, added another $25,642 with Joseph Harrison. The pair won Round One with a 229.92 for $1,500 before finishing second in the Average with a 911.08 on four for $15,380 and second in the Stallion Incentive for $8,762.
SJR Diamond Mist | $60,122
Standing at Weatherford Equine Breeding Center
SJR Diamond Mist closed the first event with $60,122 in progeny earnings.
An NRCHA Open Futurity Champion, SJR Diamond Mist’s offspring showed versatility across the heeling, breakaway and tie-down roping.
Fly Mister, out of Highly Unlimited, put together one of the strongest performances of the event with Colton McCarley in the Futurity Heeling, earning $45,290. The pair won the Average with an 896.64 on four for $12,380, won the Stallion Incentive for $11,640 and claimed the Breeder’s Incentive for $6,000. They also swept the Intermediate with wins worth $5,640 and $9,630 in the Intermediate Stallion Incentive.
SJR Calipso Mist, out of SJR Oaks Natalie, added $14,832 across two events. Dylynn Dewbre finished second in the Futurity Breakaway Breeder’s Incentive for $4,000, while Christian Dewbre earned checks in the Futurity Tie-Down with a fourth-place finish in the Average worth $2,005, second in the Intermediate for $3,645 and second in the Intermediate Stallion Incentive for $5,182.
Kit Kat Sugar | $45,125
Standing at 6666 Ranch – Granbury
Rounding out the Top Five is Kit Kat Sugar with $45,125 in progeny earnings after the first event.
An NCHA and NRCHA Leading Sire every year since his second crop to show, Kit Kat Sugar continues producing horses capable of excelling across virtually every performance discipline.
Aldo The Apache, out of DMAC Easter Bunny, earned $29,997 between the Maturity Tie-Down and Maturity Breakaway. With Trevor Hale in the Maturity Tie-Down, the horse finished fifth in the Average with an 873.93 on four for $3,100 and fourth in the Stallion Incentive for $2,437. Then owner Beau Peterson stepped into the Maturity Breakaway and won Round Two with a 231.98 before capturing the Average with a 927.10 on four for $11,460 and winning the Stallion Incentive for $11,500.
TLC Dulce Kat, out of Zacks Charity, added $11,828 with Macy Hancock in the Limited Breakaway. The pair finished second in the Average with a 676.27 on three for $3,828 and won the Stallion Incentive for $8,000.
Kitt Katt Kidd, out of Peptos Little Gal, rounded out the sire’s earnings in the Limited Tie-Down with Pate Phillips. The pair finished third in the Stallion Incentive for $2,550 and won the 13 & Under Sidepot for $750.
With only one event complete, the 2026 Leading Sire race is already shaping up to be one of the strongest yet. The first leaderboard of the season showed not only which stallions are producing winners, but which bloodlines are consistently producing horses capable of competing across every side of the roping arena.
For a full look at the 2026 Stallion Roster, visit the Elite Stallions page of our website.
