Danielle Wray of Ord, Nebraska, battled her way to the top of the leaderboard at the Bob Feist Invitational Breakaway Roping in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Wray, who has roped at the event before, ended up second in the average behind event champion, Emilee Charlesworth. When it was all said and done, Wray was 10.33 seconds on three head, just .41 seconds behind Charlesworth.
Wray’s experience and knowledge of the setup worked in her favor.
“It’s a little longer start and usually some pretty strong calves,” she said. “I drew really good and I ended up placing in the first round just caught my second one, and was good enough to be high call.”
Her companion at the BFI was her ten-year-old mare, Roulette, who she got last May.
“I trust her about as much as I’ve ever trusted any horse. I know she is going to do her job, so I just have to worry about mine.”
Besting hundreds of accomplished breakaway ropers, Wray held her own in the short round and won $17,000 to boot.
“It might have been one of the toughest short rounds I have watched in a long time, but was lucky enough to walk away second, so I was pretty tickled,” said Wray.
Looking ahead, she will be back in action at the first ever John Cook Invitational Team Roping April 12-13 in Lincoln. Wray and her family sold Coach Cook his prized horse, Rev, and have helped him progress in his team roping and horsemanship journey.
“He’s come so far since I watched him a year ago,” she said. “He’s a good example of if you really want to do something, there is nothing that will stop you.”
Listen to our interview with Danielle Wray here:
View full results from the event here: https://bfiweek.com/emilee-charlesworth-claims-victory-at-2025-charlie-1-horse-breakaway-roping/