Hope Miller and Dare To Sioux Electrify Crowd in NRCHA Derby Non-Pro

If Hope Miller keeps this up, they’re going to start calling her “Sweep.” Miller, of Vancouver, Washington, and Dare To Sioux swept Saturday’s  National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Derby Non-Pro, winning the Non-Pro, Intermediate Non-Pro and Novice Non-Pro championships with an incredible 229 fence run.

They’d previously won all three divisions at this year’s NRCHA Stakes.

“He tries his hardest every time, so any time he tries this hard, I’m always happy,” Miller said after the run in Paso Robles, California. “I can’t ask for any more than what he’ll give me and he gives me 112 percent every time.”

They marked a 656.5 (210 herd/217.5 rein/229 cow), banking paychecks totaling $12,364. Reserve Champions Jayson Fisher and RD Play It Again Sam (CD Q Tee x PCR Playlena Oak x PCR Peppys Oak) were five points back with a composite of 651.5 (217 herd/215 rein/219.5 cow).

Miller said she immediately clicked with Dare To Sioux (A Shiner Named Sioux x Tari Darlin x Taris Catalyst) the moment she laid eyes on him as a yearling at breeder Carol Rose’s 2013 dispersal sale. That feeling has only intensified as she’s gotten to know the friendly, hard-trying little palomino.

“I loved him from the time I saw him,” Miller said. “There’s something about him.”

Miller paid $12,000 for Dare To Sioux, who has now banked more than $50,000 and is the leading money-earner out of Tari Darlin. She has also produced cow horse performers Shiners Darlin, Shiners Darby and Shiney Darlin, as well as cutter Smart N Shine Tari.

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