Brian Cox and Perfect 10 Win Level 1 Western Pleasure Stakes Unanimously at AQHA World

By: Brittany Bevis

In a very exciting finish, Brian Cox rode a horse named Perfect 10 to win the Level 1 Western Pleasure Stakes in unanimous fashion this afternoon at the AQHA World Championship Show. Placing Reserve was Rusty Green with Momma Knows Best. Third place was Kenny Lakins with Certainly Classy. Fourth was Denton DeBuhr with Sleep Machine. Fifth place was Adam Wainscott with Cool Shoes Zippo.

Sixth place was Ray Riddle with Good Miss Sudden. Seventh place was Shane Dowdy with Born Lopin Machine. Eighth place was Shannon Curl with Martinis Make Me Lazy. Ninth place was Ty Hornick with Laidback N Lazy. Tenth was Taft Dickerson with Ask Before Touching.

Brian’s big win with Perfect 10, aka “Sweetie,” marks his first time receiving a gold trophy here at the AQHA World Show. “I’ve been a bridesmaid here and third, but never won, so this is pretty exciting!” Just a few weeks ago, Brian and Sweetie placed fourth at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Green Western Pleasure and sixth in the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. This win today caps off a very successful year of competition in the green division.

Sweetie is a 3-year-old, bay mare by RlL Best of Sudden and out of I’m Talkin Sweet that was purchased from trainer Bret Parrish earlier this summer. Since then, Brian has been campaigning the horse at major events throughout 2015 for owner Bryan Reger.

“We got her a little late in the year, and she’s just kept coming on and getting better and better. She’s a nice horse; she’s always honest in the pen, has great expression, and is a lot of fun to show.”

“She has a lot of flow and is a great jogger. Her topline is good, and she is even and correct from the left to the right. When you have one that wants to listen and be good, they’re always fun to show.”

As the announcer counted down the placings, Brian was cautiously optimistic about the chances he and Sweetie had for a top finish. “There were so many numbers with 24 in the class, and my number is 2415,” he says. “Then, they left six horses out there, and I was like, ‘Did I do something wrong?’ I wasn’t worried because I had a good ride, but you just never know here at the World Show. I went in and laid down the best ride I could.”

Later on in the show, Brian will compete in 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure with Abbrakadabra.