Debbie Crafton emerged victorious at the NRCHA Stallion Stakes Non Pro Derby finals, with three top-five finishes, including a championship win riding Boot Scootin Flo. The finals took place on April 10 in Las Vegas, wrapping up a week of intense competition.
Crafton and Boot Scootin Flo earned $22,000 for their win, achieving a composite score of 651.5. Their performance included a 220 in the herd work, a 216.5 in the rein work, and a 215 in the fence work to clinch the title.
Boot Scootin up the leaderboard
For Crafton, the win highlighted the strong partnership she has built with her horses, particularly Boot Scootin Flo (Scooter Kat x Hustle And Flo), affectionately known as “PJ.” This victory boosted the mare’s lifetime earnings over $45,000.
PJ and Crafton have consistently performed well together since teaming up in the spring of 2025. They debuted their partnership at the NRCHA Derby in Scottsdale, Arizona, before making history at the NRCHA Hackamore Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Crafton surpassed the million-dollar earnings mark, becoming the second female non pro to achieve this milestone.
“She’s been successful everywhere,” Crafton shared. “She’s maturing and becoming more solid with each competition.”
This consistency was evident at the Stallion Stakes, where the 2021 mare excelled in all three phases.
“She performed exceptionally well,” Crafton noted. “I had a lot of faith in her abilities, and she delivered a great performance in the rein work and down the fence. I couldn’t be prouder of her. It was a fantastic finals.”
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Crafton’s stacked pack in the finals
In addition to her win with PJ, Crafton secured third place riding SJR Sumkinda Mist (SJR Diamond Mist x Sumkinda Pinkcadilac), earning $12,000. The mare, known as “Fancy,” has had a successful start to 2026, including a victory in the Tres Osos Derby Non Pro at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions.
While Fancy has been a reliable mount for Crafton, she recently acquired two geldings, Covered In Smoke (CR Gotcha Covered x Sheza Smokin Hot Gal) and Kit Kat Lynx (Kit Kat Sugar x CR Tuff Lil), in February from Shawn Hays at the NRCHA Celebration of Champions.
Despite being a new addition to her program, Covered In Smoke finished 5th and earned $6,750, showing promise for future competitions.
Another newcomer, Kit Kat Lynx, faced challenges in the finals but showcased potential, especially in the reining portion.
With three horses in the top five, Crafton’s performance highlighted the depth of her program and her consistent competitiveness at the highest level.