Down Right Amazing Hits Million-Dollar Milestone at 2025 The American Performance Horseman

By Jessica Hein, PHJ News:

When Casey Deary and Down Right Amazing galloped into Dickey’s Arena for the 2025 The American Performance Horseman, they weren’t riding alone. The hearts of everyone in the packed venue were in the saddle, too, as the horse-and-team pursued a three-peat title and a never-before-accomplished million-dollar milestone. After their 229 score posted—and held for the field of eight top National Reining Horse Association professionals—the crowd went wild as Down Right Amazing became the first reining horse to win over $1 million in lifetime earnings.

Simply Amazing

Before 2025 The American Performance Horseman on July 19, the 8-year-old sorrel overo stallion was about $50,000 away from millionaire status. Amazing’s last time in the show pen was August 2024, at The Run for a Million; the stallion had since been focused on breeding duties, not staying tuned up for competition. Yet Casey and owner Debbie Good knew Amazing’s story wasn’t done.

“Part of the discussion was, if he’s sound and he’s still showing us that he wants to show, why not let him do what he loves and show what he can do?” Debbie said. “He has shown up every single time and said, ‘I still love this.’ He did that again tonight.”

Amazing headed back to Casey June 1 for a seven-week tune-up in preparation for The American Performance Horseman. The team has won the event twice before, but it was anyone’s guess whether he could clinch a hat trick in 2025. Heart, though, was on his side. Debbie says that’s what makes Amazing so special. Casey agrees.

“His biggest paycheck [has been] $100,000. You can go back and count how many times that horse showed up and gave his heart,” he said. “I think that’s what will set him apart.”

That heart showed up again July 19 in Fort Worth. With ears pricked and eyes bright, Amazing spun, circled and slid his way to a 229 score and the top of the leaderboard. The team captured a $100,000 paycheck as reigning—reining—champions of this year’s The American Performance Horseman.

“We are living a dream that we didn’t even know was a possibility. He’s a full-blown soldier. He likes his job, and I love him,” Casey said. “Everybody’s asked if he’s done—I don’t know. I don’t want to close the door on the blessing Gd has for that horse, so we’ll just leave it open and see how it goes.”

Congratulations to the 2025 The American Performance Horseman Champions:

Cutting: James Payne & Nice Work Babe (QH)

Reining: Casey Deary & Down Right Amazing, a 2017 sorrel overo stallion by Colonels Smokingun x Shesouttayourleague (QH)

Reined Cow Horse: Boyd Rice & My Boots Are Royal (QH)

Team Champions: Team Purple—Austin Shepard, Trevor Dare and Veronica Swales

The American Performance Horseman’s unique team contest paired a professional from each of the three disciplines together to compete for overall honors. Originally part of The American Rodeo’s Western Weekend extravaganza, The American Performance Horseman took place as a standalone event in 2024. It’s produced by Teton Ridge in association with APHA, American Quarter Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association and National Reined Cow Horse Association. Ten Paints and eight APHA members were among the 24 horse-and-rider teams vying for $1 million in total prize money offered at the event. For more information, visit theamericanperformancehorseman.com.

Bonus Content: Down Right Amazing Redefines Excellence in the Arena by The Cowboy Channel