Rose Santos and Baddiee Claim Yearling Maiden Open Mare Halter Stake Congress Championship
Rose Santos and Baddiee Claim Yearling Maiden Open Mare Halter Stake Congress Championship in Mare’s First-Ever Competition
By Sarah Welk Baynum
For Rose Santos, the win with her mare Baddiee was even more meaningful because of the special bond her family shares with the young mare.
“We raised Baddiee, who we call Bingo at home,” Santos said. “She was actually our son’s favorite—he used to rope her and lead her all around the pasture. Even now, he still handles her a lot because he always wants to be with her. I wasn’t sure how it was going to be in today’s class because this is a new, big environment, but she was so good and seems to be enjoying it so far!”
Looking ahead, Santos said she doesn’t have set plans for Baddiee’s future just yet—but with her son’s special bond with the mare and today’s big win, it’s likely she’ll remain part of the Santos family for years to come.
“I’m not sure what we’ll do with her just yet,” Santos said. “We’ll probably just keep her because we really like her—and hopefully she’ll have some babies for us one day. We love her mom—she’s an incredible mare. I actually bought a half-sibling out of that mare about four or five years ago, but she broke her shoulder. After that, we ended up buying the mare herself, and now she’s back in foal—so we’ll have a full sibling to Bingo next year.”
However, it’s clear that Bingo’s show ring journey is just beginning.
“She’s taken to showing so naturally,” Santos said. “We’ll definitely keep showing her in halter classes—she’s already handling it so well.”
2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress
Yearling Maiden Open Mare Halter Stakes – Ltd Division
Presented by Headley Quarter Horses, JL Robinson Quarter Horses & The Equine Chronicle
Champion: Baddiee with Rose Santos – $6090
Reserve: Raylans Secret with Mitch Leonarski – $4567.50
Bronze: Ms Quintrillions with Ryan McKillips for Robert Smith-$3045
Fourth: Charleze Secret with Rick Leek for Scott Johnson-$1522.50
Fifth: Gracies Cool Secret with Jason Somnitz
Sixth: Sweet Faline with Paul Goodman for Vanessa Birney
Learn more about this class in our recent magazine article:
