Kelle Earnheart scored 215 points for third place with Flash About, by Purdy Boy Flash, who she showed as non-pro reserve champion of the Bonanza Cutting and the Cattlemans Derby.

“There were a lot of good horses and a lot of great riders, but the cows were tough and it was survival of the fittest,” said Baldwin, following his win. “I was just happy to be able to cut fairly clean and my mare took over.

“Usually things are so fast in that pen, but they kind of slowed down tonight and it all came into place.

“I was having so much fun (by the third cow) and just trying to stay on. It was a great satisfaction, knowing how many bad runs and how many mistakes I’ve made in this pen, to finally get a good run down.”

This was the first major NCHA championship win in Fort Worth for Baldwin, who rides with Phil Rapp, trainer and rider of the sport’s richest mare, Dont Look Twice, LTE $740,060, bred by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp, and owned by Baldwins parents, Louis and Corliss Baldwin, Fort Worth, Tex.