CORONA, NEW MEXICO — June 25, 2025 — The 2-year-old stallion prospect by Metallic Cattack, Free Aint Cheap, sold to the Ramos Remuda LLC for $165,000 during the first-ever Old West Rope Horse Futurity Sale—with plans to put him in the eventual futurity lineup of Wesley Thorp, the reigning and three-time PRCA world champion heeler.
Wesley Thorp winning the 2024 PRCA World Championship in the Heeling
The colt, bought by brothers Jaime and Heriberto Ramos, is eligible for the $1 million sale incentive at the 2027 Old West Futurity. Free Aint Cheap is by Solo Select stallion out of Fun N Fancy Free, the dam to , the 2024 AQHA world champion heel horse.
“He was our first pick from the start,” Jaime, of Midland, Texas, said. “Wesley and I started making notes and comparing notes because he's traveling right now. And every night we would call each other and kind of come up with a game plan.”
Free Aint Cheap (Metallic Cattack x Fun N Fancy Free, Peptoboonsmal)
Stephenville, Texas's Thorp, currently 10th in the PRCA world standings with $47,748.75 won roping with his world championship partner Tyler Wade, is also the 2020 American Rope Horse Futurity Association heeling world champion, still rodeoing on the horse he won the title on five years ago—Juiced Up Cat. In Free Aint Cheap, Thorp—who's also won the BFI, the Spicer Gripp, the College National Finals Rodeo (twice) and the NFR aggregate title—sees the makings of another great one.
“He’s collected, smooth, sharp-moving, and has the kind of stop and body control that holds up over time,” said Thorp. “He’s got all the best traits from his maternal sibling Pride And Joyy.”
Currently in training with Tyson Benson, Free Aint Cheap will remain in Benson’s program until the end of his 2-year-old year before transitioning to Thorp’s hands in 2026.
"I'm big on getting him tracking and getting him locked in and smooth," Thorp said. "I'll even break away calves him and just get him super comfortable, tracking and locking on. I'll rope maybe the walkers on him in the spring, rope the sled, add a little speed on the dummy and some really slow steers. I will want to get him super patterned and confident everywhere. He'll have a break in the summer, then start adding pressure slowly in the fall of his 3-year-old year with the goal of having him ready for his 4-year-old career."
Ramos Remuda is based at the family’s ranch in Corona, New Mexico, with additional operations in Midland and Houston. Their program includes mares bred to Metallic Cattack, Pride And Joyy and The Darkk Side, with a focus on long-term quality and competitive performance.
“We’re not just collecting horses—we’re building a real program,” said Ramos. “The plan is to produce competitive, versatile horses with the foundation and talent to go in any direction.”
The partnership between Ramos and Thorp began through mutual friend Oscar Morales and has grown into a focused effort on high-end genetics and structured development.
“I told Jaime from day one—if you’re going to make the investment, don’t halfway it,” said Thorp. “He’s gone all-in on quality, and it’s showing.”
Ramos has purchased embryos out of numerous Select Genes mares—like Specialeditionkitty, Metallic Mandy and Highly Unlimited—as well as two of Thorp's jackpot mares, Playin Whiskey and RS Playboys Doc Rea.
“Working with Ty and Melanie has been first class,” said Ramos. “Everything’s been smooth and professional, and I’m looking forward to visiting the facility soon.”
