Carl McBeath and Seven S Zans Dulce rope their calf in 2.222 seconds for the breakaway championship.

“Dulce” means sweet, and that’s just what the win was for Carl McBeath of Benton, Louisiana, on Seven S Zans Dulce in the amateur breakaway roping.

Working ninth in the draw in the finals November 8, Carl and “Dulce” smoked their calf about three jumps out of the gate, clocking a time of 2.222.

Waiting in the box, Carl had just one thought on his mind: Go fast.

That was enough. His long-term partnership with the 7-year-old mare paid off.

“Terry Forst raised her, and I bought her about three years ago,” Carl said. “I’m leading the high point for 2007 on her. I’m leading the breakaway also. I’ve placed on her here twice, so far in the tie-down, and she’s just a good horse.”

Carl needed the help a good horse can give because he’s nursing an injured arm through the 2007 AQHA World Championship Show.

“I pulled some tendons in my elbow, so I haven’t gotten to rope as much as I normally do, but I just did what I had to do to make it work, and it worked out,” he said. “I usually rope a couple of days a week, and it’s cut me way back to maybe one day, and it’s been tough.”

Carl said he plans to take care of sweet Dulce the same way she has taken care of him.

“She’s fun to be around, fun to ride, a big stopper, got a lot of run – she’s just a lot of fun.”