Written by Elizabeth Arnold
This story originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Premier.
From the moment he hit the ground, Top Gunn, known fondly as “Cruz” in the barn, looked every bit the part of a future star. The striking 2019 bay stallion by Machine Made out of Ima Potential had both the pedigree and the presence to back his name. Bred by Melinda DeFreece and purchased as a weanling by Rusty Green, Top Gunn has since carved out a remarkable path—one that bridges his success in the show pen with a promising future in the breeding shed.
Today, Top Gunn, owned by Paul and Marylyn Caliendo of MC’s Dragon Ranch LLC, stands not only as a Congress Champion and a multiple Congress and World Show top five finisher, but also as a stallion whose first foals are already making a splash for their size, style, and potential. And if you ask his exhibitor, Deanna Willis, the best is still yet to come.
Born for the Spotlight
Deanna’s connection to Cruz is deeply rooted in family. Her grandmother owned the great mare Ima Potential, a proven producer responsible for No Doubting Me and Dont Get Me Started. When the colt by Machine Made became available, Deanna’s father, Rusty Green, immediately saw something special.
“We had watched all the other horses that his mother produced—everything she produced was what we wanted to put back in the industry,” Rusty says. “She takes us back to some of those old-school lines on the bottom. When he came along, he was the first bay stud colt. At three weeks old, he was beautiful.”
“My parents were drawn to him right away,” Deanna recalls. “Obviously, the breeding was there. But he was just so beautifully made—square, strong, and stout, even as a baby. And he moved just as well as he looked.”
Photo © Premier Sires
Cruz was started as a two-year-old at the family’s farm and wasted no time making his presence known. His breakout moment came as a three-year-old at The March To The Arch, where Rusty piloted him to a win in the prestigious slot class—Cruz’s first major outing. From there, the young stallion only continued to build momentum.
Rusty appreciates that his early vision for the young stallion proved true. “Everything about him is so natural. You don’t have to help him when you’re showing him. He’s everything I hoped he would be. His hock, his front end, his neck—it all comes very easily to him. He’s not one I have to do a lot with; everything just falls into place.”
Photo © Shane Rux
Deanna soon took the reins in the non-pro futurities, claiming the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure title at the Congress. Over the next few years, the accolades continued: a top five finish at the Congress in the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Maturity, third in the Amateur Pleasure at the AQHA World Show, and consistent success in the open against elite competition.
For Rusty, however, the greatest reward isn’t the hardware—it’s watching his daughter do what she loves.
“This is something Deanna and I have always done together,” he says. “Ever since she was really little, we’ve been a team. Our main goal is that Katie and I get the horse ready and allow Deanna to shine. Our joy is watching her show them. Our success has come from our little team doing just that.”
“He’s a horse unlike any I’ve ever had,” Deanna says. “I’ve had a lot of special ones. I showed Blazin My Troubles Away and then Beez In The Trap. When she had a career-ending injury, I honestly wasn’t sure anything would excite me the same way again. But Cruz brought that excitement back. He has made me love showing again.”
Cruz isn’t just another pretty face in the pen. According to Deanna, his true brilliance lies in his natural ability and heart. “He gives me so much confidence,” she says. “He warms up great, and he gives me everything he has every time. It’s fun to set big goals because he makes me look good and makes those goals feel achievable.”
She credits his consistency to his innate talent. “His ability is so natural. It’s not man-made. He does it because he can.” That natural ability is paired with a big personality. “He loves his life, loves to work, and loves to show.”
As much as Cruz shines under saddle, it’s his emerging role as a sire that has the Greens most excited about the future. Now standing at Pilot Knob Quarter Horses with Mike Hay in Ocala, Florida, Top Gunn’s first foal crop is officially on the ground—and already turning heads.
“His conformation is what really sets him apart as a sire,” Deanna explains. “He’s 16.1 and huge for a western horse. He’s big, strong, and square, with a big hip. He stamps that look on his babies. They’re mostly bay like him. He carries the black gene, so he will only throw bay, black, or buckskin, which is cool. I love that they’re the biggest babies in the field.”
Photo © Premier Sires
He also credits Top Gunn’s dam for much of that influence. “That mare on the bottom has a lot to do with the size. The Potentials were big horses, and we’re seeing that come through, which I’m glad about.”
Rusty agrees that the stallion is already proving he can pass on his best qualities. “So far, so good,” he says. “They’re like him. They lope the same and move around the field the same. But most of all, it’s their size. They’re all big like he is, and everyone in the industry likes that because there are so many directions you can go with those horses as they get older. He’s passing that on.”
Photo © Shane Rux
According to Deanna, it’s not just their size that’s impressive—it’s how his foals move and carry themselves. “They’re showing the best qualities of both him and the mares we’ve loved,” she says. “It’s really special to watch him produce so consistently and so well. Seeing him become not just a great show horse, but a great breeding horse, has been the best part.”
Among the first mares bred were Deanna’s own show horses, including Beez In The Trap and Blazin My Troubles Away, making the next generation of Top Gunns even more meaningful.
Rusty agrees that the stallion is already proving he can pass on his best qualities. “So far, so good,” he says. “They’re like him. They lope the same and move around the field the same. But most of all, it’s their size. They’re all big like he is, and everyone in the industry likes that because there are so many directions you can go with those horses as they get older. He’s passing that on.”
He also credits Top Gunn’s dam for much of that influence. “That mare on the bottom has a lot to do with the size. The Potentials were big horses, and we’re seeing that come through, which I’m glad about.”
According to Deanna, it’s not just their size that’s impressive—it’s how his foals move and carry themselves. “They’re showing the best qualities of both him and the mares we’ve loved,” she says. “It’s really special to watch him produce so consistently and so well. Seeing him become not just a great show horse, but a great breeding horse, has been the best part.”
A Family Affair
Among the first mares bred were Deanna’s own show horses, including Beez In The Trap and Blazin My Troubles Away, making the next generation of Top Gunns even more meaningful.
For the Green family, Top Gunn isn’t just a horse—he’s part of the team. While Deanna has enjoyed great success in the show pen, she’s quick to point out that the deepest bond belongs to her dad.
“Cruz is definitely my dad’s horse,” she says. “They’re two peas in a pod. I just get to ride him when I’m lucky. It’s been really special to do this with my dad. He’s been my biggest supporter, and Cruz is the horse that’s brought us together in this chapter.”
Deanna hints that there may be more ahead than pleasure classes alone. Western Riding could be in Cruz’s future, especially considering Rusty’s past success in the event with stallions like Hot N Blazing and Huntin for Chocolate. “I’d really like to see my dad show him in the Western Riding,” she says. “He’s done so well with some incredible studs, so we’ll see what the future holds.”
“We’ll let Cruz tell us what’s next,” she adds. “If he wants to keep showing, we’ll keep showing. So far, he just keeps getting better every year.”
For all his talent and size, Cruz still has one constant motivation: food. “He’s very food-motivated,” Deanna laughs. “If there’s a snack involved, he’s in. He’s just a very happy horse. He really loves his job—and that makes it easy to love him back.”
