SEPTEMBER 2023
INSIDE THE ARENA
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That’s Rodeo To Me with Sports writer
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Barbara
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ALL-AROUND
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COWBOY 16 KOSEL AND SMITH
FINAL ROUND AT CFD
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Contributing photographers: Imagehounds™
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Dear Readers, Summertime has always been that special time of year when the action literally heats up in the arena. As fans of the sport, we watch the excitement happening while packed together, shoulder to shoulder in the heat or rain as a community of like-minded people. Rodeo brings people together all over the nation, and even in the face of challenges such as the proposed ban in Los Angeles, huge crowds of people come together to celebrate the sport and the lifestyle born from the ranch life of the American cowboy. In many cases, you’ve come out in record numbers, proving over and over again that people love rodeo. In the last few months, we got to see great things happen in the arena, but this summer was made memorable because of our own journey on the rodeo road. Starting with our local small-town rodeo in Johnson County to seeing records being set and broken in Cheyenne. The relationships that we have been able to form with the athletes and personalities that make up the industry have made our coverage possible, but the most important relationship is the one that we have with you, our readers. With only September left in the pro rodeo season, we look forward to the athletes fighting for positions themselves for the season of circuit finals and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR). As our following grows, we will be able to go further and continue to fill our pages with the world of rodeo just for you. In our second season as a digital magazine, we are proud of what we have accomplished so far, and with your continued support, we hope to continuously expand our coverage. We look forward to Las Vegas where athletes will compete again in the PBR Camping World Team Series World Finals and the WNFR. Where Miss Rodeo America will be crowned at South Point Casino and Resort. It’s the most exciting time of the year, and we can’t wait. For all of us at The Arena Press, it has become such a pleasure to share the view through our lens and the words from our pens. As well as a privilege to be a part of the media community, whose love affair with rodeo helps keep this sport and lifestyle alive.
Rodeo is the word. Help spread the word. CLICK TO CONTACT CREATIVE DIRECTOR
KEVIN CARMONA thearenapress@gmail.com
SALES DIRECTOR
KEN CARMONA
thearenapress.ken@gmail.com
EDITORIAL WRITER
LILLIAN LANDRETH
thearenapress.editor@gmail.com
EDITORIAL WRITER
HANNAH CRANDALL
thearenapressHannah@gmail.com
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RENO RODEO ALL-AROUND
COWBOY By Lillian Landreth
Josh Frost showed his skill on both ends of the arena yet again, clinching the all-around title at the Reno Rodeo in June in bull riding and tie-down roping. As the season wraps up, the cowboy from Randlett, Utah sits in second with $210,164. Josh also competes in the PBR and was crowned the 2023 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion in May. The 28-year-old’s dedication to being an all-around cowboy has earned him three consecutive PRCA Linderman Awards since 2019 (it was not awarded in 2020). The prestigious ProRodeo award goes to a cowboy who has won at least $1,000 in three events, including a timed event and roughstock event. Josh’s brother, Joe Frost, won the award in 2014. Josh’s wife, Erika, is also a talented competitor, competing in breakaway roping and sitting 10th in the WPRA Resistol Rookie World Standings with $11,665. The 2023 WNFR will be Josh’s fourth trip to the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas.
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Statler Wright outranks the top contenders to conquer the bareback championship with 88.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Indian Burn.
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World champion bullfighter Cody Webster puts himself between the bull and all-around cowboy Josh Frost who was knocked out cold in the final round in Reno.
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Colton Kelly wins the bull riding championship with an 87-point ride on Rosser Rodeo’s Sweet Justice!
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Sage Newman ties for second place in saddle bronc with Stetson Wright in the final round of Reno Rodeo.
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Winners keep winning. Team ropers Kaleb Driggers & Junior Nogueira clock in at 18.4 seconds on three head to be the best in Reno
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Shad “Money” Mayfield wins a tie-down showdown against number one roper Riley Webb and grabs the crown in Reno.
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Hailey Kinsel, with a 17.18 is enough to finish second in the average to Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi.
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Ride
RYDER
Ride By Hannah Crandall
Coming off a shoulder injury and into his rookie season, 24-year-old Ryder Sanford, the saddle bronc rider from Sulphur, Louisiana, has won rodeos across the country throughout the 2023 season,
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Ride Ryder Ride! including the Deep South PRCA Rodeo, the Southeastern Circuit Finals and the Trinity Valley Exposition Fair & Rodeo. At the Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo, the Casey Tibbs Match of Champions, the Wayward Son Bulls, Broncs and Bands and the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo, the cowboy was co-champion. Record Setting Legacy Wrapping up his summer, he added the Daddy of ‘Em All to that list of successes. For the biggest win of his career thus far, Sanford rode Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Black Tie for a record-setting 92.5-points on Championship Sunday at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Immediately following that win, Sanford set another arena record at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kansas with a 90.5-point ride on Andrews Rodeo Company’s A54 Cracker Jack. Expectations As number 17 in the world standings and sitting second in the Resistol Rookie of the Year race, Sanford has gold buckle dreams; but he’s taking it day by day and appreciating everything his rookie year has turned out to be. “Obviously the main goal is a gold buckle; but as far as right now, I’ve got a lot of rodeos packed in the rest of my rookie season,” Sanford said. “We’re starting to get towards the end, but I’m just taking it one rodeo at a time. I’m not really focusing on the big picture, because that’ll put a lot of pressure on a guy. I’m just focusing on each ride and each horse I get a chance to get on.”
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CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS
ALL-AROUND
COWBOY Stetson Wright rides Dakota Rodeo’s Trump Train for 91.5 points to earn buckles in bull riding and as all-around cowboy at Cheyenne Frontier Days 2023
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Sue Smith in a hurry at Cheyenne Frontier Days and sets a new arena record.
Summer Kosel breaks her own arena record and settles for second place behind Sue Smith.
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KOSEL AND SMITH
RUN FOR THE MONEY IN RECORD BREAKING
FINAL ROUND AT CFD
By Hannah Crandall
A long-standing barrel racing arena record broken, not once, but three times in two years at the Daddy of ‘Em All. On Championship Sunday, Summer Kosel and her gelding, Apollo, broke their own 17.02-second record from the 2022 Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) with a smoking 16.97 run. However, Sue Smith and her mare, Centerfold, came in hot with a time of 16.89 seconds to take over the 2023 win and the record. Summer Kosel From Glenham, South Dakota, Kosel has earned more than $62,000 by attending just over 30 rodeos in the 2023 season. The wife and mother of four has only held her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) membership since 2017, after her kids were old enough to peewee rodeo themselves; but her and Apollo have made waves in the barrel racing world the past three years. Sue Smith Smith’s win and new arena record are proof of her exceptional horse training; but it’s not the first time her training has led to a CFD win, as the horse Andrea Busby won the legendary rodeo on in 2022 won more than $76,000 on the futurity scene with Smith. After being crowned champion in Cheyenne, Wyoming at 68 years old, Smith jumped from number 17 in the world standings to sixth with earnings of more than $89,000 in her most exciting rodeo season since 2009, when she finished fifth in the world. Big things are happening for both CFD barrel racing winners and the horses carrying them to great heights, and an exceptional end to their seasons is expected for the two experienced horsewomen!
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By Hannah Crandall
During Cheyenne Frontier Days, 87.5 points all around made for a threeway bareback riding tie at the Daddy of ‘Em All! Clayton Biglow, Cole Reiner and Kade Sonnier are all cowboys who have earned over $100,000 since last October to be sitting in the top 10 in the 2023 world standings. Clayton Biglow Seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier and 2019 world champion, Biglow made an exceptional ride on Sankey ProRodeo & Robinson Bulls’ Atomic Blonde. Twenty-seven-year-old Biglow from Clements, California has qualified for the NFR every year since 2016. So far in the 2023 season, he’s won the 94th Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo, the Mother Lode Round-Up, the Springville Sierra Rodeo, the Lakeside Rodeo, the Clovis Rodeo, the California Circuit Finals Rodeo, the Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo and now Cheyenne. Cole Reiner From Buffalo, Wyoming, 24-year-old Reiner, who has qualified for the NFR three times since 2020, climbed on his horse on Championship Sunday with sights set on being at least 87.5. He rode New Star Pro Rodeo’s Chosen One for just that. Other wins for Reiner so far this season include St. Paul, Oregon and the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Arizona. Kade Sonnier Of the three 2023 CFD bareback riding winners, Sonnier is the youngest and sits highest in the standings going into September. The rookie cowboy from Carencro, Louisiana got a rematch with Sankey ProRodeo & Robinson Bulls’ MLW’s Irish Eyes, who he was 85 points on at St. Paul, Oregon, at one of the final legacy rodeos of the season to mark his 87.5. Prior to this monumental win, he’d taken first a few times further south at the Old Fort Days Rodeo, the Crossett Riding Club rodeo and the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo.
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Clayton Biglow hangs onto Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Atomic Blonde and grabs a piece of the bareback title in Cheyenne.
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Cole Reiner rides into a three-way tie at Cheyenne Frontier Days on NS Chosen One, 87.5 points.
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Kade Sonnier takes a wild ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Irish Eyes in the final round to complete the trio of champions in Cheyenne.
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Having a great summer, Josh Frost scored a 86.5 and tied for 5th place with Jess Pope.
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Joey Williams ropes a time of 3.8 to be crowned the ladies’ breakaway champion.
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Luke Potter from Maple City, KS, stops the clock at 10.6 to win the tie-down title at Cheyenne.
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Eli Lord gets it done in 5.9 seconds to take the steer wrestling title in Cheyenne.
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Billy Bob Brown and Kirby Blankenship team up for a time of 8.0 seconds, winning the team roping championship at Cheyenne.
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Elevating rodeo photography to an art form www.imagehounds.com
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Trick Rider
MadISON MacDonald
Madison and her spirited horse shine under the vibrant arena lights during their incredible performance at Reno Rodeo, a testament to her remarkable journey. With a decade as Contract Act at the National Finals Rodeo and five Top 5 PRCA nominations, she’s an esteemed rodeo figure. Her partnership with equine co-stars extends to TV, stunt doubling on Heartland. Sharing the stage with Pepe Aguilar on his 2019 North American Tour adds to her dynamic resume. Amidst her achievements, Madison thrives in WPRA barrel racing, team roping, horse training, and teaching. This photograph reflects her dedication, skill, and the deep bond she shares with her animals and family.
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By Lillian Landreth Sportswriter Barbara Pinnella has covered the athleticism and mettle of numerous disciplines in her forty-plus years as a professional writer. The 76-year-old from Chino, California, knows the ins and outs of the boxing and wrestling ring and the show jumping course. But one of her favorites remains the bull riding arena, and the athletes—human and bovine—who first endeared her to the gritty sport. Barbara began covering the PBR in 1993, just a year after the organization was formed. She conducts the bulk of her interviews in person, which makes her a familiar face to athletes from all over the world. This is one of the things she loves best about the sport. “It’s a family, and they’ve just been great. A lot of people don’t like the teams, but it still boils down to one bull and one rider, and I love that competition within the competition. It’s between the bull rider and the bull and who’s going to win this time.” She is honored to have three PBR buckles, the first of which she won during a PBR blackjack tournament playing at the table with PBR Hall of Famer Clint Branger. In 2013, she and another writer were awarded 20year commemorative buckles, and in 2022 she received her first PBR Finals team buckle. “I’m really blessed to be accepted that way, and want to mention three women who have been instrumental to me on my PBR journey. They are Denise Abbott, Mandi McCary, and Cally Anderson. Without them in my corner I would not have had all the opportunities I have been offered.” Barbara’s personal area of expertise in sports is show jumping, which she competed in for many years throughout California. Yet when she learned to focus on the people in each different sport and their goals to make a better life for their families, that humanity drew her in and made it relatable. “In every venue, I’ve met the greatest people involved in all of it,” says Barbara. In her very spare time, Barbara loves competing in agility with her corgi, Susie. She also teaches jumping lessons, as well as traveling with clients to shows. Her work can be found in Humps N Horns Bull Riding Magazine, THE Equestrian Catalog, and Sports Life Magazine.
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KEENAN
STAMPEDE By Hannah Crandall
A dominating force in bareback riding, Keenan Hayes has burst into the world of professional rodeo and shown everyone exactly why he belongs and deserves success in this sport. The cowboy from Hayden, Colorado has racked up more than $225,000 with one month left to go in the 2023 season, and he’s not slowing down. Approaching the end of the season, Hayes leads the world standings by more than $70,000 and the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings by more than $80,000. Kicking off his rookie season, the 2022 Permit Finals champion has won the 150th Silver Spurs Rodeo, the Brighton Field Day & Rodeo, Rodeo Austin, the San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out, the Resistol Rookie Roundup, the Home of Champions Rodeo, the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo, Laramie Jubilee Days, the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, the NFR Open and the Central Wyoming Fair & PRCA Rodeo. Hayes’ ambition and passion for rodeo began when he started riding mini steers at 8 years old. After being the reserve champion bareback rider at the 2018 National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), Hayes took home the NHSFR bareback riding championship in 2019. Throughout his childhood and high school, he competed in all three roughstock events before committing solely to bareback riding in 2021. Now, he has a solid shot at winning the rookie title and world title in the same year! “This season, Keenan is on his rookie card; and he’s winning the world by quite a ways, so it’s pretty outstanding. Obviously, Keenan’s a phenom, and I don’t think anybody’s seen one come along like him, probably since Joe Alexander,” said Ty Skiver, owner of Skiver Bootmakers. “We were founded in 1996, and we make cowboy boots. Our customer base is rodeo cowboys. I build a lot of their chaps, and a lot of them wear our boots to ride broncs in. I saw Keenan coming up, and he won around $100,000 on his permit in one year; so I thought it’d be great to have that guy wearing our product. He’s going to be the guy!”
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HAVING MORE THAN A MONTH REMAINING IN THE SEASON, WEBB HAS ACCUMULATED EARNINGS TOTALING $218,400, EXCEEDING THE PREVIOUS RECORD HELD BY TIE-DOWN ROPER SHAD MAYFIELD. MAYFIELD HAD SET THE RECORD OF $203,508 IN A SINGLE REGULAR SEASON BEFORE THE NFR EVENT, ACHIEVING THIS MILESTONE IN 2022. 37
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Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, a celebrated figure in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, continues to etch her name in the annals of rodeo history. In an impressive feat on the evening of July 24, she secured a Gold Medal at Utah Days of’47 Rodeo, further enriching her already illustrious career. What’s more, this victory propelled her earnings past the remarkable $3 million milestone in her WPRA journey. This summer has proven particularly triumphant for her, clinching wins in events like Reno, Calgary, and now the Utah Days of ‘47 Rodeo, where she rode Jets Top Gun to all these successes. With an impressive record of 16 National Finals Rodeo qualifications, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi’s reign in the WPRA world standings is further solidified by her recent accomplishments, earning her $17,688 in Salt Lake City alone. These earnings, though not yet reflected in the standings, are set to make their mark when next week’s standings are unveiled after the rodeo’s closure on Monday.
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The two-time PBR World Champion Jose Vitor Leme matched Brusta jump-forjump, scored a monstrous 91 points to cement the weekend win.
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AUSTIN GAMBLERS DOMINATE FOR SECOND YEAR AT
PBR CAMPING WORLD
TEAM SERIES IN ANAHEIM, GOING PERFECT 2-0 IN GAME PLAY By Mandi McCary
ANAHEIM, Calif. – For the second consecutive year, the Austin Gamblers stood on the dirt victorious inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, going a perfect 2-0 in game play and winning the PBR Camping World Team Series event on Sunday afternoon after their franchise player, Jose Vitor Leme, delivered a monstrous 91-point score in extra outs. The Gamblers, the 2022 PBR Teams regular-season champions, remain undefeated (7-0) in 2023. “This team is amazing,” shouted an ecstatic JJ Gottsch, CEO of the Austin Gamblers. “And when I say team, I mean the entire team. Jose is the best in the world, but this entire team is awesome. Everybody on this team had a role in this victory this weekend, and I am so happy for them.” In Teams and individual competition, Leme, the 2022 Teams MVP, is now 12-for-15 with four wins inside Honda Center. As competition got underway on Saturday night in Southern California, the Gamblers defeated the Carolina Cowboys by a whopping 175.75 points, 263.5-87.75. Continuing the electric showing on Sunday afternoon, the Gamblers were entangled in an intense slug-fest with the previous weekend’s
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event winners, the Kansas City Outlaws. While the amped-up Outlaws, looking to win their fifth straight game, set the tone right out of the chutes, the Gamblers fired back each time. Both teams had four qualified rides in one of the most exciting games of the season. Calling upon Koltin Hevalow (Smithville, Missouri) to take a re-ride for Kyler Oliver, the Outlaws were prepared for battle in their final out of the Sunday game. Netting 88.25 points to reclaim the lead for Kansas City, 342.23256.75, fans went to full volume as Austin Richardson readied to take Adriano Salgado’s re-ride for Austin. Netting an 89.25 monstrous score, he clinched the walk-off win for the Gamblers, 346-342.25 Austin concluded PBR Camping World Team Series in Anaheim with a perfect record and entered extra outs to determine the event winner against the Oklahoma Freedom, who also went 2-0. As the event in Anaheim began, Oklahoma edged the Missouri Thunder by one point, 89.25-88.25. When competition continued on Sunday afternoon, the Freedom and the Nashville Stampede went head-to-head. Courtesy of an 84.75-point ride from Alex Cerqueria, Oklahoma took and kept the lead, shutting out the Stampede 84.75-0 for their second game win of the weekend. As extra outs began, the Gamblers earned first pick by virtue of having the higher aggregate score in Anaheim. The team looked to Leme aboard Brusta (Joe & Nina Webb/ Julian/ D&H Cattle Co), while the Freedom tapped Thiago Salgado to attempt July (Leffew Bucking Bulls). Salgado began extra outs with a 7.3-second buckoff, opening the door for Leme to once again secure a win for the Gamblers. The two-time PBR World Champion matched Brusta jump-for-jump, scored a monstrous 91 points to cement the weekend win. The score was Leme’s second 90-point ride of the 2023 PBR Teams season and his third inside the Honda Center in his career.
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Austin improved to 7-0 thus far in 2023 and held tight at No. 1 in the league. The Oklahoma Freedom, now 5-2, sit at No. 3 in the league standings, one game behind the No. 2 Carolina Cowboys. The-Arena-Press.com
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Fans went to full volume as Austin Richardson readied to take Adriano Salgado’s re-ride for Austin. Netting an 89.25 monstrous score, he clinched the walk-off win for the Gamblers.
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Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) aboard Show Me (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) was bested by the powerful animal athlete, being thrashed to the ground and stomped upon after a mere 4.27 seconds.
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Bruno Carvalho (Alvares Florence, Brazil) then faced a must-ride situation for Nashville, needing a score to keep his team in the game. His ride aboard YETI World Champion Bull contender Cool Whip (Julian/ Staci Addison/ D&H/ Crooked W) was a brief 3.99 seconds.
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Kade Madsen, the Thunder’s rising star was confidently in control, besting his re-ride partner Ah Hell (Cooper/ Scruggs Bucking Bulls). Anxiously awaiting his score in the wings with hopes of overtaking the Freedom, his face showed his frustration as his 88.25-point score was announced, giving the Freedom an 89.25-88.25 victory.
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Leadoff rider Ednelio Almeida (Carcoal, Brazil) was sent flying by Coach K (4B Bucking Bulls) on the first night of competition in Anaheim.
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Carolina looked to 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) to keep the Cowboys’ hopes of victory alive. The New Yorker, however, couldn’t rise to the occasion, thrust to the ground in a hard-fought 3.56 seconds by Grey Smoke (Farris Cattle/ Big Shott Rodeo).
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Dusty Tuckness faces off with Short Circuit (D&H Cattle Company) after Koltin Hevalow (Smithville, Missouri) scored 88.25 points on one of his biggest rides.
Casey Roberts (Munford, Alabama) of the Freedom was dispatched In the bottom of the second frame, by Mr. Clean (Julio Moreno/Equistride).
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