Las Vegas, NV: These are my favorite articles to write as I get to add in some of my own opinion on them and hopefully get some conversation going. I’m wondering what else you all would like to see coverage wise? Interview wise, last night it was great to talk to Kyle Thomson and Gillian Shields. It’ll surely be great to see how things unfold the rest of the week.
Tonight might be the best night for us stock wise as we’ve got eight animals in the draw and a couple re-rides too. This should be the same pen as the Tenth Round that we will see on Saturday Night.
These are the match-ups and my thoughts. Please share yours below in a comment as well.
Bareback
J.R. Vezain vs. Street Dance, Kesler Rodeo – Duane Kesler and I caught up in the hallway on the way to the arena last night to talk about the horses they have here. It seems to me like Street Dance has to be one of his favorite’s. Like he said when she won the Bucking Horse of the CFR award this year, she’s one you can be 90 on every time. She’s an eight time CFR and NFR qualifying horse that’s 14 years old and buckskin in colour. 2012 Canadian Bareback Riding Champion JR Vezain has got to be pumped about this draw. I’m betting this is the round win tonight at 88 points or more.
Steven Dent vs. Makeup Face, C5 Rodeo – The video below is of Dusty LaValley winning the Ponoka Stampede on this horse with a 90 point score in the Showdown Round. I think they won a bunch of money on this horse in Cheyenne too. It’s a shame that a horse this great is here at the NFR and yet not at the CFR. Makeup Face is a blue horse that really gets in the air and is real showy. Steven Dent will like this draw and has a great opportunity to win a big check.
Jared Keylon vs. Stampede Warrior, Calgary Stampede – This six year old was the Bareback Horse of the Calgary Stampede last year as a five year old. With the caliber of horses there in Calgary, that’s impressive. This will be a good one to watch.
Matt Bright vs. Princess Warrior, Calgary Stampede -JR Vezain won a round on this horse at this past CFR with an 85 in the second round. Matt Bright has been doing well on the Canadian horses he drawn and I bet he keeps that trend going tonight.
RR – Special Delivery Calgary Stampede – It’s too bad this horse got into the re-ride pen but it means that we will see him for sure later in the week. As the Bareback Horse of the Year in the CPRA this year, it’ll be a great matchup. Keith Marrington said that he thinks this horse has the ability to finish as one of the top three bareback horse in the World.
Saddle Bronc
Chad Ferley vs. Pedro, Wayne Vold Rodeo – I thought I’d have more video on Pedro but I haven’t found any besides this one of him going up against Chet Johnson in Okotoks, AB back in September. Chad Ferley will have to do his part but has a draw that could win him the round. Pedro won the Bucking Horse of the Year award in the CPRA this year, this is his second time to the NFR.
Cody Wright vs. Eclypce, Wayne Vold Rodeo – This horse started off in the bareback riding and even won the Bareback Horse of the CFR. Wayne Vold raised this big eight year old pinto that was also here last year at the NFR. Eclypce has drawn great tonight in World Champion Cody Wright.
Sterling Crawley vs. Shoshone Mountain, Calgary Stampede – A month ago tomorrow this horse was named the Saddle Bronc of the CFR. He’s a fourth generation champion bucking horse out of the likes of Cindy Rocket, Turtle Mountain and Fuming Rocket. Sterling Crawley hasn’t been having the NFR he’s wanted to yet but this big bay horse with white socks will give him a great opportunity to win. This six year old gelding threw off 2012 Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion Luke Butterfield at the CFR to probably be 90.
RR – Lynx Mountain, Calgary Stampede – This CPRA horse of the year has been in the tenth round for the past two years and is a half sister to Shoshone Mountain. A mare at nine years old, Denver Daines won the Ponoka Stampede on her his summer.
Bull Riding
Cody Whitney vs. Beaver, Calgary Stampede – This bull was bought by the Calgary Stampede at the bucking stock sale here a couple years ago. Beaver was one of the top bulls we had all year and put up some big bull scores. The one trip that stands out the most in my mine is the one in Langham, SK at the Curtis Leschyshyn PBR where he would have surely been 90 and won the event had he stayed on a little bit longer. Cody had a great first two rounds but hasn’t stayed on his last two bulls. That will change tonight when he rides this little black up horned bull for an 87 or so. Beaver got rode both times this year at the CFR by both Chad Besplug and Dakota Buttar. He will likely spin to the left real fast right in the gate. That’ll work perfect for Cody.
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