Round two of the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals saw another Brazilian Win $20,000. After night one with only 15 qualified rides, round two brought the rank pen to the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The word on the street and in the locker room was there wasn't going to be 10 bulls ridden this evening. They were right as only 11 cowboys got to the whistle with 7 of them riding 2 bulls and moving in the average lead.
As the night progressed it would be the top 10 guys coming into the World Finals that would prove why they are in those positions. Tonight, like I mentioned, was the night of the bull as we witnessed the rank pen and the likes of Voodoo, Scene of the Crash, Reindeer Dippin, Chicken on a Chain and the list could go on. None of those bulls were ridden tonight but the ones that were put some guys in the chase for the title.
Night two belonged to Marchi, Lostroh and our member J.B.Mauney. It was Guillherme Marchi 90.75 that set the confetti flying tonight on the back of Firewater owned by Big Bend/Flying Five from the Pacific Northwest.
Kody Lostroh once again wowed the 7200 PBR fans in attendance with his 90.50 on Savage Shaker and now leads the average with his 181 on two bulls. Kody has won $30,000 already in finals dollars and would love to get out of Vegas with over $300,000 won. If he continues to ride like the last 2 evenings that won't be out of reach as the average pays a mere $225,000 at the end of the grueling 8 rounds.
With Marchi and Mauney in control of the race for the million dollars after 2 nights, it was Wiley Peterson and Matt Bohon moving up in the BFTS world standings with their rides tonight. Wiley split his check of 5th/6th with young gun Cole Taylor as they posted 88.25's Wiley put his stamp on the Cajun King of Hebert/Fournier for 88.25 which, by the way, comes to Vegas by way of the Louisiana pair of owners and former bullriders and Taylor conquered Cow Pix of Frontier Rodeo Co.
The Cole Camp Missourian Matt Bohon stuck it on Scentloc of Davis/Wilson/Mayo/Hooker for 89.50 to finish 3rd. From there it was Hugo Pedrero 87.50 on Bond, James Bond and last nights winner Renato Nunes with his 86.75 on Spiderman cashed another check. Beau Hill 84.75, Dustin Hall 83 and Travis Briscoe 83 got it done tonight as well. They all cashed in and are on their way to the bank as it turned out all the men that rode tonight got the money as we paid all 11 tonight due to the final spot being split with Dustin and Travis.
As the dust settled on the arena floor this evening it really was all about the bull and the Bull of the Year honors will go to the bull that accumulates the most points during the year. It was noted tonight that Voodoo with his score of 47 points will take the lead over Scene of the Crash and Chicken on a Chain.
The race for the world title is going to come down to the last ride on the last day. It was also mentioned tonight that the World Finals in 2008 will move to the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus for the entire event. Mandalay Bay will still be home to the PBR Fan Zone so if any of you have never attended a PBR World Finals you can get a jump on next years tickets as they go on sale on the PBR's website. The PBR has an after event party this year along poolside and it gives all the fans an opportunity to meet or greet a bullrider out of the arena and in a different atmosphere.
Until tomorrow, I hope you enjoy the ride and stay tuned for the saga of the million dollar BFTS World Finals presented by Wrangler. Good Night
J. W. Kinder
Announcer and Rodeo Attitude Director
(photos by Mary Rudloff)
