Nobody can say that the PBR hasn’t caught on in a big way. The Express PBR Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, set a record for the Tulsa Convention Center. The Classic was the largest grossing event in ticket sales in the Convention Centers’ 43-year history! Quite an accomplishment, and those who bought their tickets were not to be disappointed.
This was the 22nd stop on the tour as we are fast approaching the end of the season and the PBR Finals. This was a good event and we saw some great rides on some super bulls. Adriano Moraes turned hot as a firecracker as he rode all four of his bulls and won the average.
Round one found the returning Jared Farley on the top of the leader board as he covered Chester for an 88.75. Mendell/Lane/Downard own Chester. Hot on his heels with a score of 88.50 was LJ Jenkins. He rode D&H Cattle Co./Harrison’s bull The Deacon. A point behind Jenkins was Mike White, hitting the board with an 87.50 on Bone Crusher, owned by Spinning Bull LLC. Adriano Moraes rounded out the top four when he rode the Carter/Neeley bull Little Mr. T for 87 points.
J.B. Mauney drew an outstanding young bull named Grey Dog, owned by D&H Cattle Co./Junk Cattle Co. I would say that he won’t forget this bull any time soon, but the truth is, he doesn’t remember much. After bucking him off, the bull stepped on his neck
(shades of Justin McBride a few weeks ago), causing him to wake up the next morning bruised and sore, with no recollection of going to the bull riding the day before. For doing his job, Grey Dog was given a score of 46.25.
The second round was an interesting one. Although advised that he probably should not ride due to his concussion and vision problems, Mauney disregarded the recommendation. He had drawn the strong bull Cat Man Do, owned by #10 Bucking Bulls, and did not want to pass him up. While maybe not the smartest of his young career, his decision proved to be a profitable one for him, as he won round two with a score of 90.50. Beau Hill was second on Wintwister with a 90.25. Page & Teague Bucking Bulls owns Wintwister.
Chris Shivers broke his dry spell when he rode his bull, but threw that score out and took a re-ride. His second bull was Shane, owned by Herbert Bucking Bulls. Shivers was given a score of 89 to be third. It was noted by the broadcasters that this ride could be a career-changing one for him. Chris had been in a horrible slump this season and was actually in danger of being kicked off the tour.
Moraes was fourth again, this time on Page & Teague Bucking Bulls’ Sunshine. At first he was given a no-score, as the clock was stopped at 7.9 seconds. Adriano immediately took advantage of the replay challenge and that gamble paid off, as it was determined that he would get a score. That score was an 88.
On to round three, and if you were wondering where Justin McBride has been, well, he was just waiting until this round. He took the top spot on the Herbert/Sanford bull What I Say with a score of 89.50. Jason Bennett was second with an 87 on Little Bo, owned by 4C’s/Mosley/Radke. Third was Ross Coleman. He received an 85.75 on Chester, the same bull that won round one for Farley. Fourth was Robson Palermo. He covered Medicine Man for an 84.50. Medicine Man is owned by Double R’s Bucking Bulls.
The Championship Round was super watching. Shivers put an exclamation point to his placing in round two when he rode Diamond S Bucking Bulls’ Cat Daddy to the highest score of the season, a 93.25! Yep, he sure looked as if he’s back to me. This was vintage Chris, and it was great to see.
Young gun Harve Stewart had an excellent ride on Page & Buck’s Savage Shaker to be second with a 91. McBride was third with 90.50 on Cajun King. That bull is hauled by Herbert/Fournier Bucking Bulls. Another fourth for Adriano when he rode California Dreaming to an 88 score. Frontier/Teague Bucking Bulls owns that bull.
Moraes won the average when he was the only man to ride all four of his bulls. Shivers was second – how wonderful for both of these men – Coleman third, Palermo fourth and McBride fifth.
As for the BFTS standings, it is McBride, Mauney, Sean Willingham, Guilherme Marchi, and Palermo.
Here are some facts you might find interesting. Justin has ridden in 19 of 22 Championship Rounds this season. Mauney had ridden 50% of his Championship Round bulls – more than McBride. With his strong showing in Tulsa, Moraes moved way up the standings into eighth place.
As for the bulls, some were spectacular. From all that I have read and seen on television, three bulls tied for the highest bull score, an impressive 46.75. One was Troubadour, who bucked off Kasey Hayes. That bull is owned by Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls. The second was Versus Blackout, owned by Page & Buck. Jenkins had tried to ride Blackout to no avail. The third was the bull I had mentioned earlier, Grey Dog. He bucked off Mike White. Kudos to these special bulls and their owners.
Next stop is Chihuahua, Mexico, which Linda Peterson and myself will be attending and bringing all of the action to you.
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
All photos credit Andy Watson
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