Like last week, this round will be big for the riders, because the Championship round is stacked with bulls who are extremely difficult to ride.
Event Leaders:
Fabiano Vieira on 679 Tremors:
If I had to pick a bull for myself or anyone else in a draft
round, this is the bull I would pick. Not because of his stats, but
because he is just awesome. Tremors is a very large black bull with
no horns, and after he goes, every retired bull rider in the arena
or watching on TV will think about coming out of retirement because
he just looks like so much fun. Don't worry; they will change their
minds after watching some of the other bulls. He's not the safest
pick or the easiest bull here by the numbers - he's only been
ridden 2 times in 14 trips, but he can be good enough for Vieira to
win this round on.
Mike Lee on 694 Dark Shadow:
This is one of the more rider-friendly bulls in this group. Riders
are 8 for 13 on him at the Built Ford Tough Series level, but only
2 for 20 elsewhere. He does have some speed. Luke Snyder was 90
points on him in Idaho earlier this year, and the bull spun to the
right then.
Luke Snyder puts up 90 points on Dark Shadow in Boise,
Idaho.
Kody Lostroh on 82 (Mesa Pate):
This bull really hasn't been around long enough to earn a name, so
he has very limited history, but Lostroh was 88 points on him at a
Grand Junction, Colorado Touring Pro event just one month ago.
Lostroh is the only rider to have made the whistle on him in 5
career outs.
Silvano Alves on 54B Uncle Carl:
This bull has been extremely good for right-handed riders, mainly
because a lot of the right-handed riders who get on him are Silvano
Alves. Alves has had him four times and ridden him three times.
Like most bulls here, he isn't enough bull to get Alves on the
ground, and the outcome here is totally dependent on whether Alves
can avoid making a big mistake.
Aaron Roy on 707 Strokin'
Strokin' doesn't have a lot of history, but he's been ridden 3
times in 6 attempts at all levels. His only Built Ford Tough Series
appearance was last week in Tulsa where Valdiron de Oliveira was
87.75 points on him in round 3. Great pick for Roy.
LJ Jenkins on 7275 Whoopah Cocktail:
This is a bull that has been ridden 7 times in 15 outs, and all 7
times by right-handed riders. Jenkins is known for knowing the
bulls well, and he does tend to draft well. He needs another score
here, and he should get it on this bull.
Cord McCoy on 59 Whiskey's Rebel:
McCoy was 88.5 points on Rebel in Columbus last season. Rebel is
ridden reasonably often, but he's got a little hitch in his routine
that will get a lot of riders on the ground. He'll lead off with
big, powerful leaps right out of the chute, then settle into a spin
and stay closer to the ground and not kick as much. This is
noticeable if you are watching for it, but it's very noticeable if
you are trying to ride him. It's like watching Randy Johnson wind
up like he's going to throw you a 100 MPH fastball, and then he
lobs you a big fat slow hook. It throws your timing off.
Cord McCoy scores 88.5 points on Whiskey's Rebel in
2011.
Chance Roberts on 841 Cyber Cat:
Circle T recently bought this bull from Diamond S Bucking Bulls.
He's been around the rodeo circuit quite a bit and has only been
ridden one time in 25 career outs. Roberts has his work cut out for
him.
Cody Johnson on 705 Back Bender:
Ben Jones made a great ride on this bull in Tulsa last week. He's
not an easy bull to get by; he's only been ridden 4 times in 30
career outs. Back Bender devotes most of his effort to spinning,
and he can really whirl.
Luke Snyder on 06 Top Proctor:
Top Proctor got Mike Lee last week, and in Pueblo before the
break. He's unridden in 14 career outs, and has tossed 5 former
World Champs in his last 5 outs.
Bart Miller on 532 The Upgrade:
This is an obvious choice for Miller namewise. After going 79
points last night, he really does need an upgrade in the bull
department. This one is not easy to ride, and is not ridden very
often - only 3 times in 24 career outs.
Others:
Cody Nance on 810 Ball Peen:
This is a brand-new bull with only a handful of outs, and has
never appeared at this level before. But, odds are he will be worth
watching, because Cody Lambert gave a lot of thought to using him
in the championship round here. Given the caliber of bulls that are
due up later tonight, this bull should be pretty spectacular.
Chase Outlaw on 537 Jawbreaker:
Outlaw has been the most exciting young rider to watch this
season, and if he can get this bull ridden, his talent may be
upgraded to legendary status at least among the other riders. Good
bull riders make the whistle on good bulls; great bull riders make
the whistle on bulls nobody likes. Jawbreaker is the poster child
for bulls nobody likes. He's been around since 2009, and no one has
ever ridden him. He's turfed some of the best riders in the world.
Since January of 2011, he's been out 9 times at PRCA rodeos, and
only one guy actually showed up to get on him. The Built Ford Tough
Series is essentially the only place Jawbreaker can get a date. If
Outlaw can get a score here he deserves a standing ovation.
Follow Slade Long on Twitter @probullstats.
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