BOWIE, Texas - This weekend's bull pen will be the strongest and deepest of the 2012 Built Ford Tough Series so far. So strong, in fact, that a few dozen bulls were not even able to make the cut.

"This is one of those events that you have to cut off 30 good bulls that are good enough to be there," said PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert.

In his weekly podcast with PBR statistician Slade Long, Lambert said selection is a tricky process.

The three-day event will also feature 3- and 4-year-old ABBI Classic Bulls in the opening round. It's early in the year, and most of the bulls in the round are just now turning 4.

'This is one of those events that you have to cut off 30 good bulls that are good enough to be there.'
 
Lambert has had two Classic events to examine and sort through more than 100 bulls for the opening round.

"Not as many tried to enter Oklahoma City because the entry fees are higher, and they know what they're up against now," Lambert explained.

There are some strong contenders in the draw.

Lambert said that as a whole, the Classic bulls are still young and unpredictable, and "we could have a few misfires in there."

Black Ivory is in the Classic round, but is older and not competing in the bull competition. Because the bull is still relatively new to the BFTS, Lambert thought it was fitting to include him among the younger bulls.

"I'm not worried about him bucking," Lambert said. "I know he's going to buck. I'm a little concerned about them getting out on him. I was glad to hear Harve Stewart has him, because I think Harve can get out on him without too big of a fight."

Lambert said the bull's future will depend on this event.

He bucks well, but hates the bucking chute, and won't stand when he's in it. If he doesn't cooperate this week it may spell the end of his career, as Lambert said there are too many other bulls not in the event who are just as good.

Lambert and Long also talked about a few veteran bulls, including Perfect Poison.

"He's got a weird style," Lambert admitted. "He has a little different timing."

Two of the only riders to have selected him in the middle of a bull draft are Mike Lee and Cody Nance. Coincidentally, they're also two of the only riders to have covered him.

One rider who won a round at the PBR World Finals on the bull was Fabiano Vieira, who is making his 2012 season debut in Oklahoma City. Vieira actually had the last spot in the draft when 39 other riders essentially picked Perfect Poison for him. [Update: Vieira is a last-minute scratch from the draw, and will be replaced by Bonner Bolton. -Ed.]

'[Perfect Poison is] a rank, strong bucker, but he can't go every week because when he was young he broke his leg fighting with another bull.'

"He's a rank, strong bucker," Lambert said of Perfect Poison, "but he can't go every week because when he was young he broke his leg fighting with another bull."

When the foot did heal, it was out of place. As a result, the contractors keep it trimmed, and need to keep from bucking him too often in order to avoid any unnecessary soreness.

Long observed that it's more common for world-class bulls to be injured from fighting each other than from bucking.

"That's why they can't be kept with other bulls," said Lambert, who added that in some cases bulls are kept with roping calves in order to have companionship but not fight.

WATCH THE WINSTAR WORLD CASINO INVITATIONAL IN OKLAHOMA CITY Friday at 9 p.m. ET on the PBR Live Event Center; Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS); and Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.