The Ty Murray Invitational was not just Stop No. 15 of the 2026 PBR Unleash The Beast Series—it stood once again as one of the most prestigious and hard-fought stages of the entire season, where only the very best could withstand the level of competition inside The Pit.
From the opening night in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the atmosphere felt more like a championship setting than a regular-season stop. The draw was loaded with elite bucking bulls—many of which would not have been out of place in a World Finals short round.
As fans packed into one of the most unique venues in professional sports, the questions surrounding the weekend carried real weight.
Could Brady Fielder continue his surge up the standings?
Would someone inside the Top 10 make a decisive move toward the No. 1 position? Or could a proven champion like José Vitor Leme begin a late-season charge?
By the end of the weekend, those questions had been answered.
And one name stood above the rest.
Top 3 Takeaways — Friday, March 27, 2026
No. 3 — A Champion Stirring: Is José Vitor Leme Finding His Form Again?
José Vitor Leme delivered a performance that felt like the beginning of something.
He finished inside the Top 5 on Friday night with an 89.65-point ride aboard Crazy Sox, earning 15 UTB points and gaining ground in the standings. More importantly, it showed signs of life from a rider who had spent much of the 2026 season searching for consistency.
For a three-time World Champion—arguably one of the greatest to ever compete in the sport—this season had not followed the script. Instead of contending at the top, Leme had found himself fighting to stay relevant in the standings.
Friday night represented a shift.
The result moved him from No. 35 to No. 33 in the world standings, a meaningful jump with limited events remaining before the World Finals.
Because when Leme is right, he doesn’t just compete—he dominates.
No. 2 — Pressure at the Peak: The World Title Race Tightened Under the Lights
Friday night exposed just how unforgiving the top of the standings could be.
Sage Kimzey was unable to convert after losing his bull rope, resulting in a zero. Meanwhile, John Crimber came down early, opening the door for movement in the title race.
Even with the setbacks, only 33 points separated first and second in the standings—a margin that could shift quickly, especially in a three-day event format.
That’s where Brady Fielder continued to make his presence felt.
Fresh off his win in Indianapolis, Fielder backed it up with an 89.95-point ride aboard Ghost Face. While many believed the ride warranted more, the official score was good enough for a second-place finish and another 18 points toward the standings.
Momentum matters this time of year. And Fielder had it.
No. 1 — “Mr. 90” Delivers Again: Dalton Kasel and Pegasus Steal the Show
The biggest moment of Friday night belonged to Dalton Kasel.
Matched up with Pegasus of Cord McCoy Rodeo, Kasel delivered in dominant fashion, posting a 92.75-point ride to win the round. It was another elite performance from a rider who had built a reputation for rising to the occasion.
“Mr. 90” had done it again.
Pegasus matched him every step of the way, marked 45.65 points in a performance that showcased power, timing, and intensity at the highest level.
With that out, Pegasus became the No. 1-ranked bull in the world in the World Champion Bucking Bull race.
Official Results — Round 1 (Friday Night)
Albuquerque, New Mexico — The Pit
Round 2
With one night complete, the Ty Murray Invitational was only getting started.
Saturday night inside The Pit promised even higher stakes, as riders looked to either build on early success or recover from missed opportunities.
Top 3 Takeaways — Saturday Night
No. 3 — The Cost of Commitment: Albuquerque Tested Even the Toughest
Saturday night made one thing clear—the margin for error had disappeared.
Sage Kimzey came down hard in a frightening moment aboard Benjamin Ranklin at 7.34 seconds. Meanwhile, Brady Fielder answered with grit, delivering 89.00 points aboard Peso despite taking a heavy impact.
Leandro Zampollo remained firmly in contention, sitting fifth in the event with 174.55 points on two head.
The pressure had fully arrived.
No. 2 — The Return of a Contender: José Vitor Leme Is Finding His Rhythm
Leme added another score Saturday night, riding Mo Money for 87.95 points and continuing to build momentum.
He moved from No. 33 to No. 32 in the standings, positioning himself for a strong push heading into Championship Sunday.
No. 1 — A Homegrown Moment: Keyshawn Whitehorse Rose to the Occasion
Keyshawn Whitehorse delivered when it mattered most.
Aboard Magic Hunter, he posted 90.15 points to win Round 2 and take control of the event.
With the Navajo Nation behind him, Whitehorse stood on the verge of something special.
Official Results — After Round 2 (Saturday Night)
Albuquerque, New Mexico — The Pit
Championship Sunday
As the event moved toward its final day, the Ty Murray Invitational was set to deliver its most important moments yet.
With the standings tightening and the championship round looming, Sunday afternoon would determine who could withstand the pressure—and who would leave Albuquerque with one of the most hard-earned victories of the 2026 season.
Top 3 Takeaways — Championship Sunday, March 29, 2026
No. 3 — Championship-Level Intensity: Whitehorse Headlines a Finals-Caliber Round
Round 3 delivered four 90-point rides, reinforcing the elite level of competition inside The Pit.
Keyshawn Whitehorse led the charge once again, posting 91.60 points aboard Freightliner Fever to win his second consecutive round.
The Ty Murray Invitational had officially reached a championship level.
No. 2 — Chasing History: José Vitor Leme Added Another Chapter to a Legendary Career
If there was any doubt that José Vitor Leme was beginning to find his form again, Round 3 removed it.
Matched up with Felix, Leme delivered a 90.75-point ride to finish near the top of the round and, more importantly, continue building one of the most complete performances of his 2026 season.
It marked the 89th 90-point ride of his career at the premier series level—placing him within striking distance of one of the most iconic records in the history of the sport.
Through three rounds in Albuquerque, he had gone a perfect 3-for-3—one of his best showings of the season—and looked every bit like the rider who had once dominated the sport.
By the conclusion of the Ty Murray Invitational event, Leme went 3-for-4, moving from No. 35 to No. 27 in the world standings.
In the championship round, he selected Eyes On Me.
But in a sport defined by precision and unforgiving margins, Eyes On Me would win the matchup at 5.75 seconds.
Even so, the message was clear—Leme was back.
No. 1 — A Dream Realized: Keyshawn Whitehorse Delivered a Defining Victory
Championship Sunday in Albuquerque delivered exactly what the Ty Murray Invitational has always represented—elite competition, championship-level rides, and a finish worthy of one of the most respected events in the sport.
Inside The Pit, the championship round featured six qualified rides, four of them marked 90 points or better.
Brady Fielder set the pace with a 91.25-point ride aboard Tigger to win the round and earn 29 points toward the world standings.
But the weekend belonged to Keyshawn Whitehorse.
The pride of the Navajo Nation climbed aboard Lights Out and delivered 90.75 points to finish second in the round.
It was the final piece of a complete and commanding performance.
Whitehorse went 4-for-4, won two rounds, and placed in every round to secure the aggregate victory at the 2026 Ty Murray Invitational—the most significant win of his career.
He moved from No. 16 to No. 9 in the world standings.
And in front of a crowd that rose with him every jump, he didn’t just win.
He fulfilled a dream.
Top Five Finishers — Ty Murray Invitational (Albuquerque)
Did you miss any of the action or just want to see some of the incredible bull scores that these animal athletes put up, or your favorite riders buck off time or score?
Click HERE for complete results from Albuquerque.
HERE is the updated PBR Unleash The Beast World Standings after Albuquerque.
There were so many great bulls this past weekend in Albuquerque that three stood above the rest, finishing in a three-way tie for Bull of the Event. Fire Zone, Pegasus, and Buck Nasty each delivered an outstanding 46-point performance, showcasing the elite level of bovine athletes that defined the Ty Murray Invitational.
If you want to follow one of the closest—and potentially the closest—World Champion Bucking Bull races in recent memory, click here for the official, up-to-date standings.
For World Champion Bucking Bull Standings click HERE.
Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media