ARLINGTON, Texas – In his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo appearance, saddle bronc rider Allen Boore never won a go-round.
The Axtell, Utah, cowboy rectified that and more Dec. 5 during his second trip to the Finals.
Boore won Round 3 and set the go-round record with a 90.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Yesterdays Delivery at Globe Life Field.
“Ever since I’ve been rodeoing, one of the stepping-stones to being a world champion is winning when it counts,” Boore said. “I didn’t know about that (setting the Round 3 record) until just now. It’s awesome to have your name rolling for round No. 3.”
The Round 3 record of 90 points was shared by ProRodeo Hall of Famer Billy Etbauer (1995 and 2005), Isaac Diaz (2018) and Chase Brooks (2019).
In Boore’s only other appearance at the NFR in 2016, he placed in four rounds and was second in Round 5 with an 87-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s Fire Lane.
Boore struggled in Rounds 1 and 2 but turned the page Saturday.
“For me, it was watch the video of what happened,” he said. “Find out what little mistakes I made and just forget about it and move on and take today like a brand-new start.”
Boore took a moment to reflect on what the journey’s been like to get back to the NFR.
“The last three years I haven’t made the Finals and just kind of know you can do it but wasn’t able to get it done,” Boore said. “This winter, I was able to pick up and ride the way I wanted, drew good at the good rodeos down here in Texas and got a jump-start on the year and then just carried it the rest of the way through the season. Makes it a lot easier and more fun when you’re winning.”
Feild ends go-round win drought with record-tying ride
This was a long time coming for bareback rider Kaycee Field.
The four-time world champion had not won a round at the Wrangler NFR since 2015.
That drought ended for Feild, Saturday.
The Genola, Utah, cowboy had a 91.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies to claim the win and tie the go-round record.
Feild shares the record with Justin McDaniel (2007) and Tim O’Connell (2017).
“With the caliber of horses they had tonight, you had to have it perfect with your timing, you have to get it going right there,” said Feild, who won world titles from 2011-14. “With that horse a lot is happening, and it is happening really fast. My main goal was to keep on gassing it and give it all I had. I rode 10 seconds through the whistle, and it paid off, that was a fun one.”
It was Field’s first NFR go-round win since Round 9 of the 2015 NFR when he had an 82-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s RodeoHouston’s Control Freak.
When Feild won that round, his father and ProRodeo Hall of Famer Lewis Field was in attendance. Lewis passed away Feb. 15, 2016, from pancreatic cancer. He was 59.
“I had a heater there for a few years and winning was something easy,” Kaycee said. “It came so natural. I had the best coach in the world. Before I got on every horse, I would ask, ‘What do I do tonight, Dad?’ He would tell me to have a strong mark out and have fun. That’s all that matters. The past few years not having my dad around I had to figure out how to find some drive and stay focused when I get here. I feel like I have figured it out and tunneled it back in and feel my dad all the time.”
Feild is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $146,917. Tim O’Connell is atop the standings with $148,722.
Fritzlan cashes in during bull riding win
Bull rider Colten Fritzlan is making his Wrangler NFR debut in 2020.
The 20-year-old will never forget Round 3.
The Rifle, Colo., cowboy captured his first victory with an 89-point ride on Bar T Rodeo’s Angel’s Landing.
More importantly, he earned $45,058 including ground money and moved up to second in the world standings with $124,466. Ky Hamilton is first with $132,023.
Fritzlan and Ty Wallace, who had an 88.5-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Yellowstone, were the only bull riders to make the eight-second whistle.
“I’m tickled,” Fritzlan said. “I was expecting to show up here and do my job in every given round and was blessed today to get the round win. I love this living and I wouldn’t trade the world for any of it. I’m just going to keep this winning going throughout the Finals.
“It gives you an extra boost of confidence and momentum, and it’s just the start, but I plan on doing my job every single day and letting the chips fall where they may.”
Fritzlan had never been on Yellowstone before but was thrilled with the trip.
“I knew a little bit about him, I’d seen a little bit of video and seen him once before in person, so I knew he was going to suck back around the corner and looked like he was going to ride like a Cadillac after that, and he sure did,” Fritzlan said.
Team ropers Egusquiza and Graves make it two straight
Dustin Egusquiza and Travis Graves went to the team roping Round 2 winner’s circle Friday, tying the Round 2 record in the process with a 3.8-second run.
Egusquiza and Graves kept winning Saturday night, claiming the Round 3 title with a 4.2-second run.
“I was riding a horse I call Jack,” Egusquiza said. “I bought him about a month ago, and he is really easy in these setups, pulls good, faces good, leaves flat and gives me a spot to throw. This is our first big rodeo, actually. I bought him from Tyler Oliver and started liking him more and more. I took him a few times to the Fort Worth Stockyards, but this is his first time on a big stage. I didn’t know what I was going to ride, and I had a few options, but for the last couple of weeks he feels the best.”
Graves is riding a horse he’s been on for years.
“I was riding Chip, a horse I’ve had for three years now, and he really fits me,” Graves said.
Although Egusquiza bought Jack recently, he didn’t feel like it was a gamble to ride him at Globe Life Field.
“I don’t think so,” Egusquiza said. “He is a little nervous with the music and stuff, but it doesn’t bother him when he gets in the box.
“I’m having a great time and hope it stays the same. We had a good start the first two rounds and that’s good for your confidence.”
Graves concurred with his partner.
“It’s awesome to win a round at the NFR, let alone come back and do it again,” Graves said. “We’ve been practicing a lot, and it’s fun to come out here and do it in competition.”
Solomon claims tie-down roping win
Tie-down roper Cory Solomon finished No. 16 in the regular-season world standings and was on the outside looking in for the Wrangler NFR. But before the rodeo started, he was summoned to replace Caleb Smidt.
The Prairie View, Texas, cowboy is making the most of his opportunity. He split fifth in Round 1 and then won Round 3 with a 7.0-second run.
“It was all God,” Solomon said about his win. “I wasn’t supposed to be here. I’ve been trying to do what God’s called me to do, which I didn’t know it would be rodeoing here this week.
“The first round I didn’t know how to feel. My heart goes out to Caleb and his family. He worked hard to get here like all the other contestants. At the same time, God has other plans, and I had to accept his blessing with a joyful heart. I made up my mind today that I’m going to rope for him all week. I don’t know the history of any calves and I hadn’t roped in the building like everyone else. I backed into the box and did what I’ve worked for my whole life.
This is Solomon’s seventh Wrangler NFR appearance. He also qualified in 2011-12, 2015-18.
“This is a big stage of rodeo, and we all want to do well here,” Solomon said. “I’ve put too much pressure on myself here over the years of trying to prove I was one of the best on the big stage. Everybody is watching, it pays the most and I’ve overrun myself. I haven’t practiced since before the season ended. So, God has just worked on my mind and got me ready for this stage. It’s goal-fulling to win on the big stage like this.”
Steer wrestler Will Lummus captures Round 3 win
After a third-place finish in Round 2, Will Lummus stepped up more in Round 3, getting the steer wrestling win with a 3.5-second run.
“It was a great set of steers, super,” Lummus said. “All three sets. Last night’s were probably our toughest. This set tonight I felt they were so even. Guys are all taking the same starts, getting great starts. It’s whoever can get their hands on them the fastest. I think it’s a horsepower game tonight and I’m riding a good horse.”
Lummus knows confidence means everything at the Finals.
“You come in here and prepare, and I broke the barrier on my first one,” Lummus said. “You can’t let that one get you down because we’ve got nine more for a lot of money.
Last night I had a pretty good steer and felt like I capitalized, made a good run on him and got some money. Now I feel like the rest of the week we just keep doing what we’re doing because the last couple of nights it’s worked.”
Barrel racer Lockhart reaches winner’s circle
Lisa Lockhart set the pace in barrel racing in Round 3, stopping the clock in 17.09 seconds.
“I thought my run the first night, she (Rosas Cantina CC) felt really good, as well,” Lockhart said. “We barely got the third barrel, and it’s been tight every trip. I really had to stay focused on how I was going to try and ride her tonight, so that was just part of the game plan.
“Anytime you can be in any winner’s circle, let alone here at the NFR, it’s hard to explain. It’s awesome.”
Lockhart also was quick to credit her horsepower for leading her to a victory.
“Rosas is very fast, she’s extremely fast. She is just very reactive to everything, and so timing is impeccable, so it’s very hard as a rider sometimes to have that timing and to time everything perfectly. I think that’s the most difficult part, but she loves her job and can run so fast. It’s an absolute blast.”
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