Once again, in this seventh stop on the 2008 BFTS tour of the PBR, the cowboys ran the show in round one. At the Salem NationaLease Invitational in Winston-Salem North Carolina, twenty-seven bull riders covered their bulls in this first round. But it was Robson Palermo who made it to the winners circle when he rode Anchor Bull Company’s Encore to a big 90.75 score. Behind him in second was Kasey Hayes. He rode Go Getta Gun to a 90. This bull is owned by XS Ranches. Nick Landreneau was right behind after his ride on Tino Martinez’ Dark Side. He was awarded an 89.75 for his efforts. Chad Denton was fourth. He rode Dip Dog, owned by Anchor Bull Company to an 89.50. Quite a close round! 

Kasey Hayes on his way to a big 92 score and the event win. Andy Watson photo

The second round saw a drop in rides but nonetheless, 17 is not a bad deal. The cowboys were still on a bit of a roll. Billy Robinson won this round with a 90.50. He covered Booger Butt, owned by Robinson/Tedesco/Larry the Cable Guy. Two riders tied for second with an 88.25 score. Austin Meier rode the bull that took Palermo to the pay window in round one, Encore. Matt Bohon rode Chance, owned by Teague Bucking Bulls. We had another tie between fourth and fifth with an 87.75 score between the hot rookie Reese Cates and Landreneau. Cates rode Brother Jake, owned by Hebert/Fournier Bucking Bulls, and Nick covered a bull owned by McCoy Ranches/Sunset Farms, Freejack.

The short-go was tough, as only four riders rode their bulls. The winner of the Championship Round was Hayes. He was able to ride the great bull Camo to a huge 92 score. Boyd/Floyd Bull Company hauls this super bull. Second with a big score of his own was Kody Lostroh. He was just behind Hayes with a 91.75 on another bull I really like, Cat Man Do. #10 Bucking Bulls owns Cat Man Do. Robinson was third with an 87.50 on Hebert Bucking Bulls’ Start Me Up. L.J. Jenkins was the fourth man to ride, and he was given an 87 score on Fear Factor, owned by Duncan and Evans Bucking Bulls.

The event went to Hayes, followed by Lostroh, Jenkins, and Robinson.

There were a couple of scary moments. In round two Chris Shivers had his leg smashed up against the chutes as his bull James left the gate. Worse yet, it was the leg he had broken in another event. As he was carried to the back, the fear was that he had broken it again but it was later determined that he had badly bruised it – quite a relief for Shivers.

Unfortunately for D.J. Domangue, he was not as lucky. In the Championship Round he had Chicken on a Chain. As he bucked off this fabulous bull his leg kind of stuck up against the bulls’ neck, and as his body rolled over his leg could not move. He broke his femur, and was immediately transferred to the hospital where surgery was scheduled. As of this writing I am sure that the surgery has already taken place. Poor D.J. he suffered a badly broken pelvis not that long ago, and now this. I send a little prayer for D.J.

With his performance however, Chicken on a Chain, owned by Robinson/Tedesco/Larry the Cable Guy scored an amazing 47.75! What a fabulous bull, and he is really a pretty one, too.

As far as the BFTS standings go, Travis Briscoe is still in the lead, even though the flu made him sit out this event. Lostroh jumped up to second, Hayes is third, Guilherme Marchi is fourth, and Paulo Crimber fifth.

This weekend is the event in my neck of the woods, Anaheim, California. On Thursday the 2007 World Champion Justin McBride is going to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County in the morning, and to an elementary school in the afternoon. Linda Peterson and myself are going to join McBride and other PBR personnel, and we look forward in bringing you all of the action for the next four days.

Be safe and God Bless,

Viva La Raza,

Barb.