ProRodeo Sports News - April 20, 2018

BY SCOTT KANIEWSKI B orn in Davie, Fla., saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz had always wanted to compete at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo since its move to Kissimmee, Fla., about three hours away. Diaz, who now lives in Texas, finally made it to the RAM NCFR in Kissimmee this year. He made the most of the trip. Diaz rode Dakota Rodeo’s Bartender for 86 points in the finals, tying withWade Sundell, whose 86-point ride came on Korkow Rodeo’s Meat Cracker. Diaz won the rodeo buckle because his 83.5-point ride in the semifinals was higher than Sundell’s. “I feel awesome,” said Diaz, who makes his home in Desdemona, Texas. “This is my home state and I had never been here before for the RAM National Circuit Finals. It’s a dream come true to win this deal. I always wanted to win it, especially when it moved to Florida.” Diaz scored big. Not only did he win his first RAMNCFR in his home state, but he also took home $14,594. Diaz tied for third in the second round and took fifth in the average, helping him get into Sunday’s semifinals. There, he took third to get into the finals. The victory has him sitting third in the 2018 PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Standings with $53,071. “The year is far from over, I still have to make a lot more money to make it to Las Vegas,” said Diaz, who has been to the Wrangler National Finals Florida native Diaz nabs title RAM NCFR

Isaac Diaz rode Dakota Rodeo’s Bartender for 86 points in the RAM NCFR finals on his way to the saddle bronc riding buckle. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

Rodeo in Las Vegas five times, most recently in 2015. “But my dream is to win the world, so all I can do is keep striving for that.” Diaz’s ride on Bartender was exactly what he was hoping for. “That horse honestly feels like everything a bronc rider wants to get on,” he said. “I have a new favorite. She leaves there smooth and slow, lets you spur out for two jumps. It’s not hard to do that on her. A slow start, and then it just gets better the better you ride her and the higher she gets. I mean, you can’t ask for a better bucking horse.” Cooper nets $19K in tie-down roping BY SCOTT KANIEWSKI T he reigning PRCA All-Around champion is at it again. Tuf Cooper, who won his first all-around gold buckle in Las Vegas in December, is at the top of the charts for all-around in 2018, and it’s not even close. Cooper added to that lead by winning the tie-down roping finals at the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo with a 7.0-second run in Kissimmee, Fla., April 8. “I’m just so thankful to have the opportunity to win this thing,” said Cooper, 28. “It’s a dream come true. I always wanted to be the RAMNational Circuit Finals (Rodeo) tie-down champion.” He got there by taking fifth in the second round, third in the average and second in the semifinals. All that success at the RAMNCFR netted Cooper $18,906. As of April 16, Cooper had won $84,702 in all-around money, giving him a lead of nearly $34,000. The win also helped Cooper climb from fifth in the tie-down roping standings to first. He is in second place in steer roping. “I’ve gotten off to a great start in both events – calf roping, steer roping,” said Cooper, who owns four world titles. “This is going to help out so much.” Cooper made sure to point out how well his horse did in helping him haul in the buckle. “My mare, Topaz, worked great,” he said. “She was consistent all week. She made it easy on me. The crowds down here are pretty loud, and she adapted really well to my runs and the calves and the situations I was in. That’s why she’s my No. 1.”

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After winning the RAM NCFR tie-down roping title, Tuf Cooper led the world standings with $54,000 as of April 16. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

ProRodeo Sports News 4/20/18

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