ProRodeo Sports News - August 18, 2023

HERMISTON FARM-CITY PRO RODEO

HERMISTON, ORE.

Dynamite Draw Wright capitalizes on Hermiston win TOP SCORES TOP MONEY EARNER

JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he unicorn is a mythical creature, existing only in stories and legends. Or is it? Many of ProRodeo’s bucking horse riders might say the unicorn is alive and well and carries the brand X-9 from the Calgary Stampede string. Xplosive Skies already has a Pendleton Whisky Let ‘er Buck Bareback Horse of the Year title, earned back in 2021 and she carried Logan Hay to the world record, a 95.5-point ride at the Hardgrass Bronc Match in Pollockville, Alberta in 2022. The 13-year-old, black mare has carried her riders to countless wins on ProRodeo’s biggest stages, including the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Xplosive Skies has also been magical in Hermiston at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo, taking Clayton Biglow to the bareback riding arena record with 92 points in 2021. She nearly duplicated the feat, this time in the broncs with Statler Wright in 2023. Meeting up with the champion bucking horse for the first time as the final out of the rodeo on Aug. 12, the youngest of the Wright clan spurred his way to 90 points, just a half point away from the arena record, to take the win. “I squealed like a little girl,” Wright, 19, joked. Like every other bucking horse rider in the PRCA, Wright has been an admirer of Xplosive Skies for some time and has watched his older brothers get their chance to win aboard the Calgary horse. But it was his turn in Hermiston, and he had older brother Ryder, and uncles Stu and Spencer right there to help him out. In fact, Ryder was first out in the perf, taking the lead at the time. “I was trying to keep from getting too nervous,” Wright admitted. “Ryder went first, which was good because then he was standing there, talking to me, giving me a little pep talk.” “Spencer, Stu, and Ryder were all helping me. In fact, Ryder and Stu pulled my saddle for me, I just stood there,” he said. “It was no stress, I didn’t have to worry about anything.” With the Wright cheering section behind him from the back of the chutes, Wright called for the gate. “It felt outstanding,” he said. “I thought she would be really strong. And she was, but she wasn’t. It was a weird feeling, but it felt great, like she was really bucking.” Noting he could hear his family hollering throughout the ride, Wright hit the ground with exuberance. “I threw my hat,” he said. “I thought I had probably won it. But then I thought, every other time I’ve thrown my hat, I’ve been like 82, 83 points so I thought, please don’t let that happen here. For how good it felt, it didn’t really matter what the score was.” The score was great enough for the win that came with a $7,219 paycheck, money sorely needed as Wright chases his first Wrangler NFR qualification. The money put him 16th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $88,540 won so far.

Paden Bray ($9,141, tie down roping) BAREBACK RIDING Bray

1. Dean Thompson ..................... 87 pts. 2. Richmond Champion ..................... 85 3. Taylor Broussard ........................ 83.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Cody Cabral .................. 7.8 sec. on 2 2. Dakota Eldridge ........................... 8.0 (Tie) Stephen Culling ................... 8.0 (Tie) Ty Bauerle ............................ 8.0 TEAM ROPING 1. Driggers/Nogueira ....... 10.0 sec. on 2 2. H. Smith/J. Duby ........................ 10.4 3. C. Campbell/J. Ketscher ............. 11.4 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Statler Wright ......................... 90 pts. 2. Ryder Wright .............................. 87.5 3. Chase Brooks ................................ 86 (Tie) Jake Watson ......................... 86 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Paden Bray ................. 15.9 sec. on 2 2. Tanner Green .............................. 16.8 3. Cash Hooper .............................. 17.5 BARREL RACING 1. Hayle Gibson ..................... 16.96 sec. 2. Steely Steiner ........................... 17.03 3. Taycie Matthews ....................... 17.11 BULL RIDING 1. Luke Mast ............................... 86 pts. (Tie) Jordan Spears ....................... 86 3. Jeff Askey ...................................... 80

Gini Roberge photo

Statler Wright went for 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s standout horse Xplosive Skies to capture the win in Hermiston, Ore.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/18/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 8/18/2023

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

42

43