ProRodeo Sports News - June 7, 2024

FORT PIERRE, S.D. & WEYBURN, SASKATCHEWAN Rising Rookie

XTREME BRONCS

Dallas uses big outcomes in Fort Pierre, S.D., and Weyburn, SK to propel himself inside top 20

BY ALEX RILEY Special to ProRodeo Sports News Z achary Dallas made the 16-hour drive from Alberta, Canada, to Fort Pierre, S.D., on the possibility he might get a rematch with a saddle bronc horse. After driving 28 hours from Las Cruces, N.M., to compete in the Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo in Alberta, Dallas made the choice to pile in a vehicle, leave his teammates from New Mexico State University behind and ride at the Casey Tibbs Match of Champions Xtreme Broncs event on June 1. He liked his first-round matchup in the event and if he could do well enough to qualify for one of the spots in the final eight, he knew there was a chance he might get to face off with Korkow Rodeos’ Joker Poker. “There’s pretty much two horses that you

(Unofficial as of June 6) 1. Lefty Holman, Visalia, Calif.................. .................$27,038 2. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo.................. . ................26,449 3. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta............ ............25,596 4. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah................... ...................24,045 5. Qwint Stroh, Glendive, Mont.................. .................18,870 6. Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas................... ...................17,513 7. Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La................... ..................17,423 8. Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta........... ...........17,044 9. Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D.......................... .........................16,663 10. Ben Andersen, Eckville, Alberta ......... . ........15,863 11. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D....................... ......................13,661 12. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont............ ...........12,584 13. Zachary Dallas, Las Cruces, N.M......... . .......12,156 14. Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo.................... ...................12,152 15. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho.................. . .................11,808 Complete results/Page 56 PRCA XTREME BRONCS 2023 TOUR STANDINGS

want to draw at these bronc matches – it’s South Point and Joker Poker,” Dallas said. “And I had got on Joker Poker last year in Deadwood in the short round and I was 86 to be second. I made a really good ride. It was probably one of the best rides I’ve ever made.” Might. Chance. Possibility. None of it was guaranteed. Yet somehow, it all came together for a moment that could redefine the up-and-coming cowboy’s season. After winning the first-round with an 88-point ride on Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Carolina Blue, Dallas managed to get the literal luck of the draw, matching up with Joker Poker in the finals. His road-weary commitment paid off, resulting Dallas’ pairing with Joker Poker ended up feeling like fate as the Tibbs Xtreme Broncs match uses chips, selected at random by the final eight competitors. Because of his first-round win, Dallas picked last in the random draw, leaving him to assume someone would pair with Joker Poker long before he got the chance to pull a chip. “They kept picking horses and it got to the last four and I was like, ‘Well, there’s a 25 percent chance Joker Poker will be there.’ And then it was a 50 percent chance,” Dallas said with a laugh. “And then I ended up being the last guy and I got it. I was a little nervous, but it ended up working out and got her rode.” The win puts Dallas in position to do something rare – qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the same season. A big reason for that is the show he put on for fans just three days later at the Outlaw Buckers & Oil Kings Bronc Match in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Dallas walked away with the title after his 88.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Flying Carma in the Finals. For the two performances he pocketed $20,215, giving him a major boost in the PRCA | RAM World Standings. “This is for sure a confidence booster for me,” Dallas said. “In my head, I want to win a world title, so this is a step toward doing that. Obviously, it’s nice to get some big wins and those kind of reaffirm that belief within yourself. But I have to find a way to keep the ball rolling and I’m not going to let this success get to my head. It’s a long season out here.” After winning the Grand Canyon Region saddle bronc title this year and helping New Mexico State to the overall region championship, Dallas and 15 of his teammates will be in Casper, Wyo., from June 9-15 to take part in the CNFR. Following that, it’ll be all PRCA events all summer as the Resistol Rookie of the Year candidate looks to climb into the Top 15 for a trip to NFR on his first try. To accomplish that, Dallas knows there’s going to be a lot more driving, with more nonsensical road trips from rodeo to rodeo, hoping for good matchups. If anything, he’s proven that sometimes a plan that doesn’t make sense to others can work out well. “It’s tough but it’s worth it,” Dallas said. in an 89-point ride to win the finals and, more importantly, securing his biggest payday yet. The two round wins at the event resulted in $10,642 towards Dallas’ ledger for the season.

Doug Jorgensen photo

Zachary Dallas had an 88-point ride on Harper & Morgan Rodeo’s Carolina Blue in the first round of the Casey Tibbs Match of Champions Xtreme Broncs event to set his victory in motion.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/7/2024

ProRodeo Sports News 6/7/2024

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