ProRodeo Sports News - March 3, 2023

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO

Duo claims first arena title Dustin Egusquiza and Levi Lord have both found a great deal of success in their young careers. Between the two of them they have qualified for sevenWrangler National Finals Rodeos, but never one together. have teamed up for the first time this ProRodeo season and the change in scenery is already paying dividends. After fighting back through the wildcard round at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Egusquiza/Lord put together a 4.1-second run in the finals to capture the win and a hefty payday. The partnership has been a seamless transition. “We have been best friends for a while now, so that’s been the key to our partnership I think,” said Lord, 27. “No matter whether we do good or bad we can just shake it off like nothing happened. It’s been a blessing to be able to heel for this guy.” The duo qualified for the semifinals in both Denver and Fort Worth but hadn’t been able to break through until the San Antonio win. The first-place check moved them up to fourth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $29,097 as of March 1. It’s a win they have been searching for. “We came into the last day of the rodeo with $9,000 won in the standings and that’s not a very good start at this time of year,” said Egusquiza. “Then we won the wildcard and won first, that’s almost $20,000 in a day. “It takes a little stress off of us to be able to loosen up a little bit at these next couple rodeos.” That may change in 2023. The header and heeler duo

Steer wrestler Jesse Brown has proved his talent in the PRCA, qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the last three years. The Baker City, Ore., cowboy was in top form at the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo claiming the title with a blistering 3.1-second run in the finals at the AT&T Center. “I knew the round was fast and I had to be fast,” said Brown, who finished a career-best fifth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings a year ago. “I was able to ride Curtis Cassidy’s horse, Tyson, and he got behind the horns really fast and it worked out. It was a packed house and that truck ride around the arena was pretty cool. Everybody is standing up and giving you high fives. That was a cool moment. “They set the pen to be fast and there was a bunch of good bulldoggers and a bunch of good horses. It was set to be a good night.” Brown praised his horsepower, Tyson, who won the PRCANutrena Horse of The Year, Presented by AQHA in 2020, 2021 and 2022. “My career has taken off since I got on Tyson three years ago,” said Brown, 31. “I have made the Finals every year I have been on him, and he was horse of the year those three years. I’m just glad to be a part of that and lucky to get to ride him.” Brown left San Antonio after earning $22,500. “I just want to keep going at it,” he said. Steer wrestler Jesse Brown takes top spot Hailey Rae photo Steer wrestler Jesse Brown clocked a blistering 3.1-second run to claim the San Antonio crown. Brown earned $22,500 in San Antonio.

Hailey Rae photo

Levi Lord, heeler, prepares to make his throw, after his partner/header Dustin Egusquiza made a catch. The duo won San Antonio with a 4.1-second run.

Riley Pruitt has had his share of highlights in his ProRodeo career, topped by winning the NFR average crown in 2016. Pruitt made some memories in San Antonio as he won the championship with a stout 7.2-second time in the finals. “This is a great rodeo and if you draw good you rope good,” Pruitt said. “I had a really good calf, and I knew if I hit the barrier, I had a chance and luckily my horse did what he does all the time and we got through it and got the win, and I will take it.” Pruitt has qualified for the NFR twice in his career in 2016 and 2019 and wants to add a third in 2023. Pruitt, who beat Shad Mayfield by a tenth of a second in the finals, earned $22,500 in San Antonio. “I would love to go back there (to the NFR),” Pruitt said. “This helps. We are a quarter of a way there and I need to keep drawing good ones and make good runs and hopefully I can get back there. “I had some ground to make up in the (PRCA | RAMWorld Standings) and luckily I got on a heater here in San Antonio and this will help me a lot.” Riley Pruitt takes tie-down crown

Tie-down roper Riley Pruitt, who is trying to make his third Wrangler NFR appearance and first since 2019, took a step toward reaching that goal by winning in San Antonio with a 7.2-second run. Hailey Rae photo

ProRodeo Sports News 3/3/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 3/3/2023

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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