BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
The highest paying rodeo of the season so far concluded on Saturday night, and the story of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Finals was the Wild Cards.
Five of the nine champions across the eight events came from the batch of contestants who saved their SASSR lives in the last-chance Wild Card Round earlier Saturday.
The Wild Card winners got on the board right away in the Finals when Leighton Berry rode Frontier’s Gun Fire for a whopping 93 points to win. It was not only the highest marked ride of the rodeo, but tied for the best of the entire 2023 season.
“This is all meant to be,” Berry said. “I was meant to have this horse, I was meant to be here today, I’m just so happy it worked out the way it did.”
For team ropers Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord it was a similar story to Berry. They put up the fastest time of the rodeo, a 3.5, in the Wild Card before stopping the clock at 4.1 seconds to in the Finals to win by two tenths.
“I put us through some stress not roping good,” Egusquiza said. “I just thank Levi for staying hooked.”
“We had pretty high expectations starting out,” Lord said of the new 2023 pairing. “To come here and win this prestigious rodeo, one of the best rodeos we go to all year, it just boosts our confidence.”
In the barrel racing, Kassie Mowry added another big-time rodeo to her resume by stopping the clock at 13.96 seconds in the Wild Card before being the only barrel racer to register a sub-14 second time in the Finals.
Mowry, who made the NFR in 2022 despite going to just 26 rodeos, said this win is huge for her earlier in the season.
“It sure helps, when I’m not able to be out as much, wins like this make it feasible.”
To finish things off in style, Jeff Askey rode for 90 points in both the Wild Card and the Finals to be named the Champion with almost $27,000 banked.
“Twice in one day is pretty good, might have to buy a lottery ticket on the way home,” he said.
Askey is now No. 1 in the PRCA Bull Riding World Standings.
Other winners of San Antonio were Jesse Brown in steer wrestling, Stetson Wright in saddle bronc riding, Riley Pruitt in tie-down roping and Shelby Boisjoli in breakaway roping.
BAREBACK RIDING
Semifinal 1: 1. Keenan Hayes, 88.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Ain’t No Angel, $5,000; 2. Jayco Roper, 86.5, $4,000; 3. (tie) Mason Clements and Cole Reiner, 85, $2,500 each.
Qualifiers: 1. Keenan Hayes, $10,000; 2. Kade Sonnier, $7,500; 3. Jayco Roper, $7,250; 4. Mason Clements, $5,750; 5. Cole Reiner, $5,500.
Semifinal 2: 1. Dean Thompson, 89.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Freckled Frog, $5,000; 2. Jacob Lees, 88, $4,000; 3. Ben Kramer, 86.5, $3,000; 4 (tie) Leighton Berry and Kade Berry, 86, $1,000 each.
Qualifiers: 1. Dean Thompson, $10,000; 2. Jacob Lees, $8,500; 3. Ben Kramer, $8,000; 4. Kaycee Feild, $7,250; 5. Kade Berry, $6,000.
Wild Card: 1. Leighton Berry, 88.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Topped Off, $5,000; 2. Rocker Steiner, 88, $4,000; 3. Tim O’Connell, 86, $3,000; 4. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Donny Profitt, 84.5, $1,000 each.
Finals: 1. Leighton Berry, 93 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Gunfire, $15,000; 2. Keenan Hayes, 90.5, $10,000; 3. Jacob Lees, 89, $5,000; 4. (tie) Cole Reiner and Kade Sonnier, 88.5, $1,500 each.
Champion: Leighton Berry, $23,500
STEER WRESTLING
Semifinal 1: 1. Stockton Graves, 3.5 seconds, $5,000; 2. Dalton Massey, 4.0, $4,000; 3. Kyle Irwin, 4.1, $3,000; 4. Travis Munro, 4.8, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Stockton Graves, $7,750; 2. Brandon Harrison, $7,250; 3. Kyle Irwin, $7,000; 4. Dalton Massey, $6,750; 5. Bridger Chambers, $6,500.
Semifinal 2: 1. Jacob Talley, 4.2 seconds, $5,000; 2. Tucker Allen, 4.7, $4,000; 3. Cameron Morman, 5.0, $3,000; 4. Jesse Brown, 5.2, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Jacob Talley, $10,250; 2. Tucker Allen, $9,250; 3. Jesse Brown, $7,250; 4. Cameron Morman, $6,250; 5. Eli Lord, $4,750.
Wild Card: 1. J.D. Struxness, 3.6 seconds, $5,000; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 4.2, $4,000; 3. Caden Camp, 4.3, $3,000; 4. Ty Bauerle, 4.6, $2,000.
Finals: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.1 seconds, $15,000; 2. Kyle Irwin, 3.6, $10,000; 3. Jacob Talley, 3.8, $5,000; 4. (tie) Stockton Graves, Tucker Allen and Eli Lord, 4.1, $1,000 each.
Champion: Jesse Brown, $22,500
TEAM ROPING
Semifinal 1: 1. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 3.9 seconds, $5,000 each; 2. Tanner James/Billie Jack Saebens, 5.3, $4,000; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 5.8, $3,000; 4. Forrest Fisher/Cutter Pake Thomison, 7.4, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, $8.500 each; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, $7,000; 3. Tanner James/Billie Jack Saebens, $6,500; 4. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, $6,500; 5. Forrest Fisher/Cutter Thomison, $5,500.
Semifinal 2: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.1 seconds, $5,000 each; 2. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 4.3, $4,000; 3. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 5.3, $3,000; 4. Joshua Torres/Caleb Hendrix, 6.9, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, $10,750 each; 2. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, $7,500; 3. (tie) Jake Orman/Brye Crites, Joshua Torres/Caleb Hendrix and Tyler Wade, $5.500 each.
Wild Card: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.5 seconds, $5,000 each; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.9, $4,000; 3. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 4.0, $3,000; 4. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 4.6, $2,000.
Finals: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.1 seconds, $15,000 each; 2. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes and Ryan Motes/Justin Davis, 4.3, $7,500 each; 3. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.2, $3,000.
Champion: Dustin Egusquiza/ Levi Lord, $22,500
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
Semifinal 1: 1. Cash Wilson, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Pretty Woman, $5,000; 2. Stetson Wright, 87.5, $4,000; 3. Ryder Wright, 86, $3,000; 4. Damian Brennan, 84, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Stetson Wright, $10,500; 2. (tie) Ryder Wright and Cash Wilson, $7,500 each; 4. Ben Andersen, $6,500; 5. Damian Brennan, $5,500.
Semifinal 2: 1. Layton Green, 85.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Alpha Dog, $5,000; 2. Sage Newman, 85, $4,000; 3. Quinten Taylor, 84.5, $3,000; 4. Zeke Thurston, 83.5, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Layton Green, $9,000; 2. Sage Newman, $8,750; 3. Zeke Thurston, $8,000; 4. Chase Brooks, $6,750; 5. Brody Cress, $6,000.
Wild Card: 1. Wyatt Casper, 88 points on Andrews Rodeo’s American Hats Positive Signs, $5,000; 2. Logan Cook, 87, $4,000; 3. Kolby Wanchuk, 85, $3,000; 4. Kade Bruno, 82, $2,000.
Finals: 1. Stetson Wright, 92.5 points on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s Ricky Bobby, $15,000; 2. (tie) Chase Brooks and Zeke Thurston, 90.5, $7,500 each; 4. Sage Newman, 90, $3,000.
Champion: Stetson Wright, $25,500
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Semifinal 1: 1. Haven Meged, 7.7 seconds, $5,000; 2. (tie) Lane Livingston and Shad Mayfield, 8.7, $3,500 each; 4. Joel Harris, 8.8, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. (tie) Haven Meged and Joel Harris, $9,000 each; 3. Shad Mayfield, $7,500; 4. Lane Livingston, $6,000; 5. Taylor Santos, $5,500.
Semifinal 2: 1. Cory Solomon, 7.8 seconds, $5,000; 2. Riley Pruitt, 8.0, $4,000; 3. Shane Hanchey, 8.1, $3,000; 4. Chance Thiessen, 8.2, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Cory Solomon, $9,500; 2. Shane Hanchey, $7,500; 3. Riley Pruitt, $7,000; 4. Chance Thiessen, $6,500; 5. Quade Hiatt, $3,750.
Wild Card: 1. King Pickett, 7.2 seconds, $5,000; 2. John Douch, 7.7, $4,000; 3. Hunter Herrin, 7.7, $3,000; 4. Luke Potter, 8.4, $2,000.
Finals: 1. Riley Pruitt, 7.2 seconds, $15,000; 2. Shad Mayfield, 7.3, $10,000; 3. Quade Hiatt, 7.7, $5,000; 4. Lane Livingston, 7.8, $3,000.
Champion: Riley Pruitt, $22,500
BARREL RACING
Semifinal 1: 1. Margo Crowther, 13.76 seconds, $5,000; 2. (tie) Bailey Choate and Molly Otto, 13.92; $3,500 each; 4. Steely Steiner, 13.98, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Margo Crowther, $10,500; 2. Bayleigh Choate, $7,000; 3. Molly Otto, $6,750; 4. Steely Steiner, $5,000; 5. Jackie Ganter, $5,000.
Semifinal 2: 1. Sharin Hall, 13.66 seconds, $5,000; 2. Dona Kay Rule, 14.04, $4,000; 3. Sissy Winn, 14.16, $3,000; 4. Taycie Matthews, 14.17, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Dona Kay Rule, $8,500; 2. (tie) Sharin Hall and Jordon Briggs, $7,500; 4. Emiley Beisel, $6,500; 5. Sissy Winn, $5,500.
Wild Card: 1. Kassie Mowry, 13.96 seconds, $5,000; 2. (tie) Lisa Lockhart and Hailey Kinsel, 14.00, $3,500 each; 4. Leslie Smalygo, 14.03, $2,000.
Finals: 1. Kassie Mowry, 13.95 seconds, $15,000; 2. Bayleigh Choate, 14.08, $10,000; 3. (tie) Jackie Ganter and Dona Kay Rule, 14.14, $4,000 each.
Champion: Kassie Mowry, $22,500
BULL RIDING
Semifinal 1: 1. Ky Hamilton, 86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s D J Casper, $5,000; 2. Trey Holston, 86, $4,000; 3. Josh Frost, 84, $3,000; 4. Jacob O’Mara, 81.5, $2,000.
Qualifiers: 1. Trey Holston, $9,083; 2. Josh Frost, $8,283; 3. Trevor Reiste, $6,833; 4. Jacob O’Mara, $5,750; 5. Ky Hamilton, $5,000.
Semifinal 2: *1. Stetson Wright, 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s I’m a Savage, $5,667; 2. Sage Kimzey, 85, $4,667; Tristen Hutchings, 84, $3,667; no other qualified rides.
Qualifiers: 1. Stetson Wright, $19,250; 2. Dawson Gleaves, $10,250; 3. Trey Benton III, $9,833; 4. Tristen Hutchings, $7,417; 5. Sage Kimzey, $6,917.
Wild Card: *1. Jeff Askey, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s, Let’s Go Brandon, $7,500; 2. Ernie Courson, $6,500; no other qualified rides.
Finals: 1. Jeff Askey, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bayou Bengal, $15,000; 2. Dawson Gleaves, 87.5, $10,000; 3. (tie) Josh Frost and Ky Hamilton, 87, $4,000 each.
Champion: Jeff Askey, $26,833
BREAKAWAY ROPING
Semifinal 1: 1. Shelby Boisjoli, 1.90 seconds, $2,500; 2. Sammy Taylor, 2.00, $2,000; 3. Laramie Johnson, 2.20, $1,500; no other qualified runs.
Qualifiers: 1. Shelby Boisjoli, $5,083; 2. Sammy Taylor, $4,083; 3. Laramie Johnson, $3,083; 4. Joey Williams, $2,625; 5. Tacy Webb, $2,375.
Semifinal 2: 1. Madison Outhier, 1.80 seconds, $2,500; 2. (tie) Sarah Angelone and Hali Williams, 2.40, $1,750 each; 4. (tie) J.J. Hampton and Taylor Hanchey, 2.80, $500.
Qualifiers: 1. Madison Outhier, $4,250; 2. Hali Williams, $3,500; 3. (tie) Sarah Angelone and J.J. Hampton, $3,000 each; 5. Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, $2,500.
Wild Card: 1. Erin Johnson, 2.10 seconds, $2,500; 2. Kelsie Domer, 2.2, $2,000; 3. Jackie Crawford, 2.30, $1,500; 4. Taylor Hanchey, 2.40, $1,000.
Finals: 1. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli and Joey Williams, 1.70 seconds, $5,500 each; 3. Hali Williams, 1.80, $3,500; 4. Erin Johnson, 2.00, $2,000.
