Behind the Chutes: Springfield Draw Notes
By: Justin Felisko
September 07, 2016
Cooper Davis rode Cool Hand Luke for 86.5 points last week in Thackerville, and he’ll see him again in Springfield. Photo: Andy Watson / BullStockMedia.com
PUEBLO, Colo. – Cooper Davis’ first event as the new world No. 1 bull rider will come against a familiar foe Friday night at the PFIWestern.com Invitational, presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Springfield Draw notes (9-7-16)
Davis has drawn Cool Hand Luke (0-2, BFTS) – the same bull in which he rode for 86.75 points last weekend in Thackerville, Oklahoma, to take over the world lead – for Round 1.
Davis heads into Springfield having ridden eight of his last 13 and leads No. 2 Kaique Pacheco by 19.67 points in the world standings.
The 22-year-old takes on Line Me Up (0-0, BFTS) in Round 2.
“When I have a chance to spur one, I am always cool with that,” Davis said. “That is something I have always done. Something that has helped me a lot is getting bucked off a lot or getting strung out at 6 seconds. (Cody) Lambert came up to me and told me, ‘Hey, get tough around that 6- or 7-second mark and act like you have a few more seconds to ride,’ and that is what I have been doing. Even though I have been getting slammed right at 8 seconds, I am still riding for 10. I think that is helping a lot.”
Pacheco has drawn Swamp Wreck (3-2, BFTS) and Wired Child (14-2, BFTS) for the first two rounds. Swamp Wreck bucked off Aaron Roy in 3.92 seconds two weeks ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wired Child has bucked off 10 riders in a row, including Silvano Alves in 7.87 seconds last week.
Two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney is also right in the mix and is making his return to competition after taking a week off to rest his left hip pointer and abdominal contusion injury.
The 29-year-old is 655 points behind Davis in the world standings.
Mauney has drawn Flat Top Pete (2-0, BFTS) in Round 1 and El Diablo (1-0, BFTS) in Round 2. Flat Top Pete bucked off Valdiron de Oliveira in 2.94 seconds last weekend in Thackervile. El Diablo debuted in Thackerville with a 3.25-second buckoff of an unhappy Davis.
Three-time World Finals event winner Robson Palermo is not competing in Springfield because of a concussion and chest wall injury sustained last weekend. He has been replaced in the draw by No. 36 Fraser Babbington.
Babbington has a first-round matchup against Rock Bottom Blues (0-0, BFTS) and then takes on Mister Mean in Round 2. The New Zealand bull rider is 20 points behind No. 35 Roy.
There two additional alternates competing in Springfield – No. 37 Brant Atwood and No. 38 Luis Blanco. They are replacing Ben Jones (reconstructive shoulder surgery) and Chase Outlaw (shoulder separation).
Atwood is competing in only his second event of the 2016 season. He is 23-for-79 at all levels of PBR competition this year. Atwood trails Roy by 25 points and will look for his first BFTS ride of 2016 against Locked and Loaded (0-1, BFTS). He then takes on Springer Mountain (3-3, BFTS).
Silvano Alves rode Locked and Loaded for 88.5 points last weekend.
Blanco is trying to crack the Top 35 and two of his opportunities this weekend will come against Cut the Cord (6-0, BFTS) and All Shook Up (2-3, BFTS).
Zane Cook is competing as a Native American invite. He will be challenged by Jack Shot (5-0, BFTS) and American Hustle (23-1, BFTS). Jack Shot bucked him off in 4.28 seconds at the Wichita, Kansas, BlueDEF Tour event.
Thackerville winner Guilherme Marchi faces Flight Plan (6-1, BFTS) and No Regrets (21-6, BFTS). Marchi previously rode No Regrets for 87.5 points at the 2015 Oklahoma City event.
Fans can catch Round 1 of the PFIWestern.com Invitational Friday exclusively on PBR LIVE beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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