PUEBLO, Colo. – Matt Triplett will look to continue his perfection in the first two rounds of Built Ford Tough Series events when he takes his 12-consecutive ride streak – in Rounds 1 and 2 – into the Bass Pro Chute Out at the Scottrade Center.
Triplett has opened a 780-point lead over No. 2 Silvano Alves thanks to his early-event success, five round wins and two event victories.
The 23-year-old will be greeted by Easy Money in Round 1 and Shaft in Round 2. It will be the first meeting between Triplett and Easy Money, who was ridden by Neil Holmes for 85.25 points last year in Biloxi, Mississippi, during his only career BFTS out. Shaft bucked off Triplett last year at the Jack Daniel’s Invitational in 2.15 seconds in their only previous meeting.
No. 3 Reese Cates (left shoulder/rotator cuff) said earlier this week that he plans to compete in St. Louis and is set to face Hard Times (9-2, BFTS) in Round 1 and Damn Right (1-9, BFTS). Cody Nance rode Damn Right in Chicago this season for 88 points.
Cates and Triplett will also compete in the 15/15 Bucking Battle, which can be seen Sunday on CBS network television at noon ET.
Triplett will get to see if the third time is the charm against David’s Dream (37-4, BFTS). He was bucked off by David’s Dream during Round 5 of the Built Ford Tough World Finals last season and has lasted an average of 2.37 seconds in two BFTS outs against him.
J.B. Mauney has the monster rematch of the 15/15 Bucking Battle when he takes on Stanley FatMax (49-3, BFTS) for the fifth time in his career. Mauney has ridden him once in his career – 2013 Oakland, California, for 89.74 points – and is also the last rider to conquer the bovine athlete. Stanley FatMax has bucked off 22 straight BFTS riders since Mauney’s ride.
Chase Outlaw will have the opportunity to rekindle magic aboard Crack The Whip (6-6, BFTS) after conquering the bull for a season-high 90.75 points in New York last month.
Austin Meier and Robson Aragao are making their 2015 BFTS debuts during the long rounds in St. Louis.
It will be Aragao’s first BFTS event in four years since last nodding his head at the 2011 BFTS event in Portland, Oregon. He will be looking for his first qualified on the BFTS since September 2010 when he takes on HD (0-1, BFTS) on Friday night. Aragao, who has a 65 percent riding average on the BlueDEF Velocity Tour, has drawn The Marlin in Round 2.
Meier enters his first BFTS event since the 2014 Last Cowboy Standing coming off a BlueDEF Velocity Tour win in Worcester, Massachusetts. The 28-year-old has gone 8-for-16 on the BlueDEF Velocity Tour.
The Bass Pro Chute Out has high stakes for Douglas Duncan if the Alvin, Texas, bull rider hopes to avoid being relegated to the BlueDEF Velocity Tour and Touring Pro Division.
St. Louis is Duncan’s final guaranteed spot in the BFTS draw after finishing 32nd in the 2014 world standings. He currently trails Aragao by 57.5 points for the final alternate spot before the BFTS draw resets based on the current world standings following next weekend’s event in Kansas City, Missouri.
Duncan has drawn Stuntin Like My Daddy (6-3, BFTS), who was ridden by Ben Jones in Oklahoma City for 86 points, in the first round and City Lights (1-2, BFTS) in the second round. Saturday will be City Lights 2015 BFTS debut.
Emilio Resende (multi-ligament knee reconstruction), Claudio Crisostomo(left clavicle fracture), Ty Pozzobon (concussion), Markus Mariluch (bicep tear), Josh Faircloth (left ankle fracture) and Billy Robinson (left PCL tear) all remain out because of injuries.
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