Nat Stratton Hits it Big at Pikes Peak
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Saddle bronc rider Nat Stratton struck gold, winning $16,656, at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, Colo., with an 87.5-point ride in the final round July 14.
Stratton made a strong debut at Pikes Peak, winning the third performance by 3.5 points, the largest margin of the rodeo’s four performances. Stratton’s 87-point ride on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Hi Flyer qualified him for the Finals.
“Man, I just drew good horses the whole way through, and God blessed me with this,” Stratton said. “Heck, we worked for this our whole life, and if not for him, we wouldn’t be able to do any of it.”
From there, it was all or nothing in the final round. But Stratton knew what he was in for as Jacob Lewis, Joey Sonnier III and Tyler Baeza had experience with Stratton’s draw for the final round, Harry Vold Rodeo’s Mountain Climber.
“That’s an outstanding horse, and about every time you can win on that sucker,” Stratton said.
Stratton’s 87.5-point ride on Mountain Climber in the final round was worth $15,594.
“It dang sure lets me rodeo more and gives me a shot for the NFR,” Stratton said. “It’s awesome and I try not to think about it and just go have fun. But it takes the pressure of expenses off. If you aren’t winning, you don’t make money. That helps get down the road.”
Stratton was no stranger to the stiff competition at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, having competed there when he was 19 – but he’s grown as a competitor since.
“I let the nerves get to me and was bucked off, but this time I let it hang out,” Stratton said. “I’ve been out of the Top 30 every year and would dang sure like to get into the Top 15.”
Before winning at Colorado Springs, Stratton wasn’t in the Top 50 for the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings. The California cowboy also won the Mason ProRodeo Classic at Lakeland, Fla., Jan. 27.
Stratton has been competing in saddle bronc riding with the PRCA since 2014. His best season to date came in 2017 when he ranked 35th in the world standings with $30,115. Now, one week before his 24th birthday, he’s on track to surpass his personal best.
Stratton didn’t wait for the dust to settle at Pikes Peak, as he hit the road by himself overnight to compete at the Silver State Stampede in Elko, Nev., which ends July 15.
Other winners at the $135,194 rodeo were bareback rider Ty Taypotat (84.5 points on JK Rodeo’s Seguaro); steer wrestler Will Lummus (3.8 seconds); team ropers Aaron Tsinigine/Blaine Vick (14.7 seconds); tie-down roper Reese Riemer (8.2 seconds); barrel racer Stevi Hillman (16.744 seconds); and bull rider Jeff Askey (based on his 87-point ride in the semifinals on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Rustler’s Roost).
For more coverage of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, check out the July 27 issue of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA