Round 3 Matchups:
Brady Sims on 908 Americana:
Americana has been ridden six times in 18 career outs, and Sims is responsible for three of those rides. Two of those came at the BFTS level — in Chicago and Baltimore earlier this year. Sims is likely to pick up a second score here — he’s currently in fifth with one ride — and punch his ticket to the short round. He’s not out of contention for the event win by any means.
Kaique Pacheco on 6X Bobby:
Pacheco is in third place here, and he kept a low score in Round 1, so unless he can stay one ride up on the field he will fall pretty fast as the event goes on and other guys make the whistle. This bull will be a challenge for him. Bobby is 18-1 against right handed riders, and he dumped J.W. Harris pretty quickly last night.
Reese Cates on 081 Nearly Departed:
Cates is coming off a huge win in the 15/15 round last night, and it was more than just a round win. He rode a bull that no one else has had any answer for this year. This bull won’t be nearly as difficult, but he is likely to go away from Cates’ hand. Joao Ricardo Vieira was 86 points on him to place in Round 1 here.
Renato Nunes on 27 Gentleman Jim:
These two met in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the result was a reride for Nunes. But, in Round 1 here he was great with Brady Sims, carrying Sims to second place in the round. He went to the left, and had great timing. If he does the same with Nunes, this could be a round win.
Stetson Lawrence on 008 Heaven’s Basement:
This bull threw Matt Triplett in Round 1 here, but he’s never met a lefty that couldn’t ride him. He’s 0-3 against left-handed riders. Lawrence has one good score in the books here, and another good one is likely to get him into the short round.
Tanner Byrne on 281 Red Mile:
Red Mile threw Byrne off just last month at a PBR Canada event, but I think that was something of a fluke, and this bull should fit Byrne pretty well. He hasn’t been ridden yet in seven career outs, and he got Mason Lowe in Round 1 here. He will go to the right, and he’s a good enough bull to place in the round on.
Joao Ricardo Vieira on T02 Justified:
Vieira is leading this event at the moment. He placed in Round 1 and won second in the 15/15 round, both on bulls that went into his hand. He can possibly put this event on ice with a qualified ride here, but he’ll have to do it going away from his hand. Justified has not been ridden by a left-handed rider yet, while righties are 3-3 on him.
Nathan Schaper on 64Y Slash:
Slash has been ridden just once in his short career, and Schaper was the guy who rode him. They met in Oklahoma City earlier this season. Slash should go to the left, which will be good for Schaper, but really any bull is good for Schaper right now because none of them are good enough to throw him off this weekend.
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