COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A lot of the guys who got a score on Saturday night have good bulls on Sunday at the Built Ford Tough Rumble in the Rockies and the leaderboard should be busy going into the championship round.
Round 2 Matchups
Matt Triplett on -5 Live Action:
This is a rematch from Kansas City in 2014 where Triplett was 87.25 points on Live Action. We don’t see this bull too much, but he’s been out three times this year. Nathan Schaper is the only one of the three who got a score. He did it at Iron Cowboy in Arlington, Texas. Triplett looked pretty good on both bulls last night, and when he’s riding well he can ride anything here.
Aaron Roy on -24X Butcher’s Nightmare:
This bull is a little unheralded, but he’s one of the better long-round draws here, especially for a right-handed rider. He goes to the right, has pretty good timing and he’s good enough to win on. He’s been ridden three times – all three of those for a first- or second-place finish in a Built Ford Tough Series long round. Roy won last night’s round, and he stands to do well in this one.
Reese Cates on 708 The Rocker:
The Rocker has been around for a few years, but he doesn’t get around much. He’s not an easy bull to ride, but he is more rideable than a lot of the others. He also goes to the right, which would be good for Cates. Cates has to be happy with this draw, and he’s in a position to do well at this event with one score already on the board.
Bonner Bolton on 253 Rough ‘em Up Tuck:
This bull is a factor anytime he shows up because he tends to produce good scores, and he’s as easy a bull as there is at this level. Thirty years ago, this bull would have been a guaranteed win for the Top-5 riders in any amateur rodeo association. It’s possible for a guy to fall off any bull, but Bolton has a great chance here if he can keep his hand closed and sit relatively still.
Joao Ricardo Vieira on B111 KISS Animalize:
Vieira came down off two bulls last night, both going away from his hand. This one will go away from his hand as well, but he’s a bit easier than either of the bulls he had last night. KISS Animalize gets ridden a lot, and regardless of which way he spins every guy here should be able to handle him. If you have to have a bull that goes away from your hand, this would be the one to have. Vieira is fundamentally sound enough to ride any bull away from his hand, and if he struggles with it, it’s all in his head.
Markus Mariluch on 982 Celling Bioscience’s Jukebox Hero:
J.B. Mauney won second in Round 1 in Des Moines, Iowa, on this bull just last week. He goes to the left, which will be away from Mariluch’s hand, but at this level he gives up a score in 3/4ths of his outs. Mariluch should have the edge here.
J.B. Mauney on 965 King Buck:
This is much the same situation that Mariluch is in. King Buck should spin away from Mauney’s hand, but he’s so nice that Mauney shouldn’t have a problem. King Buck has been ridden in 17-of-24 Built Ford Tough Series outs, and with a record like that, it would be shocking if he got the best of Mauney.
Ryan Dirteater on 908 Americana:
This is a good enough bull to place on, and he’s a pretty good fit for Dirteater. He’ll go to the left, which is into Dirteater’s hand, but that isn’t as big a deal as it would be with another rider. Dirteater is very good on bulls that go away from his hand. This one has some speed, and has good timing. He can switch gears, and spin faster or slower at times, but most lefties get along with him regardless.
Fabiano Vieira on 26Y Savage Moves:
I’m not sure how healthy Vieira is after last night. He looked to be hurting pretty bad after the 15/15 round last night. If he can go today, he’s got a good bull here that he’s ridden before. They met in Sacramento, California, where Vieira was 87.25 points to win second in the round.
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