Challenger Series Round-Up: Texas Rattlers Standing Out Ahead of PBR Teams’ Cheyenne Frontier Days
By: James Youness
PUEBLO, Colo. – After going an unthinkable 0-for-7 during May’s 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash the Beast, Daniel Keeping is rounding back into form after another productive weekend competing on the Challenger Series tour.
Seeing the Texas Rattlers standout continue to ramp up riding activity with the PBR Teams season approaching (set to begin July 24-25 in Cheyenne, Wyoming), Keeping logged his third Top 6 finish inside Cowtown Coliseum this summer courtesy of an 84-point diversion atop Bullfrog in the opening go. Unable to stay aboard Deplorabull for the requisite 8 in Round 2, he settled for a fifth-place tie after coming in second just two weeks prior.
The Rattlers’ Dawson Gleaves (1-for-2; 87 points on Stockyards Pro Rodeo G38) nearly started things off with a bang but was eventually dispatched by his opening round opponent DFZ 831 in a heartbreaking 7.72 seconds. Able to hang on for a silver placement, he’s now got three Top 2 finishes in three successful performances at the Stockyards Showcase events, including his first-ever event title May 25 at the legendary venue.
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Adding to the productive night for the hometown team just weeks after resigning with the squad as a free agent, Brady Fielder turned in a third-place finish in Fort Worth, Texas. Pairing up with DFZ 717 in the opening round, the tandem danced to the 8 en route to earning Fielder an 85-point score, but the talented Australian’s second matchup didn’t go as smoothly.
Bucked to the dirt in a quick 1.54 seconds, it was Sun Devil who earned the victory lap. Bringing home the bronze and showing his PBR Teams coach Cody Lambert he’s still capable of getting the job done, Texas will have its hands full next month when it comes to determining a starting five.
While the Texas crowd was able to cheer on its local team, it was Alan de Souza who stole the show as the only rider to post a perfect 2-for-2 performance on Thursday evening.
First going to battle against Elkins 903, he bested the bovine and got on the scoreboard with an 80.5-point score. Needing another ride to seal the deal, the 29-year-old went the distance atop Twisted Horns 0498 en route to being scored an 82.5-point mark and claiming the event title. Earning a welcomed 52 Challenger Series points for the victory, the Brazilians sits No. 2 overall in the Challenger Global standings after racking up six Top 4 finishes throughout the month of June, including three event wins, two runner-up efforts and a fourth-place finish.
Continuing the momentum as the weekend raged on, Keeping found himself atop the leaderboard when things came to a close on night one of the Slick Rock Challenge in Rocksprings, Texas, Friday.
Again finding success in his home state, he began his eventful run by posting a flashy 88-point qualified ride matched with the talents of Kodiac in the opening round. Eventually doubling down in the second round, he went on to record the high-marked ride of the event after throwing down a rank 90-point ride aboard Trophy Hunter.
Just his fifth qualified ride to meet the elite mark, the effort represented his first 90-point score since Dec. 10 when he logged an epic 92.5-point ride paired against Flapjack. After spending the last few months fine-tuning his game in the shadows, Keeping may be firing on all cylinders at the right time, with the PBR Teams season lurking, now just three weeks away.
Looking down the leaderboard, it was Wyatt Rogers and Albert Lebaron who tied for second-place honors after producing matching scores.
Getting things started with an out atop his bovine challenger Pogo, Rogers logged an 84.5-point effort as one of four riders to log a qualified ride. Attempting to make it 2-for-2, the 26-year-old hit the dirt in a brief 1.94 seconds during his Round 2 matchup with Doze Off but still exited the competition with 27.5 Challenger Series points.
In equal fashion, Lebaron found success during Friday’s opening round when he logged a similar 84.5 points after dancing to the 8 with Switch. Later following suit with another quick exit in Round 2, lasting just 1.74 seconds with Ah Hell, the 28-year-old veteran secured his highest placement at a PBR-sanctioned event since August 16, 2019.
As the final rider to hear the buzzer on Saturday evening, youngster Guilherme Valleiras managed a fourth-place finish, his fourth Top 10 finish at Challenger Series events throughout June, as one of two riders to convert during the short round.
First duking it out with Hog Wild in the opening round, the Pirassununga, Brazil, native was dispatched in a quick 3.08 seconds but was able to turn things around in Round 2. Climbing aboard Express Lane, the 22-year-old bested his bovine opponent for 82 points to clinch another his third Top 5 finish inside Cowtown Coliseum this summer.
When Saturday rolled around and scores were reset for a second competition part of the Slick Rock Challenge, it was Cort McFadden who reigned supreme. Teaming up with Empty Glass in the opening go, the duo combined to register an event-best 87.5-point mark, fueling the Austin Gamblers’ rider to his first career event victory.
Michael Phillips and Davi Henrique de Lima rounded out the podium finishers in the event’s second rendition, logging rides atop Pain Killer (82 points) and Bad Actor (81.50 points). Dalton Rudman’s 81-point ride aboard Main Event in Round 1 marked the only other qualified ride on a night where the bovine athletes were showing off their best.
Out East, at the 24th Annual Boot Barn Jerome Davis PBR Invitational in Archdale, North Carolina, it was a trio of veterans who put on a show. Picking up the win courtesy of a flawless 2-for-2 effort, Michael Lane earned 56 Challenger Series points.
Beginning his night of perfection in Round 1, he teamed up with Bad Banana for 84 points to instill some early confidence. Later following it up with the highest-scored ride of the night, he bested Oreo for 90.5 points to seal the deal.
Courtesy of a pair of double entries, the Oklahoma Freedom’s Eli Vastbinder and Austin Gamblers’ Ezekiel Mitchell rounded out the Top 5, with Vastbinder securing silver and bronze finishes and Mitchell occupying the No. 4 and 5 spots when the dust settled.
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Vastbinder met the 8 aboard F-Bomb in Round 1 for a stunning 90-point mark to earn his second-place finish, while it was his second-round strike paired with U Dead for 89.5 points secured him the bronze placement.
Meanwhile for Mitchell, he performed in both of his Round 1 draws, logging rides atop Arnold Palmer for 87 points and Davis 7196 for 88 points, respectively.
Challenger Series action will continue on Thursday, July 6 as Cowtown Coliseum prepares to host the 20th iteration of the PBR Stockyards Showcase at 7:30 p.m. CT. As the weekend continues, riders will have the opportunity to compete at a variety of contests, including PBR Bull Bash at the MEC in Shipshewana, Indiana (July 7-8), the Allegro Marinades PBR in Paris at the Henry County Fairgrounds in Paris, Tennessee (Jul 7-8) and the Koben Puckett PBR in Amarillo, Texas (July 8).
Internationally, PBR Brazil riders will compete in a four-day event in Frutal, Brazil, July 6-9.
Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media
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