Colt Gordon, Isaac Diaz Battling for 15th in Saddle Bronc Riding
By Tracy Renck
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With the PRCA regular season ending Sept. 30, it’s crunch time for cowboys trying to make the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Especially for the No. 15 spot in saddle bronc riding.
Colt Gordon is in the 15th position in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $86,893 – $532 ahead of Isaac Diaz.
“Nothing changed for me,” Gordon said about his mindset for the last week of the season. “I just want to keep everything simple and do my job and let the chips fall where they may. This isn’t a time to be trying to change stuff. It could be nerve-wracking if a guy wants to worry about it and let that be in his head, but they are just rodeos to me.”
Gordon is trying to qualify for the Wrangler NFR for the first time. Diaz has qualified for the Wrangler NFR six times – 2007, 2009, 2012-13, 2015 and 2018. Diaz finished a career-best sixth in the 2016 world standings. A year ago, Diaz placed eighth in the world standings.
“I’m not going to look at the standings, and I’ll just go at it like I’m having fun and let God take care of the rest,” said Diaz, 33.
Diaz is making a late push for the Wrangler NFR after being sidelined for 2½ months after undergoing sports-hernia surgery May 30 in Philadelphia, performed by Dr. William Meyers.
“I just feel privileged to even have a chance (at making the Wrangler NFR after) being out that long,” Diaz said. “Any other given year I would not have had enough money won when I got hurt. Just to be able to have a chance to still make it is a blessing in itself.”
Diaz was in this position before in 2009. He entered the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb., Sept. 24-26 that season 16th in the world standings. He won the sudden-death final round and leaped eight spots thanks to $21,523 in earnings.
“When you ride roughstock, especially in bronc riding, you can’t safety up anyway,” Diaz said. “Nobody around you is going to safe up for you, and the bronc riding is 50 deep in my opinion in guys who can come and whip you any day. You just have to go at it like it’s the beginning of the year and remember to enjoy it and not stress about it. As soon as you start missing jumps, you’re not going to win anything.”
Gordon will compete at the Corn Palace Challenge Xtreme Broncs event in Mitchell, S.D., this week and the Young Living’s Last Chance Rodeo in Mona, Utah. He might also compete in Stephenville, Texas, and Kansas City, Mo.
“We are doubled up a little bit,” Gordon said. “We are going to pick and choose where we are going. We just have to keep after them and I’m dang sure going to try the best I can.”
Diaz will ride at the Pasadena (Texas) Livestock Show & Rodeo and the Comal County Fair & Rodeo in New Braunfels, Texas, then play things by ear to see what other rodeos he will hit.
Courtesy of PRCA