Flawless Whitehorse Wins Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Casper Invitational

By: Kacie Albert

CASPER, Wyo. – In front of a raucous crowd at the Ford Wyoming Center Saturday evening, 2018 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Rookie of the Year Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Springs, Utah) delivered a perfect 2-for-2 performance to win the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Casper Invitational in Casper, Wyoming.

Whitehorse was quick to strike in Round 1, delivering the fourth-best score when he covered Light It Up (Nothin’ But Try Ranch/Kinser/McCall) for 85.5 points.

Kenny (H&D Bucking Bulls/Dickie Williams/Phillips) then awaited the Navajo bull rider in the championship round.

Poised, Whitehorse matched the animal athlete jump-for-jump en route to an 88.5-point score, clinching the event win.

For his efforts, Whitehorse earned a much-needed 35.5 world points. Gaining 10 positions in the world standings, the golden finish propelled Whitehorse from No. 39 to 29.

Second was Taylor Toves (Stephenville, Texas), earning 29 world points.

Toves was unmatched in Round 1, reaching the requisite 8 for the top score when he rode Jingle and Go (JQH Bucking Bulls – Skip & Elaine Jones) for 87 points.

While the Texan punctuated his performance inside Ford Wyoming Center with a qualified ride, covering Silver Buckle (Just For Kicks/J-M) for 85.5 points, it was not enough to surpass Whitehorse for the victory.

Toves is now ranked No. 54 in the world, up 11 positions after traveling to the event ranked No. 65.

As the final contender to go 2-for-2, Conner Halverson (Gordon, Nebraska) was third.

The young gun earned his rides aboard Bring The Bling (Ultimate Bull Team) for 85 points in Round 1 and Contusion (S.A.W. Bucking Bulls) for 86 points in the championship round.

Halverson left the Cowboy State having earned 14 world points. Ranked No. 44 when the event got underway, the bronze showing propelled Halverson to No. 38 in the world.

Backed by a monstrous 90-point ride in the championship round, Alisson De Souza (Taubate, Brazil) was fourth, netting 13 world points.

Despite being bested by Eager Snake (Topline Steel Buildings) in the first round in a close 7.5 seconds, Souza made the most of his second chance when he advanced to the final round on time.

Matched against Hey Bartender (JQH Bucking Bulls – Skip & Elaine Jones), Souza brought the Casper crowd to its feet when he danced with the bovine athlete for an event-best 90.5 points.

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was Jesse Petri (Dublin, Texas).

Petri went 1-for-2, riding Orca (Yount Bucking Bulls LLC) for 86.5 points in Round 1 to collect 8 world points.

The PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour’s Casper Invitational was also a stop on the 2022 Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge.

Topline Steel Buildings won the performance with 279.35 points courtesy of the trips notched by Eager Snake, Midnight Chaos and Yukon Jack.

Second place was Nothin’ But Try Ranch/Diggers Bucking Bulls with 278.43 points, while H&D Bucking Bulls/Dickie Williams/Phillips was third with 276.3 points. Nothin’ But Try Ranch/Diggers Bucking Bulls roster included Blessed, Slumlord and Hard Labor. The bronze effort from H&D Bucking Bulls/Dickie Williams/Phillips was earned courtesy of outs recorded by Yippee High Cowboy, Flash and Kenny.

The 2022 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour season continues April 8-9 in College Station, Texas. Action for the PBR Boot Barn Classic in Aggieland at Reed Arena begins at 8 p.m. CDT on Friday, April 8, and 7 p.m. CDT on Saturday, April 9.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour
PBR Casper Invitational
Ford Wyoming Center – Casper, Wyoming
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2- Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 85.5-88.5-174.00-35.5 Points.
2. Taylor Toves, 87-85.5-172.50-29 Points.
3. Conner Halverson, 85-86-171.00-14 Points.
4. Alisson De Souza, 0-90.5-90.50-13 Points.
5. Jesse Petri, 86.5-0-86.50-8 Points.
6. Dawson Branton, 86-0-86.00-6 Points.
7. Gage Gay, 85.5-0-85.50-3.5 Points.
8. Cody Hudson, 85-0-85.00-1 Points.
9. Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 84.5-0-84.50
(tie). Leonardo Lima, 84.5-0-84.50
11. Cody Coverchuk, 83.5-0-83.50
12. Justin Houston, 83-0-83.00
13. Cole Skender, 82.5-0-82.50
(tie). Zach Miles, 82.5-0-82.50
João Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0.00
Francisco Morales, 0-0-0.00
Marcos Gloria, 0-0-0.00
Tye Chandler, 0-0-0.00
Trace Brown, 0-0-0.00
Hunter Ball, 0-0-0.00
Dakota Eagleburger, 0-0-0.00
Venn Johns, 0-0-0.00
Cladson Rodolfo, 0-0-0.00
Dalton Rudman, 0-0-0.00
Elijah Mora, 0-0-0.00
Patterson Starcher, 0-0-0.00
Josh Frost, 0-0-0.00
Thor Hoefer II, 0-0-0.00
Dustin Martinez, 0-0-0.00
Mason Moody, 0-0-0.00
Alvaro Alvarez Aguilar, 0-0-0.00
Colt Robinson, 0-0-0.00
Cody Casper, 0-0-0.00
Jake Davis, 0-0-0.00
Dakota Warnken, 0-0-0.00
Jake Lockwood, 0-0-0.00
Ednélio Almeida, 0-0-0.00
Codrick Murphy, 0-0-0.00
Quentin Vaught, 0-0-0.00
Ethan Jensen, 0-0-0.00

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