Fritzlan Conquers Chiseled and Safety Meeting to Win the American
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Arlington, Texas, may just be Colten Fritzlan’s favorite city.
Fritzlan made magic once again in Arlington on Sunday afternoon as he rode current YETI World Champion Bull No. 1 contender Chiseled (89.5 points) and Safety Meeting (90.25 points) to capture the bull riding victory and $100,000 at RFD-TV’s The American at AT&T Stadium.
“This is definitely one I have been looking for for a long, long time, so I am just glad it worked out in this place,” Fritzlan told the Cowboy Channel’s Amy Wilson.
The No. 6-ranked bull rider in the PBR world standings earned a berth at The American courtesy of his No. 3 finish in the 2020 PRCA bull riding standings and was ineligible for the $1 million qualifier bonus. No $1 million qualifier was victorious in any of the rodeo disciplines this weekend.
Less than three months ago, Fritzlan won the bull riding event average at the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, which is less than a mile away from AT&T Stadium.
“For one, I like it over here in Arlington,” Fritzlan said. “It has been pretty good, but all the hard work we put in each and every day goes to show you it works out. I am glad it did.”
Fritzlan had to hold his breath on Sunday afternoon after he rode Safety Meeting to jump ahead of Dustin Boquet (87 points on Magic Trick) in the Shootout Round. Six-time PRCA champion Sage Kimzey was the last man to nod his head, and he made things look easy aboard Midnight Rain.
Fritzlan then looked on with anticipation to hear the score, and he let out a sigh of relief when Kimzey’s score was announced at only 89 points, clinching Fritzlan the victory.
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2018 World Finals event winner Marco Eguchi was bucked off by Soup in a Group earlier in the Shootout Round in an unofficial 5.09 seconds. Eguchi finished in fourth place for $5,000.
Fritzlan advanced to the Shootout Round on Sunday after being the only rider to cover his bull in the eight-man short round. The 21-year-old battled his way to an 89.5-point ride in the marquee matchup of the short round against Chiseled.
“I was pretty tickled,” Fritzlan said. “I knew he was a good bull, and it was a good matchup for a lot of points, and I was just blessed. I knew he was going to buck right there around the right, and I knew I had to keep gassing him and just had one thing on my mind: to get my job done, and that’s it.
“My confidence right now is through the roof.”
Fritzlan and Chiseled were originally supposed to square off in a 15/15 Bucking Battle earlier this year in Pecos, Texas, before the event was canceled because of inclement weather.
There were three bull riders on Sunday who were eligible for the $1 million bonus – 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis, 2019 Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel and Eguchi.
Davis was awarded a re-ride in the short round when Jive Turkey hit himself against the bucking chutes, resulting in a buckoff. Davis, the No. 1 rider in the PBR world standings, was unable to capitalize, though, against his re-ride bull, I’m Busted, and was bucked off in an unofficial 2.37 seconds.
Kasel and Eguchi were bucked off by Velocity and Wild Onion, respectively, in less than 3 seconds. Kasel had been battling an elbow injury all weekend long. Eguchi advanced to the Shootout Round courtesy of his 86.5-point score from Saturday night’s competition seeing as there was only one qualified ride in the short round.
Fritzlan, who rode Justified for 89.75 points to win Saturday night’s long round at The American, will now turn his focus back to the Unleash The Beast when the series heads to Glendale, Arizona, next weekend for the PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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