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Lucas Ends Struttin Stuff’s Premier Series Buckoff Streak at 31

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – In many instances, there is no reward for being the last rider to qualify for the championship round. When it comes to Unleash The Beast events, the last rider in the championship round draft is left with whatever bull the other 11 qualifiers decided to pass on.

That bull is likely the most difficult bull to ride among the championship round bullpen.

Struttin Stuff was that bull on Sunday at the PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational, presented by Cooper tires, but he was not going to be an issue for Joao Henrique Lucas.

Instead, Lucas ended the bull’s premier series buckoff streak at 31 in a row when he rode the bull for 88.5 points. The last time Struttin Stuff, who also had two additional buckoffs but was called for a foul during his streak, was ridden on the premier series was on March 3, 2018, when Eduardo Aparecido rode him for 84.5 points in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“These scores probably aren’t going to blow you away, but that is a great job of riding a bull that most guys don’t want any part of,” two-time World Champion Justin McBride said on CBS Sports Network. “He just stayed up there where he belongs and rode him easy.”

Struttin Stuff was marked 43.25 points. He had bucked off 22 in a row at all levels of competition, including PRCA events, per ProBullStats.com. Eli Vastbinder last rode Struttin Stuff for 89.5 points at the PRCA event in Spanish Forks, Utah, in 2019.

The 8-year-old bull is 40-3 on the premier series in his five-year career.

Lucas went 2-for-3 inside Gila River Arena, previously riding Lights Out for 86.5 points in Round 1 on Saturday night. His ride Sunday propelled the second-year PBR pro to a fifth-place finish in Glendale.

Lucas earned 46 points toward the world standings to move up 12 spots in the world standings to No. 25.

The 30-year-old has solidified himself inside the Top 30, and he will next turn his focus to Kansas City for next weekend’s PBR Caterpillar Classic as he looks to qualify for his second consecutive PBR World Finals.

LOCKWOOD WINS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood capped off his weekend by riding Canadian Mist for 88.75 points to win the championship round.

It is the second time in four outings that Lockwood, who is riding with a possible broken free hand, has hit the 8-second mark aboard Canadian Mist. Lockwood previously rode Canadian Mist for 91.5 points in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the 2018 season.

The ride nearly launched Lockwood into his first win of the 2021 season, but 2018 World Champion Kaique Pacheco went on to ride Marquis Metal Works Bill The Butcher for 85.5 points and the event win later in the round.

Lockwood earned 94 world points with his second-place showing (2-for-3), and he jumped 22 spots in the world standings to No. 18.

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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