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Whitehorse Turns in Career-Best Performance to Win Round 2 of 2020 World Finals

By: Darci Miller

PUEBLO, Colo. – Keyshawn Whitehorse is no stranger to big moments at the PBR World Finals.

In 2018, the McCracken Springs, Utah, native stood center-stage in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and accepted the Rookie of the Year award from PBR Commissioner Sean Gleason.

In 2020, the venue and city might be different, but Whitehorse was once again side-by-side with Gleason Friday night.

At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Whitehorse won Round 2 of the 2020 PBR World Finals with a 91-point ride aboard Rocky, his first 90-point ride in three career World Finals.

 
“It’s amazing,” Whitehorse told CBS Sports Network’s Kate Harrison following his ride. “It feels amazing. It’s great. This arena brings a lot of energy. I love my family, and great support from everybody. I love it.”

There were 16 rides in Round 2 following a 13-ride showing in Round 1, with Whitehorse’s the only above the 90-point threshold on Friday. Eight riders are a perfect 2-for-2 heading into the third round of competition. Whitehorse was bucked off by Red Clark in 1.76 seconds in Round 1, and his one score has him sitting 10th in the aggregate.

Boudreaux Campbell finished second in Round 2 with an 89.25-point ride on Bullseye as the first out of the night to take third place in the aggregate (177.25 points), while aggregate leader Eduardo Aparecido (180.5 points) tied for third in the round with Alex Cerqueira. The pair earned 89 points on Monkey and Secret Weapon, respectively.

“Heck, I’m just riding bulls, having fun,” Campbell told Harrison. “It’s no different just ‘cause we’re here. Heck, I like being first out, I guess. It helps me.”

 
Meanwhile, in the world title race, world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme and No. 3 Kaique Pacheco traded blows once again in Round 2, and both riders are now a perfect 2-for-2. Leme rode Louisville Slugger for 83.25 points, while Pacheco rode Bronstad’s Boomer for 84.25 points.

Riders were able to draft their bovine opponents in Round 2 in order based on their performance in Round 1. Despite the low draft pick, Whitehorse was able to engineer himself the perfect matchup.

“That was a great ride, man,” said two-time World Champion and CBS Sports Network analyst Justin McBride. “It’s worth every point. Rocky has a day, and Keyshawn is just perfect the whole time. I mean, that bull is bringing it. If he ever lets his head get picked up, that bull brings him to the ground. That was an outstanding ride by Keyshawn.”

Whitehorse will match up against Skeeter Peter (9-3, UTB) in Round 3. Fans can watch all the action on CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. ET and RidePass at 7:15 p.m. ET.

In Whitehorse’s two prior World Finals appearances, he hasn’t been able to get much going. In 2018, despite winning the Rookie of the Year title, he went just 1-for-5 with an 89.5-point ride on Wicked Dreams his only score. In 2019, he went a disappointing 0-for-5.

But in 2020, things could be different. With the 100 points he earned for his Round 2 victory – not to mention the $35,000 payout – Whitehorse improved to No. 14 in the world standings, which would be a career-best finish.

His 91-point performance is also the highest-scoring ride of his career.

“It was just one of those things that you take it as it goes, and you’re able to accomplish the task at hand,” Whitehorse said. “You don’t expect anything. You just go at it fight for fight, jump for jump, and thankfully, God willing, it all worked out.”

The World Finals isn’t a bad place to hit that milestone.

“It’s something I always knew I could do, and it feels like home,” Whitehorse said of performing on the biggest stage. “I’ve just got to keep adding them up, and keep going at it.”

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

© 2020 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.

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