TicketSmarter Morning Line – PBR World Finals Round 3
By: Slade Long
There’s a mixed pen of bulls out tonight. Fifteen of these bulls are competing with each other for the ABBI Classic title. Most of the remaining bulls can hold their own in short rounds, but they are the kind of bulls guys want to have. Altogether, this pen should look like the group we saw last night, but stronger. Expect fewer rides, but possibly more than one 90-point score.
The key matchup among the ABBI Classic bulls is 124 Woopaa vs. 612 Ridin’ Solo. Woopaa has the lead after the first round, which happened in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ridin’ Solo needs to outscore him by at least 1.34 points on a 100-point scale to win. Ridin’ Solo is facing Ramon de Lima. Woopaa has Jose Vitor Leme – more on that below.
Boudreaux Campbell on 51 Safety Meeting:
Campbell can do no wrong here so far. He’s ridden both his bulls, sits third in the average and has one of the best draws in the sport of bull riding for Round 3. Safety Meeting is nearly the perfect draw for a left-handed rider. He’s not a pushover or an easy score, but he brings big scores. He’s been ridden five times this season, with three of those going for 90 or more. He’s an honest bull, but he has enough speed and intensity to challenge the top riders.
Eduardo Aparecido on 624 Homegrown:
This is one of the Classic bulls, and he will present a challenge for Aparecido, who is leading the event on two bulls that spun into his hand. This one is definitely going the other way, and he’s 7-0 against right-handed riders. Homegrown does have good timing, and he’s rideable, but if you look at Aparecido’s highlight reel, you can see he likes bulls into his hand a lot.
Jose Vitor Leme on 124 Woopaa:
This matchup is the PBR in a nutshell. The best rider going right now, in top form, against the best 4-year-old bull in the country with everything on the line for both of them. Woopaa needs a big bull score here, and Leme needs a round win. They could both get what they want, and this could be the matchup that clinches everything in both races.
Cole Melancon on 66C Harold’s Genuine Risk:
Dakota Louis was 89 points on this bull in Round 1, and this is a great draw for Melancon. On paper, this bull is a much better fit for a lefty rider, but Melancon is exceptionally good on bulls that go away from his hand, and he can’t be disappointed with this one.
Ezekiel Mitchell on 247 Red Dawn:
While most people would agree that 2020 has been a downright awful year all around, Red Dawn has been busy having the best year of his career. He’s been a bright spot in the bull pen all this season. Mitchell has bucked off both his bulls coming in, but he rode Red Dawn in Bismarck earlier this season for 87 points. He may get back in the game here.
Keyshawn Whitehorse on -51 Skeeter Peter:
Whitehorse won Round 2, and may do very well again tonight. This bull likes the right, and he’s 2-3 against right-handed riders. Tye Chandler won a round on him this season, and Cody Teel was 88.25 points on him at the 2019 World Finals to place fourth in the opening round.
Mason Taylor on 77B Medicine Man:
Medicine Man has been ridden in his last three outs, and he’s 10-15 in his career versus right-handed riders. Taylor came down off a similar bull last night right at the whistle, but he has a chance to redeem himself here. Taylor has been riding very well lately and should get the job done here.
Tye Chandler on 31C Ain’t Easy Being Me:
If you are at your first World Finals and you find yourself 2-for-2 and sitting second in the aggregate after the first two rounds, why not run the table? This bull will be a little tougher than the first two Chandler faced, and may go away from his hand, but he was ridden twice at the World Finals last year, and Mason Taylor rode him back in August.
Kaique Pacheco on 169 Sky Harbor:
This is one of the best draws in the round, and Pacheco could easily turn this into a round win. Sky Harbor is a better fit for a left-handed rider, but Pacheco is riding as well as he ever has right now. He presents the biggest challenge to Leme’s title pursuit, but the problem is he may have too much ground to make up at this point. He’s sixth in the aggregate, and he needs the aggregate win. Leme earns about 22 standings points each time he makes a qualified ride this season, and Pacheco is at 18. Pacheco needs to win the remaining rounds, and the aggregate, and he needs someone to kidnap Leme and keep him away from AT&T stadium to have a chance.
Cody Teel on 643 Cold Chill:
Teel has had an up-and-down season, and it hasn’t been one of his best for sure. But, he’s looked as sharp as any rider here, and he’s 2-for-2 and sitting fourth in the average after two rounds. Cooper Davis was 89 points on this bull to win a round in Lincoln, Nebraska, last month.
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