Father and Son Have High Scores at San Antonio Rodeo
Susan Kanode 

            SAN ANTONIO --- Rodeo is definitely a family affair and fans at the 11^th performance of the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo saw that first hand.

            However, it was a livestock family that took center stage in the bull riding. Hot Damn, a bull that is notorious for getting cowboys high scores and to the pay window and his son Hot Diggety Damn both gave riders an opportunity. Kanin Asay, who was the reserve world champion in 2007 and currently leads the Crusher World Standings was on Hot Diggety Damn. The Powell, Wyo., cowboy spurred his way to an 89-point score.

            It was not the first time that Jarrod Ford has gotten on Hot Damn. He rode him in Guthrie, Okla., for 88.5 points in 2005. Saturday night in the AT&T Center, he was 87 points. Both of these men are hoping for success here at the Sunday matinee if they have any hopes of qualifying for the finals. They both bucked off in the first round.

There are two bull riders in this group that were successful on two rides, Zack Oakes from Elk, Wash., and Pancho Limas from Weatherford, Okla. There are three bull riders that have scores on all three preliminary rounds, so with the odds in the bulls’ favor, it is possible that some of the 12 bull riders that compete at the finals next Saturday night will only have two scores to their credit.

Last year’s co-champion saddle bronc rider, Cody Wright, from Milford, Utah, has the potential to qualify for the finals once again. Wright has scores of 74 and 82 points. He needs a 75 on Sunday to tie with Taos Muncy who Wright shared the title with last year.

Veteran Billy Etbauer from Edmond, Okla., bucked off in the first round but came back at the evening performance with an 83-point effort on Bar T Rodeo’s Hard Copy. This is currently second in the round. Etbauer has five world titles and 19-Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifications to his credit.

Ryan Gray is looking good for the bareback riding finals. He had scores of 86 and 84 points here on Saturday. One more great ride will see him atop the leaderboard and vying for his first San Antonio Rodeo championship.

All of these men will have their third competition here on Sunday afternoon. Sunday’s evening performance will see the fifth group of competitors making their debut. Action starts at 1 and 7:30 p.m.