LOUISVILLE, Ky. ―We should see a good number of rides to open the event here. There are a number of debut bulls in Round 1 that we know little about. Rounds with a lot of new bulls tend to be rounds where a lot of bulls are ridden.
Emilio Resende on 7141 Firewater:
They met in Oklahoma City earlier this year and Resende came down
at 5.34 seconds. Firewater doesn't have a long history ― just seven
career outs ― but he was ridden for the first time just a few weeks
ago by Dustin Hall at a rodeo in Missouri. Resende is a tough guy
to get on the ground, and it will be a tough task for a long
round-caliber bull to do it twice in a row.
Austin Meier on 41 Stay Thirsty:
This is an interesting matchup. Stay Thirsty is making his Built
Ford Tough Series debut, but this is far from his first rodeo. He's
been to quite a few rodeos, and his numbers are solid. He was
chosen for the National Finals Rodeo in 2011, and he has a solid
record over the past two seasons. He's been ridden just six times
in 41 career outs, but that is a little misleading. Bulls on the
professional rodeo circuit do face quality riders from
time-to-time, but far less often than bulls that regularly appear
at the Built Ford Tough Series level. Stay Thirsty has only had to
go against them four times in his career, and two of those riders
got the job done. He projects to score just under 43 points, and
Meier has a great chance to get a solid opening round score
here.
Guilherme Marchi on S05 Come Back:
This bull hasn't been ridden by a right-handed rider, but then
again he hasn't faced very many of them. He has been ridden four
times in seven career outs. Typically bulls with that kind of
record do not get Marchi on the ground, but this one did get the
best of Silvano Alves last season. Harve Stewart is the only other
righty he's faced, and Stewart did stay aboard for 7.7 seconds.
Jory Markiss on 630 Paleface:
This may be the best draw in the round. Shane Proctor was 89.75
points on him in the short round in Kansas City, Mo., earlier this
year. Paleface likes to spin to the right, which will be away from
Markiss' riding hand, but that's about the only negative here. He's
an honest, quality bull with good timing, and he can hold his own
at this level.
Douglas Duncan on 40B Johnny Be Good:
Duncan has ridden five of his last seven bulls, and I have to
believe that were he healthy he would be a serious contender. He's
made some impressive rides this season. He's got a shot at getting
on the board to open this event as well. This bull has been better
to left-handed riders, and has been three times in six Built Ford
Tough Series outs.
L.J. Jenkins on S04 Moses:
Moses is 0-for-4 against right-handed riders, and 1-for-5 at BFTS
events. The only guy he's gotten the best of is Billy Robinson in
Winston-Salem, N.C., earlier this year, and Robinson made it to
7.69 seconds before coming down. Jenkins is a huge favorite
here.
Ty Pozzobon on 829 Carolina Kicker:
Pozzobon has really been two different riders this season. Early in
the year he did really well, and recently not so much. He hasn't
earned a score on anything since the opening round in Kansas City
back in February. This bull is similar to Jenkins' bull in that
he's ridden most of the time, and all of the time at this level.
This should be a slump breaker.
J.B. Mauney on 67 Black Friday:
This is another debut bull. He's got four outs to his credit, and
was ridden in three of them ― all at Touring Pro Division events
this season. With that kind of record, he's not likely to get the
best of Mauney ― who will be the best rider he's faced yet.
Mike Lee on S06 Monsoon:
We last saw this bull in New York, where J.B. Mauney was 86 points
on him. He's been ridden four times in seven career outs. He's
faced two left-handed riders, and both of them rode him, as will
Lee. Monsoon likes to spin to the left, and with Mauney he had near
perfect timing. Every guy here would be favored to ride him,
especially going into their hand.
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Follow Slade Long on Twitter @ProBullStats.