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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a rematch between two of the top title contenders in the PBR, it was Smooth Operator getting the better of Jose Vitor Leme on Sunday afternoon.
Smooth Operator bucked Leme off in 3.77 seconds for a 46.25-point bull score in Round 3 of the Jack Daniel’s Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires, to take over the lead in the 2019 World Champion Bull race.
“I was sure proud of that bull,” Berger said. “When I seen Jose had him – you know, Jose had him earlier in the year, and he did turn back to the left for him, but he really bucked today, and I was real proud of him. He’s 9 years old, and you can’t ask any more out of that bull than he’s given, and I’m just so proud of that bull.”
Smooth Operator once again surprisingly went to the left with Leme, just like he did in Columbus, Ohio, when Leme rode for him for 92.5 points.
However, even Smooth Operator going to the left this weekend was not going to help Leme.
Smooth Operator now leads the YETI World Champion Bull race with a World Champion Bull average of 45.81 points on his eight best outs in 2019. Smooth Wreck dropped to No. 2 (45.66) after being scored 44 points for bucking off Cody Teel in 3.02 seconds.
“I was really happy, because I didn’t think he’d go left twice in a row,” Berger said. “That’s the only time I’ve ever seen him go left. And I thought if the bull gave it his all going away from Jose’s hand, he had a good chance of bucking him off. But Jose, you can never count him out.”
Fearless (45.56 points) is sitting No. 3 in the YETI World Champion Bull race after being marked 45.75 points in Round 2, when Dalton Kasel rode him for 92 points.
Three-time World Champion SweetPro’s Bruiser bucked Kasel off in 7.7 seconds in Round 5 for 45.75 points and is fourth in the standings (45.38 points).
Heartbreak Kid is fifth in the standings with a World Champion Bull average of 45.06 points. The 6-year-old bovine posted his 36th consecutive buckoff on the premier series, which is now the second-best streak all time behind three-time World Champion Bushwacker (42), when he took care of Claudio Montanha Jr. in 2.01 seconds for a 45-point bull score.
The 2019 World Champion Bull will be the bull with the highest average based on his best eight premier series outs and two outs at the 2019 PBR World Finals.
Nine-time World Champion and CBS analyst Ty Murray believes Smooth Operator was the one making the statement in Nashville.
“He looked fantastic,” Murray said. “I thought he looked really good, and he really cemented himself in the race. It was one of those weekends where he said, ‘You guys better keep an eye on me.’”
Leme tipped his hat to Smooth Operator and Berger.
“He is a hard bull. Strong,” Leme said. “The right side is the best side for him. Not for me. I don’t know. Maybe next time I will ride him.”
Berger was extremely pleased to see Smooth Operator look dominant against one of the best bull riders in the world.
The Mandan, North Dakota, native and reigning Stock Contractor of the Year loves to see matchups like Smooth Operator vs. Leme on the PBR’s biggest stage. Berger wants the best vs. the best.
“I was real happy with the draw because Jose’s one of the guys that really don’t monkey around in the chute,” Berger said. “He gets out on them bulls. He wants them to buck. He’s really a competitor.
“I’m real proud of Jose, and I’m prouder of my bull.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko