Bennett Rides to San Angelo Record, Title with 93-Point Ride

SAN ANGELO, TX – As Caleb Bennett reflected on his San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo bareback riding championship, he noted that the final round was a bit different than past years.

“The San Angelo short round has always been a high-scoring affair in bareback riding,” said Bennett, who matched moves with Northcott Macza’s Spilled Perfume for 93 points on Friday night to claim the title. “Instead of it being a bunch of high-scoring rides on really electric bucking horses, this one was about having to ride the smarter, buckier ones.”

That was definitely the case with Spilled Perfume, a powerfully athletic bay bucking horse that is typically featured in the “eliminator pen” at the National Finals Rodeo because it is one of the toughest-to-ride equines in the game.

“I had her at the Canadian Finals in 2017, and I ended up second in the round there after a pretty good go at her,” said Bennett, a seven-time NFR qualifier from Corvallis, Montana, who posted the highest score of his career Friday night. “That’s all I kept replaying in my head all day … that good trip with her.

“She’s definitely stepped it up a notch since then. She’s a lot more of a horse. She just bucks. She’s got a little hesitating rear out of the chute; when she hits the ground, she hits so hard that she shoves the riggin’ into your gut.”

Where most bucking horses will start out strong, he said, they typically line out and perform a more natural bucking motion. That wasn’t the case with Spilled Perfume.

“She just keeps getting stronger, and she dang sure got stronger today,” he said. “That was a fist-fight, riggin’-fight, 93-point bareback ride.

“That bareback riding short round ranks right up there among the greatest, but that’s typically the case in San Angelo. When you make the San Angelo short round, you’re sexcited to go, because you know

you’re going to have to be 88, 89 or 90 to win the round and have a high score just to place in the round.”

For his efforts in this west Texas community, Bennett has earned $8,333, all of which will go toward his place in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. He returns to Foster Communications Coliseum on Saturday for the Cinch Chute Out.

“That’s a heck of a chunk of money to win here,” said Bennett, who finished the 2018 season sixth in the world standings with more than $240,000 in earnings. “I didn’t have any luck at Denver. This is only the third rodeo I’ve been to so far this year, so to win it and get the ball rolling feels awesome.

“It takes some weight off your shoulders, lets you breathe easy for a minute and keeps your confidence level up there and keeps you rolling to the next one. Momentum is so big in our sport, so you just want to ride that momentum as long as you can.”

It’s that type of mindset that has seen him as one of the best in the game for a long time.

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
Feb. 1-3, Feb. 8-10, Feb. 13-15
Bareback riding: 1. 2. Nate S. McFadden, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s South Point Gambler, $4,890; 2. Bill Tutor, 88, $3,749; 2. Kody Lamb, 85, $2,771; 3. Caleb Bennett, 85.5, $1,793; 4. (tie) Austin Foss and Clayton Biglow, 85, $978 each; 7. (tie) Taylor Broussard, Jake Vold and Wyatt Ortega, 84, $380 each. Final round: 1. Caleb Bennett, 93 points on Northcott Macza’s Spilled Perfume, $1,650; 2. Clayton Biglow, 89.5, $1,250; 3. Kody Lamb, 89, $900; 4. Hunter Brasfield, 85.5, $600; 5. (tie) Zach Hibler and Tanner Aus, 82, $300 each. Average: 1. Caleb Bennett, 178.5 points on two rides, $4,890; 2. Kody Lamb, 175, $3,749; 3. Clayton Biglow, 174.5, $2,771; 4. Hunter Brasfield, 168.5, $1,793; 5. Wyatt Ortega, 165.5, $1,141; 6. Tanner Aus, 164.5, $815; 7. Zach Hibler, 164, $652; 8. Jake Vold, 154, $489.  

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Tucker Allen, 3.6 seconds, $3,636; 2. (tie) Don Payne and Josh Clark, 3.7, $2,925 each; 4. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Sam Shelton, 3.8, $1,976 each; 6. Denell Henderson, 3.9, $1,265; 7. Jacob Talley, 4.0, $791; 8. Dru Melvin, 4.2, $316. Second round: 1. Richard Coats, 3.2 seconds, $3,636; 2. Edward Beardsworth, 3.7, $4,162; 3. Dirk Tavenner, 3.8, $2.688; 4. Tom Lewis, 3.9, $2,213; 5. (tie) Tanner Brunner, Gary Gilbert and Bridger Anderson, 4.0, $1,265; 8. (tie) Sam Powers, Ross Mosher and Josh Garner, 4.1, $106 each. Final round: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds, $1,645; 2. Tyler Pearson, 4.3, $1,430; 3. Jacob Edler, 4.4, $1,216; 4. Mike McGinn, 4.5, $1,001; 5. Tucker Allen, 4.6, $787; 6. Denell Henderson, 5.0, $572; 7. Stephen Culling, 6.5, $358; 8. Josh Clark, 12.5, $143. Average: 1. Tucker Allen, 12.8 seconds on three runs, $5,455; 2. Cody Devers, 13.2, $4,743; 3. Denell Henderson, 13.3, $4,032; 4. Jacob Edler, 13.6, $4,032; 5. Tyler Pearson, 13.8, $2,609; 6. Mike McGinn, 14.3, $1,897; 7. Stephen Culling, 16.2, $1,186; 8. Josh Clark, 21.2, $474.

Team roping: First round: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.6 seconds, $3,763; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Rich Skelton, 3.7, $3,272; 3. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 3.8, $2,782; 4. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 3.9, $2,291; 5. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Manny Equsquiza Jr./Dustin Searcy and Tyler Waters/Brady Norman, 4.0, $1,309 each; 8. Anthony Lucia/Wesley Moss, 4.1, $327. Second round: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.5 seconds, $3,763; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Paul Eaves and Caleb Smidt/Will Woodfin, 3.6, $3,027 each; 4. Brandon Webb/Kollin VonAhn, 3.7, $2,291; 5. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, Lathen Bryant/Morgan McVay and Shane Phillip/John Phillip, 3.8, $1,309; 8. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 3.9, $327. Final round: 1. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 4.2 seconds, $1,711; 2. Garett ChickRoss Ashford, 4.6, $1,416; 3. Lane Santos Karney/Dillon Wingereid, 5.0, $1,121; 4. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 5.1, $826; 5. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 5.6, $531; 6. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 6.5, $295.Average: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 13.2 seconds on three runs, $5,645; 2. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 13.7, $4,909; 3. Garett Chick/Ross Ashford, 14.3, $4,172; 4. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 16.3, $3,436; 5. Lane Santos Karney/Dillon Wingereid, 16.9, $2,700; 6. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 17.1, $1,963; 7. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 19.4, $1,227; 8. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 21.0, $491.  

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zeke Thurston, 88.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild, $3,508; 2. (tie) Rusty Wright and Lefty Holman, 87.5, $2,339 each; 4. (tie) Cody DeMoss and Colt Gordon, 87, $1,052 each; 6. Ryder Wright, 84, $585; 7. Jade Blackwell, 83.5, $468; 8. (tie) Preston Burr, Wade Sundell, Chase Brooks and Shade Etbauer, 83, $88 each. Final round: 1. Rusty Wright, 89.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl, $1,650; 2. Ryder Wright, 88, $1,250; 3. Chase Brooks, 87, $900; 4. Zeke Thurston, 84, $600; 5. Lefty Holman, 82.5, $350; 6. Jade Blackwell, 81.5, $250. Average: 1. Rusty Wright, 177 points on two rides, $3,508; 2. Zeke Thurston, 172.5, $2,690; 3. Ryder Wright, 172, $1,988; 4. (tie) Chase Brooks and Lefty Holman, 170, $1,052 each; 6. Jade Blackwell, 165, $585; 7. Rhett Fanning, 160.5, $468; 8. Preston Burr, 160.0, $351.   

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Jake Pratt, 7.0 seconds, $4,792; 2. Michael Otero, 7.1, $4,167; 3. Kyle Lucas, 7.4, $3,542; 4. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Blair Smith, 7.5, $2,604 each; 6. Tuf Cooper, 7.6, $1,667; 7. (tie) Blane Cox, John Douch and Bryson Sechrist, 7.7, $486 each. Second round: 1. Adam Gray, 7.1 seconds, $4,792; 2. (tie) Justin Smith, Marty Yates Bradley Bynum, 7.2, $3,542 each; 5. (tie) Tyler Milligan, Cory Solomon and Reid H. Zapalac, 7.3, $1,667 each; 6. (tie) Cimarron Boardman and Jesse Clark, 7.6, $308 each. Final round: 1. Michael Otero, 7.8 seconds, $1,909; 2. Matt Shiozawa, 8.0, $1,660; 3. Jake Pratt, 8.1, $1,411; 4. Blake Ash, 9.4, $1,162; 5. Cory Solomon, 10.2, $913; 6. Marty Yates, 10.5, $664; 7. Trevor Brazile, 10.8, $415; 8. Tuf Cooper, 19.0, $166. Average: 1. Michael Otero, 23.0 seconds on three runs, $7,187; 2. Jake Pratt, 24.0, $6,250; 3. Matt Shiozawa, 25.2, $5,312; 4. Trevor Brazile, 26.0, $4,375; 5. Blake Ash, 26.1, $3,437; 6. Marty Yates, 26.2, $2,500; 7. Cory Solomon, 27.5, $1,562; 8. Tuf Cooper, 25.1, $625.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Wenda Johnson, 15.91 seconds, $4,295; 2. Jill Tanner, 15.97, $3,681; 3. Sidney Forrest, 15.99, $3,068; 4. Ryann Pedone, 16.00, $2,659; 5. Jackie Jatzlau, 16.04, $2,045; 6. Angela Ganter, 16.05, $1,636; 7. Kelly Bruner, 16.07, $1,227; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 16.08, $819; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 16.09, $614; 10. (tie) Sara Withers, Nisa Berry, Jimmie Smith, Brittney Barnett and Kenna Squires, 16.10, $82 each. Second round: 1. Nicole Love, 14.08 second, $4,295; 2. Alex Lang, 14.19, $3,681; 3. Jimmie Smith, 14.24, $3,068; 4. (tie) Teri Bangart and Sherry Cervi, 14.29, $2,352 each; 6. Stevi Hillman, 14.32, $1,636; 7. (tie) Halyn Lide and Kappy Allen, 14.34, $1,023 each; 9. Mindy Goemmer, 14.35, $614; 10. Dona Kay Rule, 14.38, $409. Final round: 1. Jill Tanner, 13.81 seconds, $3,181; 2. Jimmie Smith, 14.20, $2,386; 3. Lacinda Rose, 14.26, $1,590; 4. Nicole Love, 14.30, $795. Average: 1. Jill Tanner, 44.36 seconds on three runs, $6,442; 2. Nicole Love, 44.50, $5,522; 3. Jimmie Smith, 44.54, $4,801; 4. Alex Lang, 44.81, $3,988; 5. Lacinda Rose, 44.88, $3,068; 6. Teri Bangart, 44.96, $2,454; 7. Stevi Hillman, 44.97, $1,841; 8. Cheyenne Wimberley, 45.07, $1,227; 9. Sidney Forrest, 45.08, $920; 10. Brittney Barnett, 45.16, $614.

Bull riding: 1. (tie) Aaron Williams, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm, and Stetson Wright, on United Pro Rodeo’s Happy Days, 89 points, $3,286 each; 3. Jeff Askey, 88, $3,108; 4. Brady Portenier, 87, $1,364; 5. Jordan Wacey Spears, 86.5, $868; 6. Rorey Maier, 85, $620; 7. (tie) Cole Meloncon and Riker Carter, 84, $434 each. Final round: 1. Jordan Wacey Spears, 88.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm, $1,800; 2. Aaron Pass, 87, $1,400; 3. Chase Dougherty, 84, $1,050; 4. Jeff Askey, 81.5, $750. Average: 1. Jordan Wacey Spears, 175 points on two rides, $3,720; 2. Aaron Pass, 170.5, $2,852; 3. Jeff Askey, 169.5, $2,108; 4. Chase Dougherty, 167, $1,364; 5. Stetson Wright, 89 points on one ride, $868; 6. Brady Portenier, 87, $620; 7. Rorey Maier, 85, $496; 8. Riker Carter, 84, $372.