Photo: Fernando Sam-Sin
The competition was fierce in Cave Creek, Arizona, over Memorial Day Weekend with some of the biggest names in rodeo and stars of the Turquoise Circuit coming together to Kick Open the Chutes at the Cave Creek Rodeo Days.
The PRCA and CCR worked closely to ensure the health and safety contestants and crew were top priority, and the Justin Medicine Team was on hand to administer screen tests for everyone entering the grounds. While the event was not open to live spectators, Cave Creek rodeo became the first ProRodeo back on TV since the Coronavirus shutdown, airing live on both The Cowboy Channel and new PRCA on The Cowboy Channel + app.
Highlights of the rodeo included Matt Reeves, who lost his beloved horse Rattle shortly after their win at RFD-TV’s The American in March, taking first in the steer wrestling with a time of 3.7 seconds, and Utah’s Amanda Butler turning in an incredible time of 15.45 seconds in the barrel racing, beating out second place finisher Dona Kay Rule (on AQHA 2019 Horse of the Year High Valor) by more than one-third of a second.
It was no surprise that tie-down roper Shad Mayfield came away with another win, extending his lead of more than $88,000 in the World Standings by another $1,751, and in the team roping, local Turquoise Circuit competitors Trevor Nowlin and Pedro Egurrola turned in the fastest time, getting it done in just 4.3 seconds.
Colt Gordon topped the saddle bronc leaderboard, scoring 86 points on Cervi Pro Rodeo’s Mortician — the same horse drawn by Rusty Wright who scored 85.5 points to finish second. In the bareback, Caleb Bennett was the big winner, pocketing $1,601 for his 84.5 ride on Cervi’s Little Bucker, while younger brother Cooper Bennett finished fifth with an 81-point ride. And in the bull riding, Trey Kimzey went 84.5 points for the highest score of the night in the final round, proving he doesn’t need big brother Sage at his side to get it done, but it was Garrett Smith who took the win, riding 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Rustler’s Roost for 89 points and $1,805.
For a full list of the final results in each event, click here.