Mote, Spring Fling reacquaint themselves

By Brett Okamoto (contact)

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Twelve years ago a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rookie from Oregon and a three-year-old bucking horse from a Washington stock contractor met for the first time at a professional rodeo.

They met again Wednesday night at the 50th Anniversary National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center and combined for a first-place, 91.5-point ride - tying an NFR record. The cowboy was Bobby Mote, two-time World Champion bareback rider and current leader in this year's standings. The horse, Spring Fling from Big Bend Stock Contractors, is a three-time PRCA horse of the year.

"I got on her on a rodeo in 1996 when she was a three-year-old," Mote said. "Neither of us knew what we were doing. She's a legend now, there's not a better horse out there. There isn't a jump you're sure you've got knocked out, because that horse can buck you off. She takes four or five more jumps in eight seconds than just about any other horse."

The matchup was a perfect draw for Mote, who has a reputation for saving his best riding for the NFR. Mote has placed in five of seven rounds so far, including three first-place finishes. He clinched the 2007 World title in the tenth round here last year with a 82.5-point ride. He came into Las Vegas in third place in the World standings, $26,570 behind the leader, but took a slight advantage after Wednesday's ride.

Although he had ridden Spring Fling five times in his career before, he has never drawn the horse at a NFR.

"I hardly slept last night, I was so excited," Mote said. "I tried to almost downplay it so I didn't get in my own way, but I've been excited ever since I found out the news."

Mote is now in a good position to win his third Gold Buckle in the bareback event, after leader Steven Dent slipped to fifth place in the average and second in the World standings. Oklahoma cowboy Justin McDaniel has come all the way from tenth place to third to challenge the leaders after a terrific NFR where he has won $54,086. Mote says he is trying not to think about the standings but it's hard not to.

"I can't get away from them because everyone keeps showing them to me," Mote said. "I'm not going to the media room trying to get a copy of them. I've just got to keep the pedal to the metal because I've got four guys at least behind me that's all got a shot. That's what makes it fun. It's times like this that really show you what you're capable of."

McTaggart Watch: Colin McTaggart is the cowboy with the closest ties to Las Vegas in the competition. McTaggart was a student at UNLV last year and plans on returning next year to earn his degree in marketing. He entered this year’s finals, the second of his career, in eighth place in bull riding. Last year he finished 15th in the final world standings.

McTaggart started to slide back early during his run on the bull Malibu and still nearly finished the ride. He was bucked off with a little over a tenth of a second to go for a no score. He's now rode two of seven bulls at the NFR and slipped to 12th in the average.

Notes: No one would have given the leading team-ropers a hard time for simply protecting their lead, but that's just not six-time all-around World Champion Trevor Brazile's style. Already first in the average, Brazile and teammate Patrick Smith went out aggressive in the seventh round and left with a first-place 3.9-second time.

"The best way to stay in the lead of the average is to make good runs," Brazile said. "I'm not trying to protect our lead, I'm thinking about getting further in the lead. We're still taking high-percentage shots. We can make that run we made tonight on a very consistent basis."

Tie-down roper Jeff Chapman hasn't had the NFR he was hoping for, currently in last for the average, but the Texas cowboy hasn't let it get him down. He sure had a good night Wednesday, taking home what he claims is a much needed $16,766 first-place check.

"It's been a long week but I've been out here when it's been longer," Chapman said. "My banker pretty much tells me that I need to keep my head down and start winning. I've been buying a lot here lately and I need to pay for it."

After losing his World standings lead to Billy Etbauer in the saddle-bronc event Tuesday, Cody Wright took it right back with a first-place 88.5-point ride. The two are in a very close race for the World title with just three nights left. If Wright wins, the Gold Buckle would be the first of his career. It would be Etbauer's sixth.

"I just don't feel like I'm any comparison to Billy Etbauer," Wright said. "Some nights I just get luckier. Billy is one of the best bronc riders there has ever been. It would be awesome to win the world rodeoing with Billy, just because he is so great."

Round Winners

Bareback Riding: Bobby Mote; 91.5 points

Steer Wrestling: Trevor Knowles, Curtis Cassidy; 3.4 seconds (tie)

Team Roping: Trevor Brazile, Patrick Smith; 3,9 seconds

Saddle-bronc Riding: Cody Wright; 88.5 points

Tie-down Roping: Jeff Chapman; 7.3 seconds

Barrel Racing: Lindsay Sears; 13.56 seconds

Bull Riding: Mike Moore; 85.5 points