Daily Archives: September 28, 2009

OMAHA, Neb. — Steer wrestler Lee Graves says he feels like he’s “on the top of the world,” which seems only fair. After two nights’ work at the Justin Boots Championships he is on top of the world.

After winning both rounds at the Qwest Center in identical times of 3.3 seconds — and the two-head average — Graves has earned $17,421, pushing him past Jake Rinehart atop the PRCA World Standings by more than $15,000.

“When it’s your time, it’s your time,” Graves said, “and when you get in these grooves, you’ve just got to ride it out as long as you can. Don’t change anything and just back in there and win as much as you can.

“I’ve been on both ends of it and been where you can’t make a right turn or do anything right, but I’m just lucky my horse (Jessie) is working great.”

Graves was at that other end of things a year ago when he tore the patella (read more)

Courtesy PRCA

OMAHA, Neb. — Saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz had seen MJM Rodeo’s Little Stone on television many times over the years and was always impressed by what he saw. She was even better live.

The 16-year-old bay mare, a four-time veteran of the Wrangler NFR, carried Diaz to “the biggest win I’ve ever had,” on Saturday night at the $835,000 Justin Boots Championships in the Qwest Center.

Diaz, of Stephenville, Texas, earned a score of 86 points to edge J.J. Elshere by a single point to earn the $13,251 final-round prize and a total of $21,523 for the weekend.

“Guys dream of just being in this position, and I’m just blessed,” Diaz said…(read more)

OMAHA, Neb. – It was like she was never gone.

Riding her famed horse Martha for the first time in three weeks, Lindsay Sears won the barrel racing at the Justin Boots Championships for the second year in a row.

The Canadian cowgirl, who qualified out of the semifinals third, put up at time of 13.85 seconds in the final round to win the title.

The Justin Boots Championships was the culmination of the PRCA’s Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Series.

The 2009 regular season ends Sept. 30, with the exception of this November’s Heartland Series in Waco, Texas.

Sears, the reigning world champion, was the high-money winner at the Qwest Center, pocketing $32,786. The money won during the weekend pull Sears within $1,200 of world standings leader Brittany Pozzi of Victoria, Texas. Both have almost won $160,000 this year.

“She just loves Omaha,” Sears said of her nine-year-old sorrel mare. (read more)