DUNCAN, Okla. – Hardy Braden knew he had no chance to win the year-end saddle bronc riding title in the Prairie Circuit.

His only chance to advance to the National Circuit Finals Rodeo was to win the average championship this weekend at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan.

He’s well on his way. After finishing second in Thursday’s opening night, Braden followed Friday with an 83.5-point ride on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild to win the second round and move into the average lead with one round remaining Saturday night.

“I’ve got a good horse (Saturday),” Harden said of Frontier Rodeo’s Memphis King. “It’s set up good if I do my part It’s still anybody’s game. Steven (Dent) is still right there. He may be down in the average a bit, but you know he’s going to make a good ride almost every time if he has a good horse. You can’t leave Tyrel (Larsen) behind either.

“I’m saying I’m not confident I’m going to win the average, but I’m confident in myself.”

He should be. Braden is a three-time average winner at the Prairie Circuit Finals, and he owns two outright championships. A year ago, he qualified for the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in his career.

His two-ride cumulative score is 162 points, and he has already earned $3,239 in Duncan. He has pushed his season circuit earnings to $13,501. Of course, he knew a little something about his Friday ride, Aces Wild.

“I got on her last year in Vinita, and I made a good ride on her and she had a decent trip,” Braden said. “She still gives you the opportunity, so I was excited to have her.”

The Prairie Circuit once was one of the featured regions for saddle bronc riding with names like Etbauer, Latham, Franks and others battling for titles. This year’s class features Dent, Larsen and Braden, all of whom have been to the NFR; Dent has been in bareback riding, and he’s competing this weekend in both events.

“Steven would be at the NFR in saddle bronc riding if he would focus just on bronc riding rather than doing both,” Braden said. “He’s one of the best bronc riders going down the road, and he only does it half the time.

“We’ve got a lot of good bronc riders in this circuit. If some of those guys hadn’t been bucked off, there would be five or six of us that could be right there in a bunch that could go for the average title. The talent’s coming back for the Prairie Circuit.”

Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo
Oct. 18-20
Duncan, Okla.
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Will Martin, 83 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Jason’s Pride, $1,832; 2. Jared Keylon, 81.5, $1,374; 3. Blaine Kaufman, 80, $916; 5. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt and Steven Dent, 77, $229 each. Second round: 1. Jared Keylon, 84.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big League, $1,832; 2. Steven Dent, 82.5, $1,374; 3. (tie) Mike Fred and Mark Kreder, 79, $687 each.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Blake Mindemann, 3.8 seconds, $1,851; 2. Stockton Graves, 4.4, $1,388; 3. Riley Duvall, 4.7, $925; 4. Jule Hazen, 5.3, $463. Second round: 1. (tie) Riley Duvall and Hunter Crawford, 4.3 seconds, $1,619 each; 3. Jule Hazen, 4.4, $925; 4. Kyle Eike, 4.7, $463.

Team roping: First round: 1. Dylan Gordon/Chase Boekhaus, 4.6 seconds, $1,851; 2. (tie) Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.2, $1,157; 4. Cole Markham/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.6, $463. Second round: Curry Kirchner/Jett Hillman, 5.0, $1,851; 2. Dylan Gordon/Chase Boekhaus, 5.1 $1,388; 3. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.5, $925; 4. Cale Markham/Buddy Hawkins, 6.0, $463.

Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Steven Dent, 80 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Night Latch, $1,851; 2. Hardy Braden, 78.5, $1,388; 3. Roper Kiesner, 78, $925; 4. (tie) Clint Lindenfeld, Preston Kafka and Dalton Davis, 76, $154 each. Second round 1. Hardy Braden, 83.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild, $1,851; 2. Dalton Davis, 79.5, $1,388; 3. Jake Finlay, 66, $925; 4. (tie) Colt Gordon and Tyrel Larsen, 75.5, $231 each.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 8.0 seconds, $1,851; 2. Trent Creager, 8.5, $1,388; 3. Tyler Milligan, 8.8, $925; 4. Luke Potter, 9.3, $463. Second round: 1. Cody Quaney, 7.7 seconds, $1,851; 2. Cole Bailey, 8.0, $1,388; 3. Paul David Tierney, 8.2, $925; 4. Tyler Milligan, 8.8, $463.

Barrel racing: First round: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 15.55 seconds, $1,851; 2. Kyle Weast, 15.61, $1,388; 3. Hollie Etbauer, 15.76, $925; 4. Emily Miller, 15.85, $463. Round 2: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 15.50 seconds, $1,851; 2. Hollie Etbauer, 15.54, $1,388; 3. Kylie Weast, 15.70, $925; 4. Tracy Nowlin, 15.73, $463.

Steer roping: First round: 1. Blake Deckard, 11.4 seconds, $1,710; 2. Rocky Patterson, 12.5, $1,282; 3. Billy Good, 12.7, $855; 4. Dee Kyler Jr., 15.4, $427. Second round: 1. Brady Garten, 10.6 seconds, $1,710; 2. J.P. Wickett, 11.0, $1,282; 3. (tie) Cole Patterson and Trenton Johnson, 11.1, $641 each. Third round: 1. Brodie Poppino, 9.9 seconds, $1,710; 2. Billy Good, 13.3, $1,282; 3. Ralph Williams, 14.6, $855; 4. Kelton McMillen, 19.4, $427. Average: 1. Kelton McMillen, 51.8 seconds on three runs, $2,565; 2. Mike Chase, 57.0, $1,924; 3. Ralph Williams, 65.0, $1,282; 4. Brodie Poppino, 22.3 seconds on two runs, $641.

Bull riding: First round: 1. Tyler Hessman, 86.5 points on Big Rafter’s Outback Pharmacy, $1851; 2. Nathan Hatchel, 84, $1,388; 3. Jeston Mead, 82.5, $925; 4. Brett Custer, 82, $463. Second round: 1. Trevor Kastner, 86 points on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Bull Throttle, $2,545; 2. Brett Custer, 83, $2,082; no other qualified rides.