CLAREMORE, Okla. – Bill Tutor’s No. 1 goal in 2013 is to win the Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year title in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

The young cowboy got a big boost from a veteran bucking horse and moved closer toward that goal on Saturday night when he rode Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket for 85 points to take the bareback riding lead at the Will Rogers Stampede, with just one performance remaining at 7:45 p.m. Sunday.

“I got on him last year in Eagle, Colo.,” said Tutor, a 21-year-old cowboy from Huntsville, Texas. “I was 87 on him there. I felt like I rode him 10 times better tonight.”

The judges seemed to have liked it, but that’s been the case almost every time the horse has performed over the last five years. The 9-year-old bay gelding has been named one of the best bareback horses in ProRodeo; in 2012, he was named the runner-up reserve world champion.

“He’s just electric in himself,” Tutor said. “He stands out among the other horses. He’s way flashier, but he bucks to where he helps the rider out a lot. You have enough hang time to expose yourself.”

Judges mark half the score for the animal and half for the rider, and scores are on the 100-point scale.

“He’s gaining points himself, but he allows you to gain points yourself,” Tutor said.

He was one of two cowboys who moved into the lead on Saturday night, joining bull rider Trey Benton III. He rode Lancaster & Pickett Rodeo’s Short Stack for 82 points.

“I didn’t know much about the bull, but he started real good,” said Benton, the 2012 PRCA rookie of the year who qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last December. “I wish he would’ve stayed left, but he went back right and flattened out a little bit. We made a good ride.”

Taking the lead in Claremore is a nice momentum-booster for the Rock Island, Texas, cowboy.

“I had a bad finals, and it got to me a little bit the beginning of the year,” Benton said. “Then I broke my face at Fort Worth, and I had to sit out two months after that. Now I’m coming back and starting to get on my grind, so it’s going good.

“You’ve got one goal when you go all year, and that’s to stay on all your bulls and they’ll pay you.”

Will Rogers Stampede
Claremore, Okla.
May 24-26
Leaders through second performance
Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 85 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket; 2. Jared Smith, 83; 3. Caine Riddle, 81; 4. Justin McDaniel, 80; 5. Colt Bruce, 79; 6. Richie Champion, 76.

Steer wrestling: 1. Shane Henderson, 4.2 seconds; 2. Matt Reeves, 4.7; 3. Royce Johnson, 4.9; 4. (tie) Tooter Silver, Teddy Johnson and Jason Thomas, 5.3; 7. (tie) Alan Frierson, Ryan Swayze and Tommy Cook, 5.4.

Tie-down roping: 1. Trent Creager, 8.6 seconds; 2. Derrick Traylor, 9.2; 3. Jared Kempker, 9.5; 4. Tyler Garten, 9.8; 5. (tie) Blake Deckard and Jerome Schneeberger, 9.9; 7. Jeff Miller, 10.5; 8. Cody McCartney, 10.7.

Saddle bronc riding 1. Wade Sundell, 83 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Social Call; 2. Curtis Garton, 80; 3. (tie) Lance Wilson and Cody Anthony, 78; 5. Alan Frierson, 77; 6. James Greeson, 75.

Team roping: 1. A.J. Horton/Kyle Horton, 4.8 seconds; 2. Coleman Proctor/Jett Hillman, 5.2; 3. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.4; 4. Troy Boone/Tad Sheets, 5.7; 5. (tie) Joe Macoubrie/Dawson McMaster and Mike Bacon/Joseph Harrison, 5.8; 7. Casey Hicks/Cody Heflin, 5.9; 8. Gavin Foster/Derrick Jantzen, 6.1.

Steer roping: First round: 1. J. Paul Williams, 10.6 seconds, $888; 2. Joe Wells, 10.7, $735; 3. Jay Sellers, 10.8, $582; 4. Trevor Brazile, 11.4, $429; 5. J.P. Wickett, 12.2, $276; 6. Chuck Thomson, 12.8, $153. Second round 1. Bryce Davis, 9.8 seconds, $888; 2. J. Tom Fisher, 11.3, $735; 3. Landon McClaugherty, 12.7, $582; 4. Rocky Patterson, 13.6, $429; 5. Vin Fisher Jr., 13.7, $276; 6. Pecos Bill McNiel, 13.8, $153. Third round leaders: 1. Trevor Brazile, 9.7 seconds; 2. Cody Lee, 10.8, 3. Jake DeGeer, 11.0; 4. Chuck Thomson, 11.2; 5. Chet Herren, 11.6; 6. Vin Fisher Jr., 12.7; 7. Landon McClaugherty, 13.0; 8. C.A. Lauer, 13.1. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Jay Sellers and Vin Fisher Jr., 39.9 seconds on three runs; 3. Cody Lee, 41.2; 4. (tie) Rocky Patterson and J.P. Wickett, 43.2; 6. C.A. Lauer, 45.7.

Barrel racing: 1. Christy Loflin, 16.99 seconds; 2. Carlee Pierce, 17;05; 3. Cheyenne Kelly, 17.27; 4. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Gretchen Benbenek, 17.41; 6. Sandi Brandi, 17.42; 7. Alexia Mehrle, 17.49; 8. Sally Young, 17.50; 9. Michele McLeod, 17.53; 10. Reann Zancanella, 17.56.

Bull riding: 1. Trey Benton III, 82 points on Lancaster & Pickett’s Short Stack; 2. Shawn Hogg, 80; 3. Guthrie Murray, 79; 4. Dylan Werner, 71; no other qualified rides.