The America Rodeo: Who is Advancing to the Final Four?

Here's your American Rodeo long go round results with the top 4 advancing to the final round and their chance at the big money. Who will be the next rodeo millionaire?

The American Rodeo is underway with some intense competition. The afternoon showcased fast times and high scores. The top-four athletes in each event move on to tonight's round.

Kicking off the round was bareback riding with World Champion Bareback Rider Keenan Hayes who spurred his way to tie for the number one seed next to Kade Sonnier. Hayes had a feeling he’d get a shot at the money after seeing his “draw,” a bucking horse known as “Born Fearless” from the Calgary Stampede which he’s won on twice before.

As an American Rodeo Invitee, after winning the 2023 PRCA World Championship, Hayes can take home $100,000 if he wins in the finals Saturday night.

“That’d be life-changing money, just being able to feel the rodeo and not worry about anything else. It’s pretty cool to be able to go out for that much money in one day,” said Hayes.

Breakaway ropers came to the arena with a plan - be fast. With the top four athletes only spanning between 2.1 and 2.47 seconds, it took an incredibly fast time to advance on to the final round. 

In the team roping, there were only four runs without penalties. Those four were the ones to advance to tonight's final round. The top-two teams are contender teams, gunning for a piece of the $1 million prize.

In the saddle bronc riding, the professionals shut the contenders out. None of the remaining saddle bronc riders for Saturday evening's finals are eligible for the $1 million award. Kade Bruno took home the round win with an 88.75 point ride and is headed to the final round. 

The replay rule was put into action in the steer wrestling with Dakota Eldridge's run when he claimed he hadn't nodded for his steer. The judges awarded him a re-run and he came back just barely missing the top-four cut off. 

"That's the challenge system working beautifully!" the announcers stated, referring to The American Rodeo's use of instant replay.

Dalton Massey topped the leaderboard with the only sub-four second run, advancing on to the final round. There is only one contender remaining in the steer wrestling - Stephen Mullins. He narrowly edged into the fourth position with 4.58 seconds.

In the tie-down roping there were a few no-times to kick it off but the gold-buckle cowboys showed up with Haven Meged tying in 6.95 seconds along with Riley Webb and Shad Mayfield both tying with sub-eight second run. Only one contender remains and that's J. Cody Jones who landed in the fourth spot with a 9.59 second run.

The barrel racers were on fire, turning in incredible times. Emily Beisel topped the day with a 15.205 second run. Hot on her trail was Brandon Cullins who stopped the clock in 15.303. Mullins even with pulled a shoe on the third barrel. Then, in the third and fourth position was a jaw-dropping tie to the thousandths of a second between past American Rodeo Champion, Lisa Lockhart, and 16-year old Rylee Jo Maryman on her roan cow pony.

"I'm feeling good, because I never thought I would be here," said Maryman.

Lockhart's horse, Rosas Cantina CC ended up winning fan favorite AQHA Horse of the Day.

Rounding out the first round was bull riding where Creek Young had an explosive ride, scoring 87.5 points. With only four qualified rides, they all made it back to the finals. Notably, the Kimsey brothers were missing from competition.  Sage was injured and Trey had to make a choice between competing at the American and Houston.

The long go round results are below. Competitors that advanced and are eligible for the million dollar prize, are marked with an asterisk.

Bareback Bronc Riding

1. Keenan Hays, 88 points
2. Kade Sonnier , 88 points
3. Jess Pope, 87.5 points
4. Tilden Hooper, 86 points*

5. Jacob Lees, 85.75 points

6. Rocker Steiner, 85.5 points

7. Bradlee Miller, 84.25 points

8. Clayton Biglow, 83.25 points

9. Cole Reiner, 82.5 points

10. Taylor Broussard, 81.5 points

Breakaway Roping

1. Josie Conner, 2.1 seconds*
2. Martha Angelone, 2.35 seconds
3. Jordan Hollabaugh, 2.37 seconds*
4. Sarah Angelone, 2.47 seconds
5. JJ Hampton, 2.81 seconds
6. Taylor Munsell, 2.86 seconds
7. Shelby Boisjoli, 12.13 seconds
8. Bailey Bates, 12.25 seconds
9. Hali Williams, NT
10. Morgan Sparks, NT

Team Roping

1. Shay Carroll and Logan Moore, 4.48 seconds*
2. Coy Rahlman and Billie Jacks Sebens, 4.64 seconds*
3. Derrick Begay and Colter Todd, 4.78 seconds
4. Luke Brown and Hunter Koch, 4.8 seconds
5. Clint Summers and Jake Long, 9.24 seconds

6. Brenton Hall and McCoy Profili, 9.82 seconds

7. Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp, 14.13 seconds

8. Clay Smith and Nicky Northcott, 14.19 seconds

9. Dustin Equsquiza and Travis Graves, NT

10. Andrew Ward and Buddy Hawkins NT

Saddle Bronc Riding 

1. Kade Bruno, 88.75 points
2. Damian Brennan, 87.25 points
3. Sage Newman, 87 points
4. Brody Cress, 86.5 points
5. Zeke Thurston, 85.75 points
6. Mitch Pollock, 84.5 points
7. Shea Fournier, 82.75 points
8. Logan Hay, 81.75 points
9. Ryder Sanford, 80 points
10. Dawson Hay, No score

Steer Wrestling 

1. Dalton Massey, 3.91 seconds
2. J.D. Struxness, 4.19 seconds
3. Stan Branco, 4.46 seconds
4. Stephen Mullins, 4.58 seconds*
5. Dakota Eldridge, 5.52 seconds
6. Will Lummus, 14.07 seconds
7. Jesse Brown, 22.25 seconds
8. Matt Reeves, NT
9. Tyler Waguespack, NT
10. Ty Erickson, NT

Tie-Down Roping 

1. Haven Meged, 6.95 seconds
2. Shad Mayfield, 7.45 seconds
3. Riley Webb, 7.65 seconds
4. J. Cody Jones, 9.59 seconds*
5. Shane Hanchey, 9.80 seconds
6. Caleb Smidt, 18.10 seconds
7. Tuf Cooper,  NT
8. Westyn Huges, NT
9. Zack Cargle, NT
10. Kincaid Henry, NT

Barrel Racing

1. Emily Beisel, 15.205 seconds 
2. Brandon Cullins, 15.303 seconds*
3. Rylee Jo Maryman, 15.428 seconds*
4. Lisa Lockhart, 15.428 seconds
5. Mindy Holloway, 15.487 seconds 
6. Emma Parr, 15.621 seconds
7. Kathy Grimes, 15.754 seconds
   
8. Jordan Briggs, 16.018 seconds
9. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 20.639 seconds 
10. Kassie Mowry, 25.660 seconds

Bull Riding

1. Creek Young, 87.5 points
2. Jeff Askey, 85.75 points*
3. Cody Teel, 85.5 points*
4. Chase Doughtry, 75.25 points*
5. Jared Parsonage, No Score
6. Josh Frost, No Score
7. Matt Palmer, No Score
8. Cody Nance, No Score