KEITH FREEMAN, Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trevor Brazile secured his record-breaking 19th gold buckle when he won the all-around championship during round six on Tuesday at the National Finals Rodeo.
Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, clinched the crown when the only other all-around competitor in contention, heeler Jade Corkill of Fallon, Nev., was unable to rope his steer with header Clay Tryan of Billings, Mont., during round six. Header Brazile and heeler Patrick Smith of Lipan, Texas, went on to win the round in a time of 4.8 seconds.
Brazile has earned $312,579 in 2013 compared to $153,159 for Corkill. Brazile’s two other events in 2013 were tie-down roping and steer roping, which he won for his 18th gold buckle.
Brazile has won 11 of the past 12 world all-around titles, including the past nine in a row. He broke a tie with steer roper Guy Allen, who was the first individual to attain 18 gold buckles.
“It was coming, and I told him that a couple of weeks ago,” Allen said. “I thought it was going to be five years ago. I told him I thought he’d double my total. You’ve got to be impressed with what he’s done. He’s worked at it. If he was going back then in the days of Jim Shoulders, he probably would have done the same thing. He’s just that type of cowboy.”
If Brazile’s earnings top $320,000, he will have the seven highest season totals in rodeo history. He has surpassed the $300,000 mark seven times.
In team roping, Tryan, who has earned $151,292 and Corkill, who has made $149,661 still lead the world standings.
The second-place team in the standings consists of header Kaleb Driggers of Albany, Ga., with $127,981 and heeler Travis Graves of Jay, Okla., with $132,603. They didn’t place among the top six in round six.
In barrel racing, Taylor Jacob of Carmine, Texas, placed first in an NFR-record time of 13.37, breaking the record of 13.46 set by Carlee Pierce in 2011. It was Jacob’s third round victory at the 2013 NFR.
World standings leader Sherry Cervi of Marana, Ariz., who placed fourth in 13.75, leads all NFR competitors with $70,413 in earnings here and is first in the aggregate standings with a time of 82.68 for six rides. Her first-place total in the world standings is $217,830.
Defending world champion Mary Walker of Ennis, Texas, is second in the world standings with $180,685 after placing second for the second straight round, this time in 13.63.
In bareback riding, Casey Coletti of Pueblo, Colo., placed first for the second consecutive round with an 86.5 on Smack Daddy in round six.
World standings leader Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., who is seeking his fifth gold buckle, missed out when his feet were in the wrong position at the beginning of the ride on On Tap in round six. Mote, who tied for first with Coletti in round five, has earned $153,982 this season.
“I was climbing up on the fence and saw him (Mote miss out),” Coletti said. “They tried to get me to climb up on the victory lap horse before Bobby rode, but I told them I wouldn’t do it. I guess I’m superstitious about that. I did it once and the last rider beat me.”
Defending world champion Kaycee Feild of Spanish Fork, Utah, remained in second after not placing among the top six with an 81 on Whisky Bent.
Feild, who is seeking a third consecutive world title, has earned $149,622 and is second in the aggregate standings with 496.5 points for six rides.
In bull riding, three-time world bull riding champion J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas, remained well ahead in the world standings lead with $197,390 after finishing second in round six with an 86 on The Grinch.
Harris leads all bull riders with $67,007 in NFR earnings and is first in the aggregate standings with 431 points for five rides.
Six competitors had qualifying rides in the sixth round. The first-place finisher was Trevor Kastner of Ardmore, Okla., with an 88 on Wild Eyes.
In steer wrestling, Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb., finished first in 3.2 and has won two NFR rounds.
Casey Martin of Sulphur, La., who didn’t place among the top six in the fifth round in 4.2, remains first in the standings with $126,366. Trevor Knowles, of Mount Vernon, Ore., stays second in the world standings with $120,158 after not finishing in the top six for the fifth round in a row.
In saddle bronc riding, Jesse Wright of Milford, Utah, won the sixth round with an 83.5 on Goin South.
Wright’s brother, two-time world champion Cody Wright, also of Milford, Utah, didn’t place among the top six with a 77.5 on Miss Chestnut, but he still owns a first-place total of $147,934 while a third Wright brother, Jake, is second with $138,275 in the standings.
In tie-down roping, Justin Maass of Giddings, Texas, won the sixth round with a time of 7.2
Six-time world champion Cody Ohl of Hico, Texas, who didn’t place among the top six in 8.9 in round six, still leads the world standings with $148,879.
Defending champion Tuf Cooper of Decatur, Texas, who finished fifth in 7.5 in round six, is second in the world standings with $146,883. He is seeking his third straight title.