NFR Day 4 Preview: Peebles closing in on four-time bareback riding world champ Kaycee Feild
Steven Peebles has already survived a brush with death this year. Through the first three rounds of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center, the bareback rider also has climbed 12 spots in the standings, nearly erasing a big deficit to four-time defending world champion and four-time defending NFR average winner Kaycee Feild.
Peebles suffered broken ribs at a rodeo in July that punctured an artery and filled his chest with blood. He barely made it to the hospital in time to save his life.
After qualifying for the NFR in 14th place with $80,085 in winnings — more than $38,000 behind Feild — Peebles tied for third in Thursday's opening round before winning the second and third rounds Friday and Saturday to climb to second place, within $7,000 of Feild.
Peebles leads the NFR with $71,875 in earnings.
"People asked me before I got here if I thought I had a chance coming in 14th, and I really wanted to come in here the first few rounds and be able to win and get caught up for Kaycee," Peebles said. "I wanted to be caught up by the middle of the rodeo and have a clean slate, so this feels great."
Feild will wear purple chaps today on the NFR's Memorial Night to honor his father, Lewis Feild, a five-time world champion who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Purple is the color for pancreatic cancer awareness.
Team ropers Aaron Tsinigine and Ryan Motes won their second round in three nights during the third round with a time of 4.1 seconds. The duo has moved from fifth to second in the world standings, less than $9,000 behind the two-time defending world champion team of Clay Tryan and Fallon native Jade Corkill.
Five-time saddle bronc riding world runner-up Cody DeMoss reclaimed the top spot in the standings by winning the third round with an 84-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo's Big Fork.
DeMoss skipped his victory lap and went straight to the Justin Sportsmedicine room to receive treatment for a massive contusion on his inner left thigh. He's been getting treatment before and after his rides.
After failing to finish in the money the first two rounds, regular-season steer wrestling leader Clayton Hass won the third round with a 3.6-second run. Hass moved from sixth to third in the world, less than $12,000 behind Ty Erickson, his close friend and traveling partner who took second place with a 3.8-second run to ascend to the top spot in the standings for the second time in three nights.
Timber Moore took over the top spot in the tie-down roping world standings from Tuf Cooper, who recorded a no time, hurting Cooper's chances for his second straight gold buckle and fourth in five years.
— Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him: @tdewey33
