 SALINAS,
Calif.--For the second time this season, Brittany Pozzi
has put together a streak of three straight wins on the
Wrangler Million Dollar Tour. Even more impressive, the
Victoria, Texas cowgirl has won four of the last five
stops going back to St. Paul, Ore., over the Fourth of
July.
After winning last week in Sheridan
and Casper, Wyo., the latest win came at the California
Rodeo in Salinas. Pozzi finished her 2012 trip to the
cooler temps of the central California coast the same
way she began it . . . with a win. Riding her phenomenal
gelding Yeah Hes Firen, aka Duke, Pozzi won the opening
round on the Salinas track and finished second and fifth
in the final long rounds to carry a huge lead into Sunday's
final.
Pozzi drew 11th in the finals and
by the time she made her final run, her two closest
competitors for the title--past champs Christina Richman
and Sherry Cervi--had fallen out with some tough luck.
Basically, she and the son of PESI stallion Alive N
Firen just needed to be clean to take home their second
Salinas buckle.
But backing off is not in the two-time
World Champ's repertoire. Pozzi posted her second fastest
time of the week, a 16.15 to win the final round. Her
four-run average of 64.62 seconds was seven tenths better
than Molly Powell, who finished second and she pocketed
checks worth $12,159
Despite Pozzi's overall dominance,
it was a hotly contested short round. Californian Jaime
Hinton came into the finals 12th but her 16.20 took
second in the finals and moved her to seventh in the
average.
Powell and Whitney Baker finished
3-4 in the finals with runs of 16.22 and 16.24, respectively.
Baker was third in the average.
For more information on the California
Rodeo, visit them on-line at www.carodeo.com.
California Rodeo Salinas
Salinas, Calif., July 19-22
First round: 1. Brittany Pozzi, 16.01 seconds, $2,275;
2. Aimee Kay, 16.26, $1,950; 3. Molly Powell, 16.28,
$1,625; 4. Christina Richman, 16.30, $1,409; 5. Sherry
Cervi, 16.34, $1,084; 6. Lindsay Sears, 16.38, $867;
7. Morgan Montello, 16.40, $650; 8. Brenda Mays, 16.47,
$433; 9. Danyelle Campbell, 16.49, $325; 10. Brooke
Jeter, 16.51, $217. Second round: 1. Stevi Hillman,
16.04 seconds, $2,275; 2. Brittany Pozzi, 16.16, $1950;
3. Christina Richman, 16.23, $1,625; 4. Britany Fleck,
16.24, $1,409; 5. Jody Sheffield, 16.30, $1,084; 6.
Melanie Southard, 16.32, $867; 7. Molly Powell, 16.34,
$650; 8. Trula Churchill, 16.36, $433; 9. Jolee Lautaret,
16.38, $325; 10. Danyelle Campbell, 16.39, $217. Third
round: 1. (tie) Ann Scott and Melanie Southard, 16.26
seconds, $2,113 each; 3. (tie) Rachael Boyle and Jody
Sheffield, 16.27, $1,517 each; 5. (tie) Christina Richman
and Brittany Pozzi, 16.30, $975 each; 7. (tie) Whitney
Baker, Stevi Hillman and Lindsay Sears, 16.32, $470
each; 10. Brooke Jeter, 16.34, $217. Final: Brittany
Pozzi, 16.15 seconds, $2,408; 2. Jaime Hinton, 16.20,
$1,806; 3. Molly Powell, 16.22, $1,204; 4. Whitney Baker,
16.24, $602. Average: 1. Brittany Pozzi, 64.62 seconds
on four runs; $4,551; 2. Molly Powell, 65.35, $3,901;
3. Whitney Baker, 65.51, $3,251; 4. Ann Scott, 65.59,
$2,817; 5. Jody Sheffield, 65.64, $2,167; 6. Christina
Richman, 65.68, $1,734; 7. (tie) Danyelle Campbell and
Jaime Hinton, 65.89, $1,084 each; 9. Britany Fleck,
65.94, $650; 10. Jolee Lautaret, 65.99, $433.
Californians dominate third round,
Pozzi still leading average
SALINAS, Calif.-The California
Rodeo (pronounced RO-day-OH) is more of a marathon than
a sprint; barrel racers make a run each day, three in
all, as opposed to a single run like many rodeos. This
fact coupled with a pattern that is very short between
the first two barrels and long to the third makes it a
survival contest to not only keep all the barrels standing
for three runs but to be fast to boot.
Every year, 12 ladies get the job
done qualifying to the short round and often the same
names rise to the top. This year is no different with
the top of the leaderboard chalked full of past California
Rodeo Champions; in fact, the past three champions are
sitting one-two-three again.
Brittany Pozzi won this rodeo aboard
her great palomino gelding Yeah Hes Firen back in 2009,
the same year she claimed her second world title. Pozzi
and Duke, the 9-year old son of PESI stallion Alive
N Firen, are well on their way to another Salinas buckle.
Her three run total of 48.47 seconds is almost four
tenths ahead of Christina Richman.
Richman and her mare Xtrared, aka
Stitch, have won or shared the win here the last two
years and could make it three-for-three if Pozzi stumbles.
Meanwhile, Sherry Cervi, who has won this rodeo on three
different horses, is sitting third aboard MP Meter My
Hay, Stingray, who is by another PESI stallion, PC Frenchmans
Hayday.
In the final long round, California
cowgirls took the top three spots with former Wrangler
NFR qualifier Melanie Southard tying Ann Scott for the
win with matching 16.26 second runs. Scott spends time
working in Hollywood as a stunt woman when not running
barrels and piloted her fast gelding Fallin For Fame,
aka Buzz, to a round win on the Salinas track for the
second straight year. Rachel Boyle split third with
Jody Sheffield with identical 16.27 second runs for
third.
For more information on the California
Rodeo, visit them on-line at www.carodeo.com.
California Rodeo Salinas
Salinas, Calif., July 19-22
Average leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi, 48.47 seconds on
three runs; 2. Christina Richman, 48.83; 3. Molly Powell,
49.13; 4. Sherry Cervi, 49.25; 5. (tie) Jody Sheffield
and Ann Scott, 49.26 each; 7. Whitney Baker, 49.27;
8. Melanie Southard, 49.28; 9. Jolee Lautaret, 49.56;
10. Danyelle Campbell, 49.59.
Third round: 1. (tie) Ann Scott and Melanie Southard,
16.26 seconds, $2,113 each; 3. (tie) Rachael Boyle and
Jody Sheffield, 16.27, $1,517 each; 5. (tie) Christina
Richman and Brittany Pozzi, 16.30, $975 each; 7. (tie)
Whitney Baker, Stevi Hillman and Lindsay Sear, 16.32,
$470 each; 10. Brooke Jeter, 16.34, $217. Second round:
1. Stevi Hillman, 16.04 seconds, $2,275; 2. Brittany
Pozzi, 16.16, $1,950; 3. Christina Richman, 16.23, $1,625;
4. Britany Fleck, 16.24, $1,409; 5. Jody Sheffield,
16.30, $1,084; 6. Melanie Southard, 16.32, $867; 7.
Molly Powell, 16.34, $650; 8. Trula Churchill, 16.36,
$433; 9. Jolee Lautaret, 16.38, $325; 10. Danyelle Campbell,
16.39, $217. First round: 1. Brittany Pozzi, 16.01 seconds,
$2,275; 2. Aimee Kay, 16.26, $1,950; 3. Molly Powell,
16.28, $1,625; 4. Christina Richman, 16.30, $1,409;
5. Sherry Cervi, 16.34, $1,084; 6. Lindsay Sears, 16.38,
$867; 7. Morgan Montello, 16.40, $650; 8. Brenda Mays,
16.47, $433; 9. Danyelle Campbell, 16.49, $325; 10.
Brooke Jeter, 16.51, $217.
Hillman takes second go, Pozzi continues
to lead average
SALINAS, Calif.-The set-up at Salinas may be a little
different-the barrel race is run on the track adjacent
to the rodeo arena with a very short distance from the
first barrel to the second--but for rookies like Stevi
Hillman, everything is new and different.
Hillman and her tough horse, Im
A Royal Design, ventured out on the road this summer,
planning to rodeo through the Fourth of July and "see
where God" took them. After a lucrative Fourth
in which the Weatherford, Texas cowgirl placed at Red
Lodge and Livingston, Mont., Hillman won a round in
Colorado Springs and placed at another Silver Tour rodeo
in Sheridan, Wyo., last weekend.
The earnings have skyrocketed the
part-time radiologic technologist and horse trainer
up the standings for the WPRA's Rookie title. She is
in a dogfight with fellow Texas cowgirl Emily Efurd,
trailing by just about $1,200 coming into the California
Rodeo.
Hillman helped her title hopes during
second round action at Salinas on Friday, July 20. She
and the still just 5-year old Hammer rounded the pattern
on the track in 16.04 to take the second round win;
the gelding is owned by RTF Running Horses, Rick and
Terri Ford.
Hammer and Hillman scampered around
the pattern to beat out first round winner Brittany
Pozzi by .12 seconds. Christina Richman took third with
a 16.23 second run.
Pozzi and Yeah Hes Firen, aka Duke,
settled for second on Friday but hold a commanding lead
in the average with her two run time of 32.17 seconds;
the pair already own one of Salinas' world famous Gist
trophy buckles, earned with a win in 2009. Two-time
and reigning California Rodeo champion Richman and her
mare Xtrared (Stitch) are second at 32.53 seconds.
Action continues Saturday with the
third and final long go round; one hundred thirty-six
barrel racers entered the California Rodeo in 2012.
For more information, visit the California Rodeo web
site at www.carodeo.com.
California Rodeo Salinas
Salinas, Calif., July 19-22
Current average leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi, 32.17 seconds
on two runs; 2. Christina Richman, 32.53; 3. Molly Powell,
32.62; 4. Sherry Cervi, 32.75; 5. Danyelle Campbell,
32.88; 6. Whitney Baker, 32.95.
Second round: 1. Stevi Hillman, 16.04 seconds, $2,275;
2. Brittany Pozzi, 16.16, $1,950; 3. Christina Richman,
16.23, $1,625; 4. Britany Fleck, 16.24, $1,409; 5. Jody
Sheffield, 16.30, $1,084; 6. Melanie Southard, 16.32,
$867; 7. Molly Powell, 16.34, $650; 8. Trula Churchill,
16.36, $433; 9. Jolee Lautaret, 16.38, $325; 10. Danyelle
Campbell, 16.39, $217. First round: 1. Brittany Pozzi,
16.01 seconds, $2,275; 2. Aimee Kay, 16.26, $1,950;
3. Molly Powell, 16.28, $1,625; 4. Christina Richman,
16.30, $1,409; 5. Sherry Cervi, 16.34, $1,084; 6. Lindsay
Sears, 16.38, $867; 7. Morgan Montello, 16.40, $650;
8. Brenda Mays, 16.47, $433; 9. Danyelle Campbell, 16.49,
$325; 10. Brooke Jeter, 16.51, $217.
Pozzi leads at the California Rodeo
 SALINAS,
Calif.-The weather is the best of the summer rodeo run
but the cool temperatures have done nothing to cool off
WPRA World Champion Brittany Pozzi.
Pozzi is making a career of hot
streaks. The Victoria, Texas, cowgirl has been on several
already in 2012 including an amazing streak in late
March and April where she won four straight rodeos including
three big wins on the Silver Tour of the Wrangler Million
Dollar Tour (WMDT).
Pozzi and her great horse Duke have
started another streak to envy. It began when the two-time
World Champ claimed the high money honors over the Fourth
of July with nearly $30K and continued with another
pair of Silver Tour wins at Sheridan and Casper last
weekend. That was worth $11,907.
A Gold Tour stop on the WMDT, the
California Rodeo began Thursday, July 19 with the first
of three long rounds of competition. The Rodeo (pronounced
RO-day-oh) is a favorite stop amongst the barrel racers,
for both the cool weather with temps in the 60's and
low 70's, the terrific ground conditions (the committee
tractor drags every six barrel racers), and the awesome
hospitality. The WPRA barrel race is held on the track,
running at the same time as the arena events which means
barrel racers are often taking their turns around the
cloverleaf at the same time as steer wrestlers or bull
riders are competing in the big arena. It takes a highly
focused horse and jockey to make the runs needed to
win on the narrow pattern.
Running toward the end of the 124
racer slack, Pozzi clocked in at 16.01 seconds, a blistering
run in a month of great runs for Yeah Hes Firen, the
9-year old son of PESI stallion Alive N Firen by Splendid
Discovery, to win the first go round. Pozzi outlasted
a tough field that included Christina Richman, who has
won or shared the win here the last two years, and Sherry
Cervi, who has won this rodeo on three different horses.
The win put Pozzi in the driver's
seat for a third straight win on the WMDT where she
already leads the standings with nearly double what
second ranked Carlee Pierce has won. Pozzi and her big
palomino gelding already have one of the famed Salinas
buckles for winning the California Rodeo in 2009.
The California Rodeo continues on
Friday morning with second go slack. Competitors will
make two more runs before the field is pared to 12 for
the short round on Sunday, July 22. For more information,
visit them on-line at www.carodeo.com, where California
Circuit Director Marguerite Happy is featured in the
opening page photo.
California Rodeo Salinas
Salinas, Calif., July 19-22
First round: 1. Brittany Pozzi, 16.01 seconds, $2,275;
2. Aimee Kay, 16.26, $1,950; 3. Molly Powell, 16.28,
$1,625; 4. Christina Richman, 16.30, $1,409; 5. Sherry
Cervi, 16.34, $1,084; 6. Lindsay Sears, 16.38, $867;
7. Morgan Montello, 16.40, $650; 8. Brenda Mays, 16.47,
$433; 9. Danyelle Campbell, 16.49, $325; 10. Brooke
Jeter, 16.51, $217.
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