NFR Day 5 Preview: ‘Hot Sauce’ DeMoss still seeks first saddle bronc title

Saddle bronc rider Cody "Hot Sauce" DeMoss continues to live on the edge at the National Finals Rodeo in his bid for his first world title after an event-record five second-place finishes.

DeMoss lost his lead in the world standings for the second time in three rounds Sunday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, where he missed him out and took a no score to fall to second place. DeMoss, sixth in the average, is less than $5,000 behind leader Jacobs Crawley, who finished fourth in the fourth round with an 83-point ride on J Bar J's Special Time and leads the average with 330 points on four head.

DeMoss lost his world standings lead Friday for the first time since Feb. 9, but bounced back with a big win Saturday to reclaim the lead.

There was also a lead change in tie-down roping, where defending world champ Tuf Cooper reclaimed the top spot by less than $5,000 over Timber Moore. Cooper, who hurt his bid for his fourth gold buckle in five years when he took a no time Saturday, tied for third place Sunday with a 7.4-second run. Moore didn't place.

In bareback riding, Steven Peebles continued his NFR hot streak by winning a share of his third straight round, tying Kaycee Feild with 84 points apiece. Peebles rode Pickett Pro Rodeo's Scarlet Belle and Feild rode J Bar J's Pass The Hat. Peebles, who leads the NFR with $95,356 in winnings, trails Feild by $6,330.

Feild, the four-time defending world champion and four-time defending NFR average champion, said he's enjoying the competition with Peebles.

"It's fun for me because this is what I do for a living and this is what I study every day," he said. "I want a world championship and I want to break some records this year and Steven has put pressure on me, which has made it fun. It makes you push your limits each night."