NFR Day 7 preview: Lockhart looks to pass $100K milestone tonight
Lisa Lockhart could become the second contestant to earn $100,000 at this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The barrel racing standout enters the seventh-round ranked second on the Ram Top Gun Standings with $95,462, only trailing bareback rider Steven Peebles, who has racked up $108,683 during the first six days at the WNFR. Bull riding competitor Cody Teel ($92,500) and bareback rider Kaycee Feild ($89,856) could also move into six figures after the seventh stage.
It’s a safe bet that Lockhart, a Oelrichs, S.D., native, will come up with the $4,538 needed to surpass the $100,000 barrier tonight.
Lockhart has finished outside the top four only once when she placed sixth during the third round to earn $4,230. The 10-time WNFR qualifier and last year’s barrel racing champion, Lockhart opened the event with a second-place performance and has finished third the last two nights.
Lockhart sits in first in the average standings (83.35 seconds on six tries) and world standings ($246,982).
In bareback riding, Jake Brown looks to cash in his second check after coming up empty on the first five nights.
Brown, who entered the WNFR ranked third in the world bareback standings, broke through in a big way on Tuesday night with a first-place performance for $26,232.
The Texan didn’t earn a dime in the previous five rounds with only one qualifying round and was knocked off his horse on four attempts.
Gilbert Manzano can be reached at 702-383-0492 or gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter:@gmanzanzo24