Trio barreling toward home at NFR

"And here comes Sherry Cervi …"

Barrel racing is horse racing, but competitors say they don’t see it as a battle against each other.

"I really don’t see it that way," said Pozzi, who is the money leader with $150,032 this year after placing third in Sunday’s fourth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Pozzi, a two-time Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champion, leads Sears by about $16,000 with six rounds to go, including tonight’s at 6:45.

And they both know that Cervi, the reigning and three-time world champion, is closing in. Cervi trails Pozzi by $28,000, but Cervi has been the hottest barrel racer at the NFR.

Competing in her first NFR, Carlee Pierce of Stephenville, Texas, won the fourth go-round on her horse Dillion by completing the three-barrel, cloverleaf course with a time of 13.81 seconds.

Pozzi, 27, has learned valuable lessons since her first NFR in 2003. The experience helped her to world championships in 2007 and 2009, and she plans to apply that over the next six nights.

One is not to worry about who has done what until after the final round.

In barrel racing, there is no defense, only offense.

"I’ve been in this situation a lot," Pozzi said of resting atop the standings.

"Of course, I’d prefer having a comfortable lead, but I try not to think about it.

"I’ll wait until later in the week before I start looking at the standings. You can drive yourself crazy worrying about that."

Sears agrees.

"I haven’t read anything, and my iPad hasn’t been turned on since I got here," said Sears, the 2008 world champion from Nanton, Alberta.

"It’s just go fast, turn tight and see how it goes.

"I don’t think about it as being a chase. It’s a race against yourself and the electric (timing) eyes."

■ BAREBACK — Ryan Gray (Cheney, Wash.) and Cody DeMers (Kimberly, Idaho) tied for the round win with scores of 87. Gray rode Beutler & Son Rodeo’s South Point, and DeMers was on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Hypnotic.

After winning the first three rounds, money leader Kaycee Feild was scored for 82 points and finished outside the money.

■ STEER WRESTLING — Bulldogger Jason Miller (Lance Creek, Wyo.) turfed his steer in 3.3 seconds to win the round. Miller tied for first on opening night and leads the category with $49,038 in the NFR. He is second in the season standings.

■ TEAM ROPING — Luke Brown and Martin Lucero, both of Stephenville, Texas, caught their steer in 4.3 seconds for the win. Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith placed second to help Brazile clinch his ninth PRCA all-around world championship.

■ SADDLE BRONC RIDING — The equine from the "eliminator" pen came out looking like bulls disguised as horses when they bucked off the first nine riders. But Jesse Wright (St. George, Utah) won for the second straight go-round with a score of 89.5 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Eight Ball.

■ TIE-DOWN ROPING — Matt Shiozawa, 31, a former Southern Nevadan now living in Pocatello, Idaho, roped and tied his calf in 7.3 seconds to win the go-round.

■ BULL RIDING — It was a good and bad day for three-time reigning world champion J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas.

First, Harris won the go-round with a score of 88 on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Bailey Hou. Then he fractured his right foot on the dismount.

"It shouldn’t affect me at all; it’s just my foot," he said. "I don’t use my foot to ride bulls, so I’ll just get another pair of boots to ride (today).

"It’s on from here, and I’m gunning for the lead. If I get bucked off one, it’s not going to be because of a lack of effort. It’s a whole new game."

Harris cut into the money lead of Shane Proctor, who was bucked off. Harris trails by about $32,000.

Jeff Wolf is a freelance reporter. He can be reached at nitrorodeo@gmail.com or 702-406-8165.