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Cody Wright continues dominance in the desert

It seems Cody Wright really enjoys competing in Sin City.

Whether he’s riding during the 10 nights of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER or at the Helldorado Days Rodeo, Wright knows how to ride saddle bronc horses for high scores.

That was the case during the May 13-15 edition of Helldorado Days, when the 39-year-old rode for 85 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s A Little Bit of Buddah to take the title.



This was Wright’s third win in the past six years at Helldorado Days, as he also was tops there in 2012-13.

“I didn’t even know the horse I had, and I couldn’t find out much about him, but he was really good. I want the ones I can win on, and he was the one at that rodeo to win on.” Cody Wright, saddle bronc rider

“There are always good horses in Las Vegas, no matter what rodeo you’re at,” Wright said. “I didn’t even know the horse I had, and I couldn’t find out much about him, but he was really good. I want the ones I can win on, and he was the one at that rodeo to win on.



“This is a close-to-home rodeo that we only have to drive a few hours to ride at. Vegas is the place to be.”

Wright, who had his streak of 12 straight trips to the WNFR snapped last year, is looking to make it back to the yellow bucking chutes in 2016.

He moved up six spots to 26th in the May 16 WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings, and has been showing the form that won him two world titles (2008 and 2010) in the past month. Wright was tops at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo (Logandale, Nev.), and has now added another solid win in the Silver State.

“I feel good, knock on wood,” said Wright, who is now fully recovered from surgery on his broken collarbone earlier this year. “It’s great to be healthy, and I’m totally back to normal. My collarbone was in six pieces, and they wired it, plated it and screwed it back together. I’m excited to get back at it this summer. I’m going to go hard and go with my boys as much as I can.”

There are currently six – yes, six – Wrights in the top 50 of the world standings. Cody’s eldest son, Rusty, 20, leads the way in fourth, while his 18-year-old son, Ryder, sits 33rd, despite only buying his PRCA card less than two months ago. Cody’s brothers, Jake, Alex and Jesse, check in at sixth, 31st and 42nd, respectively. The only Wright currently missing is 2014 World Champion Spencer.

“I feel blessed that I can still be going when my sons are going,” Cody Wright said. “Hopefully I have a few more good years in me. I think all seven of us making it to the NFR could happen – it’s definitely doable if everybody stays focused and healthy. I wish I could rodeo for another 15 years because I love it so much.”

Other winners at the $87,213 rodeo were all-around cowboy Morgan Grant ($2,520 in tie-down roping and steer wrestling), bareback rider Casey Colletti (86 points on Flying U Rodeo’s Lil Red Hawk), steer wrestlers Ross Mosher and Tom Lewis (3.8 seconds each), team ropers Randon Adams and Jory Levy (4.4 seconds), tie-down roper Marty Yates (7.4 seconds), barrel racer Ivy Conrado (14.17 seconds) and bull rider Colten Jesse (84.5 points on Flying U Rodeo’s Soda Water).

Yates’ 7.4-second tie-down roping run broke the Helldorado Days record of 7.5 set by Trent Walls in 1998.

–PRCA