SAN ANGELO, TX – Shelley Morgan may be a competitor, but there are bigger things in her life.
Faith and family are at the top of that list, but not far behind are the horses she cares for. It’s why she’s done so well as a barrel racer. She’s had some good ones in her career, which includes five qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo, where she also won the 2022 average title.
She rode Short Go during her first trip to Las Vegas in 2009, then it was Kiss’s turn. The 12-year-old sorrel mare was voted as one of the top barrel racing horses in the game in 2020, the same year the mare was named the WPRA’s Horse with the Most Heart. In her last venture to Nevada two Decembers ago, Morgan also utilized another percolator in Bee, a 9-year-old buckskin mare.
On Saturday afternoon, Morgan and Bee put together a 14.24-second run to move into the money and improve their chance at returning to the championship round next Friday.
“She just came off a two-week break, so she should be feeling really good,” said Morgan of Eustace, Texas. “She ran good (Saturday).”
During Saturday night’s eighth performance, all-around cowboy Wacey Schalla did some magic. He scored 87.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Whisky Trip to move into third place on the bareback riding leaderboard. About two hours later, he rode Rafter H Rodeo’s Time Machine for 86 points to move into a tie for fourth place in bull riding.
Schalla finished last season second in the all-around race. He was fifth in the bareback riding world standings and fourth in bull riding with a combined income of $741,428. Already this season, he has earned almost $100,000 riding bucking horses and $30,000 riding bulls. He’s joining Morgan as one of the contestants that is making a big move in San Angelo.
Combined with a 16.13-second run in the opening round two weeks ago, Morgan moved into third place in the two-run aggregate. She’d like to stay there by the time next weekend rolls around, because only the top 12 cumulative scores advance to the short round. She likes her chances inside CRC Roofers Coliseum.
“I think she’s quite fast, but she’s really quick,” Morgan said. “I think these small setups suit her because she’s so quick. She’s also pretty honest most of the time. All I could do is just push her up in times, and she accelerates quick, which is what I think helps her in setups like this.”
The times between Rounds 1 and 2 vary considerably, because the opener took place in Spur Arena. LaTricia Duke posted the fastest time that Sunday, stopping the clock in 15.69 seconds. Having a well-rounded horse who can handle those differences is beneficial.
“These horses see all different things out here, so she should be pretty accustomed to changing from one thing to the next,” Morgan said. “She’s fast enough to be good in any set up. I just think when you put her in a small building that her quickness pays off sometimes.”
Is Bee the kind of horse that can get Morgan back in Sin City this December? She likes the mare a lot, but with Kiss on the sidelines for an undetermined amount of time, she’s not sure it’s in Bee’s best interest.
“We came out strong this season, then we got on the struggle bus a little bit,” she said. “We’ve said we’re going to make a plan after San Angelo, but I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. I have several young horses, and the future is uncertain where Kiss is concerned. I do have Bee, which is really nice, but barrel racing has gotten to where you really need more than one horse out there.”
The younger horses just need more time, so she’s also considering focusing her attention to that. As a horsewoman, the overall goal is going to be toward the betterment of her equine partners.
“Whether we hit the road hard and take them with us or we hang back and try to get them really good at the barrel races and all the smaller rodeos is still to be determined,” Morgan said. “We just want to do right by the horses.”
San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Leighton Berry, 92 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Tator Tot; 2. Cole Reiner, 88.5; 3. Wacey Schalla, 87.5; 4. Wyatt Warneke, 87; 5. (tie) Jayco Roper and Cooper Cooke, 86; 7. Kade Berry, 85.5; 8. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Cole Hollen, 84.5; 10. (tie) Colton Clemens, Lane McGehee, Cooper Filipek and Ben Kramer, 84.
Steer wrestling: Third round leaders: 1. J.D. Struxness, 4.3 seconds; 2. Tory Johnson, 4.4; 3. (tie) Dalton Massey, Logan Mullin, Laramie Warren and Jacob Daniell, 4.6; 7. (tie) Evan Spady, Cimarron Thompson and Tristan Martin, 4.7.Average leaders: 1. (tie) Cimarron Thompson and Chase Crane, 15.3 seconds on three runs; 3. (tie) Grant Peterson, 15.7; 4. (tie) Tony Aska and Coy Johnson, 16.4; 6. Trace Harris, 16.5; 7. J.D. Struxness, 17.0; 8. Ty Allred, 17.5; 9. Tad Williams, 17.7; 10. Logan Mullin, 18.4; 11. Cade Goodman, 5.0; 11. Cole Pugh, 19.8; 12. Traver Johnson, 20.7.
Tie-down roping: Third round leaders: 1. Cory Solomon, 8.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Cash Enderli, 8.7; 4. Richard Newton, 9.0; 5. (tie) Trevor Hale, Tom Crouse and Quade Hiatt, 9.1; 8. (tie) Beau Cooper and Sam Lewis, 9.2.Average leaders: 1. Beau Cooper, 26.2 seconds on three runs; 2. Joel Harris, 27.3; 3. Sam Lewis, 27.5; 4. Brodie Mattson, 27.7; 5. Cole Clemons, 28.2; 6. Cash Enderli and Colton Suther, 28.8; 8. Brodey Clemons, 28.9; 9. Cory Solomon, 29.3; 10. Shane Hanchey, 29.6; 11. Michael Otero, 29.8; 12. Britt Bedke, 30.0.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Uptuck; 2. (tie) Mitchie Story and Damian Brfennan, 87 points; 4. Lefty Holman, 86; 5. (tie) Kolby Wanchuk and Joe Macqueen, 85.5; 7. Kade Bruno, 85; 8. Ryder Sanford, 84; 9. (tie) Darcy Radel, Wyatt Casper, Kole Ashbacher and Rusty Wright, 83.5.
Breakaway roping: Second round leaders: 1. Megan Powell, 2.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Sawyer Gilbert, Kirby Rawlinson, Hailey Hall, Tibba Smith, Millie Greenwood and Bradi Good, 2.1; 8. Kinlie Brennise, 2.2; 9. (tie) Amy Ohrt and Jenna Caldarola, 2.3; 11. Delani Beatty, 2.6; 12. Zoie Bedke, 2.7; 13. (tie) Macy Davenport and Karrigan Graves, 2.9; 15. Saige Johnson, 3.1. Average leaders: 1. Delani Beatty, 4.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Amy Ohrt, 5.0; 3. Tibba Smith, 5.1; 4. Jenna Caldarola, 5.2; 5. Kirby Rawlinson, 5.3; 6. Haiden Thompson, 5.4; 7. (tie) Rylee George and Jackie Crawford, 5.7; 9. (tie) Sawyer Gilbert and Kinlie Brennise, 5.8; 11. (tie) Macy Davenport, Karrigan Graves and Kacie Wiersma, 6.0.
Team roping: Third round leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 3.5 seconds; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Coleby Payne, 3.7; 3. Chad Masters/Jace Helton, 3.8; 4. (tie) Logan Olson/York Gill and Kavis Drake/Denim Ross, 4.1; 6. J.C. Yeahquo/Logan Moore, 4.2; 7. (tie) Cory Kidd/Carson Johnson and Mason Appleton/Sid Sporer, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. Ketch Kelton/Paden Bray, 14.9 seconds on three runs; 2. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 15.1; 3. Cory Kidd/Carson Johnson, 15.7; 4. Brent Mibb/Blayne Home, 17.3; 5. Kavis Drake/Denim Ross, 18.9; 6. (tie) Cash Duty/Jake Edwards and Riley Kittle/Cole Curry, 20.8; 8. Seth Hall/Nicky Northcott, 24.7; 9. Jaxson Tucker/Cesar de la Cruz, 26.7; 10. Zane Murphy/Blake Bentley, 30.6; 11. Walker Smith/Will Smith, 31.0; 12. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 8.4 seconds on two runs.
Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Morgan Addison, 14.17 seconds; 2. Sarah Roberts, 14.18; 3. (tie) London Gorham and Brooklyn Balch, 14.20; 5. Shelley Morgan, 14.24; 6. Catherine Asmussen, 14.29; 7. Kristi Cole, 14.31; 8. Ashley Harvey, 14.36; 9. (tie) Liz Pinkston and Bristan McCarley, 14.40. Average leaders: 1. London Gorham, 30.05 seconds on two runs; 2. Morgan Addison, 30.22; 3. Shelley Morgan, 30.37; 4. Brooklyn Balch, 30.39; 5. Devon Brown, 30.43; 6. (tie) Stephanie Fryer, Lindsay Sears and Keyla Costa, 30.52; 9. (tie) Londyn Ross and Tayla Moeykens, 30.53; 11. Julie Plourde, 30.54; 12. (tie) Sarah Roberts and Julia Johnson, 30.55.
Bull riding leaders: 1. John Crimber, 90 points on New West Rodeo Productions’ Payday; 2. Noah Lee, 88.5; 3. Tristen Hutchings, 87; 4. (tie) Wacey Schalla and Earnie Courson, 86; 6. Koby Jacobson, 85; 7. Braxton Whitesell, 84.5; 8. Dakota Hill, 84; 9. (tie) Clayton Sellars and Hayden Ferguson, 83.5; 11. (tie) Kaiden Loud and Brock Paulin, 83.
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