Navajo Ag Expo sees saddle bronc shakeup, Beshbetoh cowboy earns INFR qualification

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Jun 22, 2023 | Rodeo |

WINDOW ROCK

The final performance of the Navajo Ag Expo on Sunday afternoon produced three qualified rides in the saddle bronc event.

The three riders on Sunday replaced the leaders from the previous day headed by Beshbetoh, Arizona, cowboy Creighton Curley.

The 26-year-old rode Case Study for 83 points, which earned him the top prize of $1,771.

“It’s pretty exciting to win it here in Window Rock,” Curley said. “The Navajo Nation Fair is one of my favorite rodeos, and so this is so cool to win it in this arena.”

Curley, who also rodeos in the professional circuit, said he’s been on Case Study three times, and he’s developed a liking for the Jerome Pete horse.

“He’s bucked me off before,” he said. “He’s a nice horse, and I just had to make sure that I got him marked out and that I picked him up when he started bucking.

“I just did my job, and the horse did the rest,” he added.

His top score earned Curley his sixth qualification to the Indian National Finals Rodeo. The Navajo Ag Expo served as an automatic qualifier for the INFR, scheduled for Oct. 24-28 at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“This is real good because I’m trying to rodeo more with the PRCA,” Curley said of his qualification. “I’m leading the Turquoise Circuit right now, and I’m trying to get into the top 50.”

With an 81-point score, Leegene Barlow finished as the reserve champion, which earned him $1,466.

“It’ll help me get up there in the standings,” the Rock Point, Arizona, cowboy said. “It’s going to help keep building my confidence.”

At the inaugural Navajo Nation INFR Qualifier, Barlow drew Kadoka Joe, a Key Ranch horse.

“That horse is pretty awesome,” the 22-year-old saddle bronc rider said. “This was a good rodeo because all the stock contractors brought their ‘A-Team’ today. We all took advantage of the horses that we (drew).”

Still, Barlow felt he left a few points off his 81-point score during his ride.

“I wish I could have started off a little better,” he said. “I think I held my feet back like two, three jumps.”

Barlow finished one point ahead of Stade Riggs with an 80-point ride.

Saturday’s leaders, Phillip Whiteman and Shane Phillips, dropped to a two-way tie for fourth place with identical 77-point rides.