Whitehorse scores 89.4 points on Take Down at Ty Murray Invitational

Posted by Navajo Times | Mar 28, 2026 | Sports |

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

ALBUQUERQUE

Dirt covered the floor at The Pit on Friday night, replacing the hardwood that hosted the New Mexico Activities Association High School Basketball State Championships just two weeks earlier, as the Ty Murray Invitational returned with a different kind of spotlight.

Keyshawn Whitehorse gave the home crowd a reason to rise early.

The Navajo rider from McCracken Spring, Utah, posted an 89.4-point ride on Take Down, a bull owned by Farris Cattle/Big Schott Rodeo, to finish sixth in the opening round. Whitehorse earned 46.05 points from the judges to go with the bull’s 42.25.

Special to the Times | Truman Begaye
Bull rider Keyshawn Whitehorse rode Take Down for 89.4 points for a 6th place showing during the opening round of the Ty Murray Invitational with two more rounds to go.

“The Navajo Nation comes out and supports, spend their hard-earned money here, so I have to show forth,” Whitehorse said. “I’m lucky and blessed to do this and to be here. I have to thank God for the opportunity.”

The arena looked different with dirt covering the floor and a reduced riding setup that used half the venue, but the response did not change. The loudest ovation came during introductions and again when Whitehorse nodded for his Section 5 ride.

4B Bucking Bulls’ Black Harbor delivered one of the quickest efforts of the night, bucking off Koltin Hevalow in 1.18 seconds. The bull, making his second appearance at the event, remains unridden at the Ty Murray Invitational. In 2025, Black Harbor tossed Julio Cesar Marques in 2.56 seconds for a 43.75 bull score and later bucked off Dalton Kasel in 5.23 seconds for a 42.75.

Special to the Times | Truman Begaye
Navajo-owned bull Black Harbor throws off PBR bull rider Koltin Hevalow in 1.18 seconds on Friday night during the opening round of the Ty Murray Invite in Albuquerque. Black Harbor is owned by 4B Bucking Bulls.

Cole Brewer, the reigning Indian National Finals Rodeo champion from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, was unable to complete his ride, lasting 2.02 seconds on Eyes on Me, a Blake Sharp/Hanks bull.

Dalton Kasel leads the event after the opening round with a 92.75-point ride on McCoy Rodeo/Spencer Neil’s Pegasus, the No. 5-ranked bull in the PBR. Brady Fielder followed with an 89.95, edging Claudio Montanha Jr., who posted an 89.90.

Whitehorse is scheduled to ride Magic Hunter of Martinez Bucking Bulls LLC in the second round, while Brewer will face Always Been Crazy from the Jane Clark and Gene Owen pen.

Ty Murray said the event continues a long-standing tradition.

“I started this event 29 years ago,” Murray said. “For a long time, I’ve invited the Indian National Finals Rodeo bull riding champion to compete at my event. Navajo Nation always shows up big time for my event, and American Indians are huge fans of the sport.

Special to the Times | Truman Begaye
Cheyenne River Sioux rider Cole Brewer rode Blake Sharp/Hank’s Eyes On Me during the opening round of the Ty Murray Invitational at The Pit in Albuquerque.

“I’m honored to be able to give the Indian Bull Riding Champion a chance to compete at the highest level of the sport,” he added.

That same floor that held championship basketball returned to rodeo form for the night, and the crowd responded in familiar fashion when the gates opened.

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