CHEYENNE, Wyo. —July 25, 2012 —J.R. Vezain was on a joy ride Wednesday – literally. The 20-year-old cowboy from tiny Cowley, Wyo., is living his professional rodeo dream, and it’s paying off down the road at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. Vezain took the lead in the first round of competition with an 88-point ride on a Frontier bucking horse named Joy Ride.

“It feels good to know I’m putting all my heart and effort into making it to the NFR (Wrangler National Finals Rodeo),” Vezain told Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune writer Jack Nowlin earlier this year. “I’m young and I want to rodeo. I want to win a world title and this is what I need to do.”

Vezain was the national champion bareback rider in high school just three years ago, and won the 2011 national collegiate championship while attending Vernon College. He ranks seventh in the PRCA world standings (the top 15 qualify for the NFR) and stands to earn up to $20,000 in Cheyenne if he can make two more good rides at “The Daddy of ’em All.”

Vezain’s score was tied by defending world champion bareback rider Kaycee Feild, who also earned 88 points on Three Hills Rodeo’s bronc Peaches N Cream. Feild currently ranks fourth in the world standings. This was the first time he had ever been on Peaches N Cream and if his success here continues, it would be his first time to earn a title here.

Three-time world champion steer wrestler Luke Branquinho of Los Alamos, Calif., didn’t disappoint fans on Wednesday, offering up his traditional booty-shaking routine after a spectacular 6.7-second run that put him second in the first round. Branquinho, 31, has earned nearly $2 million and several major rodeos – but never Cheyenne. Fellow NFR steer wrestler K.C. Jones, a Colorado native, turned in a 7.3 to move into a split for third. The cattle here all get a 30-foot head start, so times that would not get a check at most rodeos are taking the lead here.

Rodeo legend-in-the-making Trevor Brazile of Decatur, Texas, suffered disqualifications in two of his three events when his steer got up in the steer roping and he missed his calf in tie-down roping. But he and heeler Patrick Smith, from Midland, Texas – the 2010 world champions – roped their steer in 9.5 seconds to move to a tie for second in the first round. Travis Tryan, from Billings, Mont., who won the team roping at Frontier Days in 2007, stopped the clock in 10.5 seconds with Coffeyville, Kan., resident Jake Long to move to eighth.

In barrel racing, the leaderboard changed considerably with a pair of 17.60-second runs turned in by Sydni Blanchard of Albuquerque, N.M., and Nikki Steffes of Vale, S.D. Both former national collegiate champions, they are tied for second in the first round and will likely be back on Sunday in hopes of earning up to $16,000.

The 23-year-old Blanchard qualified for the NFR in 2010, but finished a disappointing 16th in the world standings last year on her horse, Firewater Fie. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Steffes finished 25th last year on Alan Woodbury’s horse Dash Ta Vanila and is hoping this year to qualify for her first NFR. Barrel racing is the only event at Cheyenne in which contestants make just one run prior to Sunday’s finals.

The sixth performance begins Thursday at 1 p.m. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competition will be in the second round and a new field of barrel racers will be making their first appearance here.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. —The following are event leaders from the 116th Annual Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, Wednesday, July 25, 2012.

Bareback Riding: (first round) 1,Kaycee Field, Payson, Utah, on Three Hills Rodeo’s on Peaches and Cream and J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo., on Frontier Rodeo’s Joy Ride, 88 points each.  3, Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 86. 4, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 85. 5, (tie) Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 84. 7, (tie) Ty Fast Taypotat, Regina, Saskatchewan; Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo.; Dusty LaValley, Bezanson, Alberta; Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore.; and Danny Webb, Cottonwood, Calif., 83 points each. (second round) 1, Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Sun Kissed. 2, Josi Young, Kimberly, Idaho, 86. 3, Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 85. 4, Heath Ford, Slocum, Texas, 84. 5, Tray Chambliss, III, Wetumpka, Ala., 83. 6, Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 83.  (total on two) 1, (tie) Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., and Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 169 points each. 3, (tie) Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., and Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., 166. 5, Heath Ford, Slocum, Texas, 165. 6, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 164.

Steer Roping: (first round) 1. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas, 13.9 seconds. 2, Lawson Plemons, Axtell, Texas, 14.2. 3, J. Paul Williams, Burbank, Okla., 17.1. 4, Troy Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., 17.2. 5, Jay Pixley, Sundance, Wyo., 17.5. 6, Chad Decker, Stephenville, Texas, 17.9. 7, (tie) Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., and J.B. Whatley, Gardendale, Texas, 18.0. (second round) 1, Trent Mills, Gillette, Wyo., 14.6. 2, Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 14.6. 3, Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas, 15.2. 4, Howdy McGinn, North Powder, Ore., 15.4. 5, Dave Inman, Bend, Ore., 16.3. 6, T.K. Tillard, Douglas, Wyo., 16.4. (total on two) 1, Will McBride, Amarillo, Texas, 38.9. 2, Jay Peters, San Antonio, Texas, 40.9. 3, Ryan Harris, Highmore, S.D., 41.3. 4, J. Paul Williams, Burbank, Okla., 42.2. 5, R.A. Lovell, Canby, Ore., 44.8. 6, Jay Pixley, Sundance, Wyo., 47.2.

Tie-Down Roping: (first round) 1, Trevor Thiel, Greeley, Colo., 11.3. 2, Jerrad Hofstetter, Portales, N.M., 11.3. 3, Jared Kempker, Eugene, Mo., 11.5. 4, Beau Marshall, Truth or Consequences, N.M., 11.6. 5, Lawson Plemons, Axtell, Texas, 12.2. 6, Grady Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 12.7. 7, (tie) Matt Kenney, Midland, Texas, and Ricky Hyde, Mount Vernon, Ark., 12.8 each. (second round) 1, Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 10.5. 2, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 11.1 seconds. 3, Riley Krassin, Lander, Wyo., 11.6. 4, Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 11.8. 5, Seth Hopper, Stanfield, Ore., 11.9. 6, Kade Kinghorn, Buffalo, Wyo., 12.3. (total on two) 1, Trevor Thiel, Greeley, Colo., 25.8 seconds. 2, Ross Beasley, Sulphur, La., 25.9. 3, Beau Marshall, Truth or Consequences, N.M., 26.5. 4, Clint Kindred, Oral, S.D., 26.7. 5, Grady Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 27.3. 6/7 (tie), Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., and Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 27.6 seconds each.

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 86 points on Burns Rodeo’s April Snow. 2, (tie) Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D.; and John Redig, Gaviota, Calif., 85 points each. 5, (tie) Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La.; Will Smith, Marshall, Mo.; and Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D.; 84. 8, Chet Johnson, Sheridan, Wyo., 84. (second round) 1, Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 87 points on J Bar J’s Sweating Bullets. 2/3 (tie), Dawson Jandreau, Kennebec, S.D., and Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 86 points each. 4, J.J. Elshere, Hereford, S.D., 85. 5 (tie), Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 84. (total on two) 1, Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 173 points. 2, J.J. Elshere, Hereford, S.D., 166. 3, (tie) Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La., Louie Brunson, Interior, S.D., and Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 165. 6, (tie) Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D., and Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 164.

Team Roping: (first round) 1, Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D., and Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 8.0 seconds. 2, (tie) Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas;  and Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., and Wade Masters, Durango, Colo., 9.5 each. 4, Ty Shepard, Canon City, Colo., and Tyler Kaess, Salida, Colo., 9.9. 5 (tie), Billy Stephens, Perryton, Texas and Justin Hendrick, Needville, Texas; and Brady Williams, Hammond, Mont., and Taylor Williams, Volborg, Mont., 10.2. 7, Bill Snure, Douglas, Ariz., and Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.3. 8. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 10.5. (second round) 1, Nathan McWhorter, Telephone, Texas, and Twister Cain, Gonzales, Texas, 8.5 seconds. 2, Brooks Dahozy, Window Rock, Ariz., and B.J. Campbell, Aguila, Ariz., 8.7. 3, Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo., and Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 8.9. 4, Trice Watts, Eads, Colo., and T.W. Wilson, Limon, Colo., 9.0. 5, Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn., and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont.; and Brian Dunning, McClave, Colo., and Jesse Jolly, Agate, Colo., 9.3.  (total on two) 1, Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., and Wade Masters, Durango, Colo., 19.5. 2, Brooks Dahozy, Window Rock, Ariz., and B.J. Campbell, Aguila, Ariz., 20.0. 3, Bill Snure, Douglas, Ariz., and Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 20.7. 4, Shaw Loiseau, Colman, S.D., and Paul Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D., 21.4. 5, Arky Rogers, Lake City, Fla., and Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 22.1. 6, Ty Blasingame, Ramah, Colo., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 22.5.

Steer Wrestling: (first round) 1, Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 5.9 seconds. 2, Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 6.7. 3, (tie) K.C. Jones, Decatur, Texas, and Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 7.3 each. 5, Dane Hanna, Berthold, N.D., 7.4. 6, (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., and Brad Johnson, Reva, S.D., 7.6. 8, Linn Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 7.7. (second round) 1, Monty Eakin, Pecos, Texas, 6.6 seconds. 2, Lance Volker, Auburn, Neb., 8.8. 3, Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 8.9. 4, Nik Hamm, Rapid City, S.D., 9.3. 5, Shayde Etherton, Borden, Ind., 9.4. 6, (tie) Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., and John Franzen, Riverton, Wyo., 9.5 seconds each. (total on two) 1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 15.9 seconds. 2, Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 16.2. 3, Monty Eakin, Pecos, Texas, 16.9. 4, Brad Johnson, Reva, S.D., 19.3. 5, J.D. Hays, Dillon, Mont., 19.9. 6, Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo., 20.5.

Women’s Barrel Race: (first round) 1, Jane Melby, Bachus, Minn., 17.47 seconds. 2, (tie) Sydni Blanchard, Albuquerque, N.M., and Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 17.60. 4, Sabra O’Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 17.61. 5, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 17.62. 6, Maegan Reichert, Morgan Mill, Texas, 17.65. 7, Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., 17.66. 8, Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 17.74.

Bull Riding: (first round) 1, Tate Stratton, Kellyville, Okla., 89 points on Pro Rodeo Inc.’s Shanghai. 2 (tie) Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., and Corey Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 88 each. 5, (tie) Beau Schroeder, China, Texas, and Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas, 85. 7 (tie), Seth Glause, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Dusty Elkinton, Moundville, Mo., 83. (second round) 1, Trent Cormier, Houma, La., 87 points on Brookman-Hyland Rodeo’s #779. 2, Cody Samora, Cortez, Colo., 85. 3, Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 83. 4, Dusty Elkinton, Moundville, Mo., 81. 5, Clayton Savage, Cheyenne, Wyo., 77. 6, Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, 76. (total on two) 1, Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 171 points. 2, Dusty Elkinton, Moundville, Mo., 164. (on one) 3, Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., 88. 4, Trent Cormier, Houma, La., 87. 5, (tie) Beau Schroeder, China, Texas, and Cody Samora, Cortez, Colo., 85 points each.

Rookie Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Cody Anthony, Monahans, Texas, 76 points on J Bar J’s Lizard Boots 2, Ty Kirkland, Lufkin, Texas, 75. 3, (tie) Zachariah Phillips, Casper, Wyo., and James Greeson, Okeechobee, Fla., 74. 5, Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D., 72. 6, Chance Barnes, Flora Vista, N.M., 71. 7, (tie) Cody Peterson, Yoder, Colo., and Landon Mecham, Tropic, Utah, 67.   (second round)  1 (tie), James Greeson, Okeechobee, Fla., on JS Rodeo’s Jimmy The Face and Cody Anthony, Monahans, Texas, on Powder River rodeo’s Spotted Bird, 69 points. 3, Eric Gewecke, Gillette, Wyo., 67. 4, Riley Knoll, Mandan, N.D., 66. 5, Garrison DeWitt, Rio Rico, Ariz., 64. 6, Cooper DeWitt, Rio Rico, Ariz., 62.  (total on two)  1, Cody Anthony, Monahans, Texas, 145. 2, James Greeson, Okeechobee, Fla., 143. 3, Riley Knoll, Mandan, N.D., 129. 4, Cooper DeWitt, Rio Rico, Ariz., 128. 5, Garrison DeWitt, Rio Rico, Ariz., and Eric Gewecke, Gillette, Wyo., 127 points each.

Wild Horse Race: 1, Cadillac Ranch, $526.70. 2, Team Agin.com/Poseidon Concepts, $395. 3, Brandon Begay Team, $263