If you follow the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo closely, you’ll notice a small but significant detail: at every level, advancement is based on money earned, and that’s how a champion is ultimately determined. It’s not a clean slate in the Short Round, and although it’s rare, there are times when the $15,000+ payday for winning the Finals isn’t quite enough to secure the buckle at the end of the day.

That scenario hadn’t occurred since 2018—until Saturday, when it happened twice. Bradlee Miller in bareback riding and Aspen Miller in breakaway roping both experienced this rare outcome, so that’s where we’ll begin.

Miller was 85.5 points or better on all five of his rides and closed the rodeo with four straight rides of 87.5 points or better. The key for him was winning Semifinal 2, which gave him $12,080 heading into the Finals compared to Sage Allen’s $6,565.

So when Miller was 89.5 to lose to Allen’s 90 in the Short Go, The $4,750 difference was not quite enough to propel Allen to victory as Miller finished with $22,584 to his $21,755.

The win put Miller No. 1 in the World by almost $16,000 over Fort Worth winner Nick Pelke.

Breakaway roping was similar story. Aspen Miller had the same $12,080 won as Bradlee and also finished second in the Finals. Maddy Deerman won the round, but was more than $6,000 behind going into Saturday, giving the title to Miller, who was 2.1 seconds or faster on all five of her runs.

As for the rest of the events, let’s start with the steer wrestling where a 35-year-old cowboy got the win of his life.

Brandon Harrison made in into the field in San Antonio through a November qualifier in Uvalde and quickly made his mark with a 3.4-second time on his first run.

He was not yet finished as he made it all the way to the Finals where a 4.3-second run was enough to beat three-time Reserve World Champion Will Lummus (4.5) and five-time World Champion Tyler Waguespack (4.7).

Harrison is now No. 3 in the World.

In team roping, Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord were the champions for the second time in three years as they were 4.1 in the Finals to notch a fourth Go-Round Win in five rounds in San Antonio. Along the way, they also made runs of 3.5 and 3.6 seconds.

Dawson Hay continued his remarkable saddle bronc riding season with a 90-point ride in the Finals to seal his second career Texas Swing win.

Hay has begun the season with 13 straight rides of 84 points or better and in San Antonio, he made rides of 87, 86, 88, 85.5 and 90 points.

In tie-down roping, Tuf Cooper won San Antonio for the second time in his career and did so with a 7.2-second run in the Finals to best the likes of Seth Hall, John Douch and Shad Mayfield. Cooper won two rounds in Bracket 1 as well two 7.9s.

In barrel racing, Megan McLeod-Sprague finished off the biggest win of her career in style with a 13.83 to win Semifinal 2 and a 13.74, the fastest run of the rodeo, to edge reigning World Champion Kassie Mowry by one one-hundredth of a second in the Short Round.

Finishing things off was Superman himself, Stetson Wright, who you would still never guess just returned from an injury that kept him out for a year.

Wright went 4-for-5 in San Antonio and finished the job with a 91.5-point ride on Cervi Championship’s Ringling Road, a bull he rode for 89 points earlier in the rodeo.

QUICK DRAW

All four money winning times in the tie-down roping Finals were 7.5 seconds or faster.

Bull rider Tyler Bingham won over $22,000 on Saturday alone after being one of two to ride in both the Wildcard and the Finals. He entered the day with three qualified and about $7,000 earned on the season.

Bareback rider Sage Allen entered San Antonio with less than $3,000 on the 2025 season and shot to No. 10 in the World by winning $21,755 there, including $15,252 for winning the Short Round.

There are now five saddle bronc riders over $48,000 earned in 2025 and all five of them – Statler Wright, Sage Newman, Ryder Wright, Dawson Hay and Kade Bruno – made the NFR in 2024. For comparison, last year at this time Ryder was No. 1 with just over $49,000.

RESULTS

BAREBACK RIDING 

First Semifinal: 1. Cole Reiner, 88.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co’s Night Flight, $5,252; 2. (tie) Richmond Champion and Tristan Hansen, 86, $3,677 each; 4. Cole Franks, 85.5, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Richmond Champion, $9780; 2. Cole Franks, $8,404; 3. Cole Reiner, $7,616; 4. Sage Allen, $6,565; 5. Tristan Hansen, $5,778.

Second Semifinal: 1. Bradlee Miller, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s White Claw, $5,252; 2. Kyle Bloomquist, 86, $4,202; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 85.5, $3,151; 4. Donny Profitt, 84.5, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Bradlee Miller, $12,080; 2.Kyle Bloomquist, $6,828; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, $6,566; 4. (tie) Tyler Broussard and Mason Clements, $4,465 each.

Wildcard: 1. Kade Berry, 89 points, $5,252; 2. Jess Pope, 87.5 points, $4,202; 3. Jacek Frost, 83.5 points, $3,151; 4. Kade Sonnier, 82 points, $2,101.

Finals: 1. Sage Allen, 90 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Wild Thang, $15,252; 2. Bradlee Miller, 89.5 points, $10,504; 3. Garret Shadbolt, 89 points, $5,252; 4. Tristan Hansen, 88.5 points, $1,576.

Champion: Bradlee Miller

STEER WRESTLING

First Semifinal: 1. Justin Shaffer, 4.3 seconds, $5,252; 2. Ty Bauerle, 4.8, $4,202; 3. Landon Beardsworth, 4.9, $3,151; 4. Tucker Allen, 5.1, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Justin Shaffer, $9,454; 2. Tucker Allen, $8,403; 3. Ty Baurele, $6,828; 4. Tyler Waguespack, $6,303; 5. Landon Beardsworth, $5,252.

Second Semifinal: 1. Jace Melvin, 5.7 seconds, $5,252; 2. Cody Devers, 10.3 seconds, $4,202; 3. Will Lummus, 13.6 seconds, $3,151; 4. Landris White, 14 seconds, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Jace Melvin, $9,454; 2. Cody Devers, $7,616; 3. Will Lummus, $7,353; 4. ; 4. Landris White, $5,777; 5. Brandon Harrison, $4,727.

Wildcard: 1. J.D. Struxness, 3.5 seconds, $5,252; 2. Chance Howard, 4.1 seconds, $4,202; 3. Cash Robb, 4.8 seconds, $3,151; 4. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia and Darcy Kersh, 5.7 seconds, $1,051 each.

Finals: 1. Brandon Harrison, 4.3 seconds, $15,252; 2. Will Lummus, 4.5 seconds, $10,504; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 4.7 seconds, $5,252; 4. Landon Beardsworth, 4.9 seconds, $3,151.

Champion: Brandon Harrison

TEAM ROPING

First Semifinal 1. Lightning Aguilera/Patrick Smith, 4.0 seconds, $5,252 each; 2. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 5.0, $3,677 each; 4. Kolby Krieger/Jayden Cisneros, 5.5, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Lightning Aguilera/Patrick Smith, $10,854; 2. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, $9,454; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, $7,353; 4. Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins, $5,778; 5. Kolby Krieger/Jayden Cisneros, $4,727.

Second Semifinal: 1. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 4.3 seconds, $5,252; 2. Coy Rahlman/Cole Curry, 5.6 seconds, $4,202; 3. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 5.8 seconds, $3,151; 4. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 6.1 seconds, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, $12,080; 2. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, $7,878; 3. (tie) Luke Brown/Trey Yates and Coy Rahlman/Cole Curry, $6,828 each; 5. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, $5,777.

Wildcard: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 3.7 seconds, $5,252; 2. Kreece Thompson/Denim Ross, 4.3 seconds, $4,202; 3. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 9.4 seconds, $3,151; 4. Cyle Denison/Land Mitchell, 13.8 seconds, $2,101.

Finals: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 4.1 seconds, $15,252; 2. Clay Smith/Colby Payne, 4.6 seconds, $10,504; 3. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 9.2 seconds, $5,252; 4. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 9.8 seconds, $3,151.

Champion: Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 

First Semifinal: 1. Coleman Shallbetter, 86 points on The Cervi Brother’s Hitman, $5,252; 2. (tie) Brody Cress and Ben Anderson, 85.5, $3676 each, 4. Wyatt Casper, 85, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Coleman Shallbetter, $9,979; 2. Brody Cress, $8,141; 3. Ben Andersen, $7,616; 4. Layton Green, $5,252; 5. Wyatt Casper, $4,727.

Second Semifinal: 1. Weston Patterson, 86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s River’s Ghost, $5,252; 2. Dawson Hay, 85.5, $4,202; 3. Sage Newman, 85, $3,151; 4. Kolby Wanchuk, 84.5, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Dawson Hay, $11,030; 2. Weston Patterson, $9,979; 3. Sage Newman, $6,827; 4. Shorty Garrett, $6,303; 5. Kolby Wanchuk, $4,727.

Wildcard: 1. Ryder Wright, 87.5 points, $5,252; 2. Zeke Thurston, 87 points, $4,202; 3. Zac Dallas, 85.5 Points, $3,151; 4. Ira Dickinson, 85 points, $2,101.

Finals: 1. (tie) Dawson Hay, on Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz, and Coleman Shallbetter, on Pickett Pro Rodeo Co.’s Bill Fick Top Egyptian, 90 points, $12.878 each; 3. Ryder Wright, 88.5 points, $5,252; 4. Sage Newman and Ben Andersen, 88 points, $1,575 each.

Champion: Dawson Hay

BREAKAWAY ROPING

First Semifinal: 1. Aspen Miller, 1.8 seconds, $5,252; 2. Beau Peterson, 2.5 seconds, $4,202; 3. (tie) Kayla Graham and Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.6 seconds, $2,626 each.

Finals Qualifiers: 1. Aspen Miller, $12,080; 2. Beau Peterson, $7,617; 3. Kayla Graham, $6,303; 4. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, $5,777; 5. Maddy Deerman, $4,727.

Second Semifinal: 1. (tie) Rylee George, Hali Williams, and Sarah Angelone, 2.1 seconds, $4,202 each; 4. (tie) Errin Johnson and Jenna Dallyn, 2.3 seconds, 1,051 each.

Finals Qualifiers: 1. Rylee George, $10,767; 2. Sarah Angelone, $9,191; 3. Hali Williams, $7,615; 4. Martha Angelone, $7,353; 5. TiAda Gray, $6,303.

Wildcard: 1. (tie) Josie Conner and J J Hampton, 1.9 seconds, $4,727 each; 3. Errin Johnson, 2.2 seconds, $3,151; 4. Rickie Fanning, 3.4 seconds, $2,101.

Finals: 1. Maddy Deerman, 1.9 seconds, $15,252; 2. Aspen Miller, 2.1 seconds, $10,504; 3. (tie) Hali Williams and Kayla Graham, 2.2 seconds, $4,202 each.

Champion: Aspen Miller

TIE-DOWN ROPING

First Semifinal: 1. Seth Hall, 8.2 seconds, $5,252; 2. Cole Clemons, 8.5, $4,202; 3. (tie) Trevor Hale, Joel Harris and Riley Pruitt, 8.7, $1,751 each.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Seth Hall, $9,454; 2. Cole Clemons, $7,879; 3. Riley Pruitt, $7,003; 4. Tuf Cooper $6,828; 5. Kyle Lucas, $6,303.

Second Semifinal: 1. Ty Harris, 7 seconds, $5,252; 2. (tie) John Douch and Beau Cooper, 7.7 seconds, $3,677 each; 4. Cash Hooper, 7.8 seconds, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Ty Harris, $11,554; 2. Cash Hooper, $7,091; 3. Beau Cooper, $6,303; 4. John Douch, $5,777; 5. Shad Mayfield $5,252.

Wildcard: 1. Dylan Hancock, 7.7 seconds, $5,252; 2. Trevor Hale, 8 seconds, $4,202; 3. Luke Potter, 8.3 seconds, 3,151; 4. West Smith, 9.7 seconds, $2,101.

Finals: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.2 seconds, $15,252; 2. Seth Hall, 7.3 seconds, $10,504; 3. John Douch, 7.4 seconds, $5,252; 4. Shad Mayfield, 7.5 seconds, $3,151.

Champion: Tuf Cooper

BARREL RACING 

First Semifinal: 1.Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, 13.85 seconds, $5,252; 2. Wenda Johnson, 13.88, $4,202; 3. Kassie Mowry, 14.05, $3,151, 4. Kim Schulze, 14.07, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Wenda Johnson, $10,505; 2. Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, $9,454; 3. Kassie Mowry $7,878; 4. Oceane Veilleux, $5,252; 5. Chole Gray, $4,728.

Second Semifinal: 1. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 13.83 seconds, $5,252; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.91 seconds, $4,202; 3. Katelyn Scott, 13.97 seconds, $3,151; 4. Abby Phillips, 14.03 seconds, $2,101.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 10,505; 2. Megan Mcleod-Sprague, $10,504; 3. Katelyn Scott, $8,928; 4. Abby Phillips, $7,354; 5. Sophie Palmora $6,302.

Wildcard: 1. Jymmy Kay Cox, 13.8 seconds, $5,252; 2. (tie) Carlee Otero and Andrea Busby, 14.14 seconds, $3,677 each; 4. Halyn Lide, 14.15 seconds, $2,101.

Finals: 1. Megan Mcleod-Sprague, 13.74 seconds, $15,252; 2. Kassie Mowry, 13.75 seconds, $10,504; 3. Sophie Palmora, 13.85 seconds, $5,252, 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 13.87 seconds, $3,151;

Champion: Megan Mcleod-Sprague

BULL RIDING

First Semifinal: 1. (tie) Cooper James, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Whiskey River, and Rawley Johnson, on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Blue Collar, 87 points, $5,427 each; 3. Brady Portenier, 83, $3,851; no other qualified rides.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Cooper James, $9,629; 2. Mason Moody, $9,542; 3. Stetson Wright, $8,754; 4. Rawley Johnson, $8,403; 5. Brady Portenier, $7,790.

Second Semifinal: No qualified rides, (tie) Hawk Whitt, Tristan Mize, Scott Wells, Hayes Weight, Brody Yeary, Jake Dunham, Trevor Reiste, Clayton Sellars, and Chase Dougherty, $1,634 each.

Final Qualifiers: 1. Tristan Mize, $13,539; 2. Scott Wells, $8,987; 3. Jake Dunham, $8,287; 4. Trevor Reiste, $5,836; 5. Brody Yeary, $5,573.

Wildcard: 1. Tyler Bingham, 83.5 points, $7,878; 2. Wacey Schalla, 82 points, $6,828; no other qualified rides.

Finals: 1. Stetson Wright, 91.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Ringling Road, $19,454; 2. Tyler Bingham, 86.5 points, $14,706; no other qualified rides.

Champion: Stetson Wright