In these Texas Swing rodeos the Wildcard can often be just as talented as the Semifinals and the scores Wednesday night proved just that.

Bareback riding delivered five standout rides scoring 85.5 points or higher, but only two could advance. Nick Pelke led the way with 87.5, followed closely by reigning World Champion Dean Thompson at 87.

In steer wrestling, Rowdy Parrott’s 5.0-second run and Seth Peterson’s 5.2 were just enough to punch their tickets to the next round.

With their title defense on the line, Clay Smith and Coleby Payne stepped up in team roping, clocking a blistering 3.8-second run,the second-fastest of the rodeo, to win the round. A year ago, their quickest time en route to victory was 4.5.

Saddle bronc riding belonged to two-time Fort Worth champion Dawson Hay, who delivered an 89.5-point ride on Painted J. Hay now boasts six qualified rides this season and they have all been worth at least 86 points.

In tie-down roping, only three cowboys stopped the clock in under nine seconds. John Douch (8.4) and Glenn Jackson (8.5) led the pack, securing their spots in the Semifinals. For Douch, it marks a return trip to the Semis for the second straight year.

Barrel racer Toria Madsen blazed through the pattern in 16.15 seconds, the third-fastest time across the first 15 performances of the rodeo. She finished nearly two-tenths ahead of Megan McLeod-Sprague, who claimed the final Semifinal berth.

Bull riding was the simplest event to sort out Wednesday night. Only two cowboys made the whistle, Lukasey Morris and Bryce Jensen, securing their places in the Semifinals.

QUICK DRAW

Tuf Cooper and Hunter Herrin have combined for 30 NFR appearances while the other six tie-down ropers competing Wednesday night have five combined. Neither Cooper nor Herrin advanced.

Last year, Clay Smith/Coleby Payne won Fort Worth with qualified times of 5.3, 11.9, 4.8 and 4.5 seconds. This year, their two qualified times are 4.3 and 3.8.

Two of Lukasey Morris’ five qualified rides this season have come in Fort Worth.

RESULTS

Bareback Riding

Wildcard: 1. Nick Pelke, 87.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s BIGTIMIN HOUSTON, $2,000; 2. Dean Thompson, 87, $1,500; 3. (tie) Strawbs Jones and Kade Sonnier, 86, $750 each; 5. Richmond Champion, 85.5; 6. Kody Lamb, 84.5; 7. Will Lowe, 83.5; 8. Drake Amundson, 79.5.

Steer Wrestling

Wildcard: 1. Rowdy Parrott, 5.0 seconds, $2,000; 2. Seth Peterson, 5.2, $1,500; 3. Jace Melvin, 5.5. $1,000; 4. Ryan Shuckburgh, 5.6, $500; 5. Shane Frey, 9.7; 6. Winsten McGraw, 10.2; 7. (tie) Dirk Tavenner and Gavin Soileau, 13.5 each.

Team Roping

Wildcard: 1. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 3.8 seconds, $2,000 each; 2. Clint Summers/Paul Eaves, 4.3, $1,500; 3. (tie) Pedro Egurrola/Justin Davis and Wyatt Bray/Paden Bray, 5.1, $750 each; 5. Riley Kittle/Will Woodfin, 6.5; 6. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 9.0; 7. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 10.7; no other qualified runs.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Wildcard: 1. Dawson Hay, 89.5 points on J Bar J’s Painted J, $2,000; 2. Wyatt Casper, 87, $1,500; 3. Kolby Wanchuk, 86, $1,000; 4. Weston Patterson, 85, $500; 5. Ira Dickinson, 84; 6. Traylin Martin, 81; no other qualified rides.

Tie-Down Roping

Wildcard: 1. John Douch, 8.4 seconds, $2,000; 2. Glenn Jackson, 8.5, $1,500; 3. Quade Hiatt, 8.8, $1,000; 4. Seth Hall, 9.5, $500; 5. Colton Farquer, 10.0; 6. Hunter Herrin, 10.8; 7. Tuf Cooper, 17.0; 8. Logan Bird, 18.3.

Barrel Racing

Wildcard: 1. Toria Madsen, 16.15 seconds, $2,000; 2. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 16.33, $1,500; 3. Ilyssa Riley, 16.41, $1,000; 4. Keyla Costa, 16.57, $500; 5. Jordan Driver, 16.67; 6. Summer Kosel, 21.14; 7. Helen Nowosad, 21.37; 8. Wenda Johnson, 21.60.

Bull Riding

Wildcard: *1. Lukasey Morris, 87 points, $2,750; 2. Bryce Jensen, 84.5, $2,250; no other qualified rides.