Aparecido takes over No. 1 spot in PBR world standings

Saturday night Eduardo Aparecido took over the No. 1 spot in the world standings by winning the PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Frontier Communications Iron Cowboy, presented by Kawasaki, in front of more than 38,500 fans.

Aparecido, who also won the Kansas City Invitational last weekend, sealed his victory with an 89-point ride atop Catfish John (Dakota Rodeo/Berger/Struve/Miller) in Round 4 after fellow Brazilian Fabiano Vieira bucked off Cochise (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) in 1.56 seconds. He took home $138,766 for winning PBR’s second Major of the 2017 season, including $50,000 from Bad Boy Mowers as part of the Bad Boy Mowers Major Bonus Program.

While 15 riders advanced to Round 2, the Iron Cowboy came down to just three cowboys in Round 3. Aparecido, Vieira and Mason Lowe all made the 8 second whistle in Round 2, including the high-marked ride of the event from Lowe who turned in a 90.75-point effort aboard Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Rosen/Struve/Berger). Lowe received $26,000 for the ride and $38,766 total in the event.

Fire & Smoke (Dakota Rodeo/Rosen/Struve/Berger) bucked off Lowe in Round 3, with Aparecido and Vieira moving on to Round 4. Aparecido covered Big Black Cat (Dakota Rodeo/Struve/Berger/Heald) for 88.75 points while Vieira rode Honey Hush (Swinging C Cattle Co./Hodges Bucking Bulls) for 88.5 points.

Seven Dust (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) and SweetPro’s Bruiser (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) shared the YETI “Built for the Wild” Bull of the Event title after turning in twin 46-point bull scores in Round 2.

Fans can see the Final Rounds of the Frontier Communications Iron Cowboy, presented by Kawasaki, on Sunday, Feb. 19 on CBS Sports at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Aparecido will try to make it three wins in a row when the Top 35 bull riders in the world head to Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, for the Bass Pro Chute Out, presented by Cooper Tires, Feb. 24-26.

CBS Sports Network will broadcast Round 3 and the Built Ford Tough Championship Round Sunday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. ET. Fans can also watch each round in real time on PBR LIVE and the PBR LIVE app at 8:15 p.m. ET on Friday; 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday; and 2:15 p.m. ET on Sunday.