OGDEN — In a lot of other rodeos, Casey Colletti's 81-point bareback ride would have earned him some money.
But at the Ogden Pioneer Days rodeo, competitors know the competition — and the livestock — will be fierce.
"This rodeo is awesome," said Colletti, who wound up fifth in Tuesday's opening night of the rodeo. "Stace (Smith) has outstanding horses. We know when we come here, we're going to have to score an 85 even to take last place."
The rodeo's opening event set the bar high with two world champions, including reigning world champ Bobby Mote and the current No. 1 ranked bareback rider, Ryan Gray. It was a formidable field of riders. In the end, 22-year-old Jared Smith of Texas walked away with the night's highest score — 91 points.
He didn't know the horse he drew — Jesse's Girl — but his buddy was familiar with her.
"Everyone was saying what a good horse (she) was," he said. "My buddy had seen her. He said, 'You're gonna love this horse. You might even score a 90.' "
After making the whistle, he tipped his hat to the crowd and gave his buddy his due.
"I said, 'I sure am glad when you're right,' " Smith said grinning.
Smith was home-schooled and didn't participate in any other sports growing up.
"I had two choices," he said. "This or race horses. I chose this."
He said his employer helped him make the choice after he was offered a college scholarship in Ranger, Texas, to rodeo.
"He said he'd fire me if I didn't go to college," Colletti said, acknowledging that he earned a degree.
Both Smith and Colletti, 24, said they aren't intimidated when they compete against an accomplished field like Tuesday night's.
"It fires me up," said Colletti. "To ride against them at the same rodeo is motivating."
Eleven of the night's 13 bareback riders made the whistle.
In other events:
Wade Sumpter earned the fastest time in the steer wrestling with a 4.6 seconds; In team roping, Brock Hanson and Travis Woodard tied with Clay Tryan and Travis Graves as both teams roped a calf in 5.5 seconds.
Heith DeMoss won the saddle bronc riding with 85 points. His brother, Cody, was almost as good, with 84 points; In tie-down roping, Seth Emerson had the fastest time with 8 seconds.
Jacob O'Mara won the bull riding with a score of 87. Sherry Cervi turned in a time of 17.6 seconds to win the barrel racing event.
e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com