Tireless love of winning spurs Whitfield into finals
Tie-down roper Fred Whitfield turns 50 in August.
The Cypress native boasts more than $3 million in earnings, with eight world championships and two RodeoHouston titles.
He even has an autobiography — “Gold Buckles Don’t Lie.”
So what drives the second-winningest cowboy in rodeo history at this stage of his storied career? The answer’s simple. “Winning,” Whitfield said with a grin. “I love freakin’ winning. I live and breathe and crave winning, and until you get that kind of desire, it’s hard to stay on top.”
Whitfield is still on top of his hometown rodeo.
Whitfield won Super Series II, ahead of reigning champ Tyson Durfey — who won the first semifinal — and tied for first in the second semifinal Thursday at NRG Stadium, securing his calf in 8.7 seconds.
The set featured four series winners and four former champions — and the eldest statesman schooled them all.
“I’m competing in front of my hometown crowd, and Saturday afternoon, if I get to the final four, there will be close to 80,000 people in this building, and there’s nothing I’d love more than to hear them scream again,” Whitfield said.
New horse helps
Whitfield won his first Houston championship in 2000 and repeated in 2013.
He rode a friend’s horse the first two rounds of Super Series II but wasn’t happy with the results, so he switched to a young mare named Rio he bought last May — then won Round 3 and his semifinal.
“She just now settled into being a really good horse,” Whitfield said. “I knew she was a nice horse when I bought her a year ago, and she cost quite a bit of money, but it takes time for things to come together.”
Jacobs Crawley kept an impressive streak together.
The saddle bronc rider was the only cowboy to sweep his series, and he tied for first Thursday with 86 points on Simply Marvelous. He already has won $11,500 heading into Saturday’s 10-man final.
“When you’re on a roll, you don’t ask any questions,” Crawley said. “You keep doing your job and hopefully it keeps going. I had another good animal, solid bucking horse and was able to spur him good.
“Now we get to come play for the big money.”
He was feeling so good afterward, he didn’t mind splitting first with Jake Watson, who scored a 86 on Peagan Warrior.
“As long as it’s first involved, I’m not too concerned,” Crawley said.
Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack snagged first with a clutch run.
The reigning world champ went last, after three of four ahead of him turned in 4.5s, then took down his steer in 4.2 seconds. Wade Sundell, the 2013 Houston champ, also advanced.
Mason Clements and Tyler Nelson tied atop bareback with 82s, and 2007 champ Bobby Mote also made the finals.
Mowry moves on
Kassie Mowry stayed hot in barrel racing, following her Super Series IV win with a semifinal victory. She turned in a blistering 14.01 — nine-tenths of a second off the record.
Four-time Houston winner Sherry Cervi was eighth, so she’s into Friday’s field of 12 wild card, where only two survive.
Super Series III winner Brennon Eldred won the bull riding semi with 90 points on Big Sexy.
Erich Rogers and Cory Petska, who teamed up to win Houston in 2014, won the team-roping semifinal with a 4.6.