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Recap - Portland, OR
Northern Exposure: Dominates the Northwest
March 14
Built Ford Tough presented by Wrangler
 
     
 
  Team Name $Won Points
1 Northern Exposure $20,000 222
2 Diamond G $7,500 220
3 Moreno/ExclusiveGenetics.com $7,500 220
4 C's Bucking Bulls and Training 0 218.5
5 Pinz Way Out West 0 218.5
6 Mandan Mafia 0 215.5
7 Priest Creek Ranch 0 215
8 South Point 0 165.75
9 West Coast Cowboys 0 140.75
 
     
 
Northern Exposure had three bulls score 45: North Star, Warzone and Northern Chill. Pictured here: War Zone by Andy Watson.
Northern Exposure had three bulls score 45: North Star, Warzone and Northern Chill.
Pictured here: War Zone by Andy Watson.
Nine bull teams headed to the Pacific Northwest for the PBR's Portland Invitational. The one-day event was comprised mostly of team bulls, with 45 of the Bull Challenge participants bucking at the event. Ultimately it was Northern Exposure's group of great bulls that secured the $20,000 first place purse with a combined score of 222 points. Diamond “G” and Moreno/ExclusiveGenetics.com split second, each winning $7,500 for scores of 220 points apiece.

Northern Exposure had three bulls score 45: North Star, Warzone and Northern Chill. Rounding out the five-animal Corey and Horst squad were Rez Boy with a 43.25 and Far North with 43.75.

“I thought it went well. They are a pretty steady group of bulls that were good for us,” said Mike Corey. “In Portland there was a lot of teams, which made for a great event and a lot of quality bulls.”

 
Corey felt that this first year is a learning curve for the bull teams event, but was positive that things would be adjusted and fixed as issues or concerns arose. He also stressed that he wanted to see more people involved next season and that he wanted as many teams as possible to be successful within the system.

“On any given day, I don't know which one of my team will be the best one,” Corey reflected. “That is the beauty of my team. Rez Boy was my weakest this weekend, but that was just for this event. They are solid, consistent and seasoned, with the exception of Warzone who is learning pretty fast. For many of the teams, if three of your bulls have a better than average day, odds are you are going to win. I don't think there is anyone out their arrogant enough to think they are going to run away from the top four or five teams.”

Steve and Cindy Gilbert's White Magic scored a huge 47.5 for the Diamond “G” team. Babes Fireball, with a 45, was their second highest scorer. For Moreno/ExclusiveGenetics.com, it was Troubadour who posted the high score to help them tie for second. Troubadour, last year's ABBI World Bucking Bull Classic Champion and co-champion Bull of the PBR World Finals, earned a 46 and was finally ridden. Kody Lostroh earned a 93.5 for making it to the whistle on the champion bull. Big Mike and Charlie Bullware were also instrumental to Moreno/Exclusive Genetics.com's victory with a score of 45 each.

4 C's Bucking Bulls and Training, who won the Anaheim Bull Challenge, came in third with 218.5. All In's 45.25 and Carrillo Cartel's 45 helped the team to finish just one-and-a-half points outside of the money.

Just a quarter point behind was Pinz Way Out West in fourth, In fifth with 215.5 was Mandan Mafia, followed by Priest Creek Ranch with 215. Pinz's Catywompus (44.5), Deal Or No Deal (44) and Stockland Livestock (44.75) turned in strong team performances. Manadan Mafia's heavy hitters with scores of 44 each were Why Not Minot and Cowboy Cut. Two Chad Berger bulls gave Priest Creek their biggest numbers; Blue Boy with a 44.25 and Almost Famous with 43.5.

South Point and West Coast Cowboys were both hurt in overall points when they had bulls with reride options and had to settle for seventh and eighth place respectively. Kish's Fine Wine earned a 45.25 and Show Stopper a 44 for the South Point team. West Coast Cowboys has a team with a lot of talent (including Reindeer and Hombre), but two rerides is a deficit that no team can overcome at a PBR Bull Challenge event.