Miranda Rides High as Turquoise Circuit Finals Close with Third-Round Action

The Best in the Southwest had one more chance to leave their mark as the Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo reached its third and final performance. An 88-point saddle bronc ride, a pair of 4.1-second runs and a lone qualified bull ride highlighted the closing round.

Kaden Miranda delivered the highest score of the third performance, winning saddle bronc riding with 88 points aboard JK Rodeo’s June Bug. The ride earned Miranda $2,219 and put him four points ahead of runner-up Trey Shadlock, who finished with 84 points. Zachary Dallas placed third with 81 points, while Caleb Brangham rounded out the paying positions with 80.

In bareback riding, Evan Betony returned to the top of the round standings. The opening-round winner scored 83.5 points on Salt River Rodeo’s Nevada Smith to collect another $2,562. Garrett Blackwell and Matthew Tuni shared second place with matching 77-point rides, earning $1,281 apiece.

The timed events brought their own closing-round highlights, beginning with Tyke Kipp’s winning steer wrestling run. Kipp stopped the clock in 4.1 seconds to earn $2,219, posting the fastest round-winning time of the finals in the event. Cameron Haumea followed in 4.6 seconds for second, Wyatt Jurney placed third in 4.7, and Trevor Duhon finished fourth in 5.2.

Travis Whitlow and Chris Young also put a 4.1 on the board, winning the third round of team roping and collecting $2,219 each. Their run was the fastest winning time across the event’s three rounds. Behind them, Chris Francis and Cade Passig split second with KP Phillips and Trevor Nowlin at 4.4 seconds. Ky Redstrom and Reece Wadhams took fourth with a 4.9-second run.

The tie-down roping title for the round belonged to two cowboys. Pecos Tatum and Cade Wallis each turned in an 8.0-second run, splitting first-place honors and earning $1,941 apiece. For Tatum, it marked his second round victory of the finals after winning the opener. Quint Bell and Hayden Ford also matched times, sharing third place at 9.6 seconds.

Brittney Hawley claimed the final barrel racing round with a 16.00-second run worth $2,219. Megan Albrecht placed second in 16.21 seconds, while first- and second-round winner Jana Bean finished third in 16.27. Brylee Banning secured fourth with a 16.34-second run.

In steer roping, Jarett Holliday led the third round with a 12.7-second run to earn $1,907. Dalton Walker finished second in 13.9 seconds, narrowly ahead of Trey Wallace’s 14.0. JC Clark placed fourth in 16.8.

Caelan Reynolds closed the bull riding with the round’s only qualified ride. Reynolds scored 79 points aboard Honeycutt Rodeo’s Ted, securing his second consecutive round win after taking Friday’s performance. His third-round payday totaled $5,453, including ground money.

From Miranda’s 88-point ride to Reynolds’ return to the winner’s circle, the final performance gave competitors one last opportunity to turn a strong effort into a Turquoise Circuit Finals round victory.