Ty Murray Invitational The Pit Today: 8 p.m. Saturday: 7:50 p.m. Sunday: 2 p.m. Tickets: start at $15; available at www.unmtickets.com, 1-877-664-8661 or 505-925-5858

“I like it,” says defending Ty Murray winner J.B. Mauney. “It’s crazy loud and always good bull riding.”

Denise Abbott, director of public relations for the Professional Bull Riders Tour, says the Pit will hold about 10,000 for the event.

“It gets loud, real loud,” she says. “It’s not your traditional arena. People are right at the court’s edge, just like for basketball games, and it’s the most raucous, enthusiastic and loudest place we go. The riders just love it.”

So should the bulls – who are half the show in the three-day event that ends Sunday.

While the 35 riders get the bulk of coverage and the attention of most of the cowgirls, they aren’t the only ones looking to collect a paycheck.

Each rider is scored on a 50-point scale for each ride, and so is each bull. And this weekend features a showdown between the two premier bulls on tour – 2011 world champion Bushwacker and 2012 winner Asteroid.

“They always really go at it,” says Julio Moreno of Oakdale, Calif., owner of 7-year-old Bushwacker, who was also runner-up in the World Championships in 2010.

“They’re both really good bulls, but have different styles. Bushwacker weighs about 1,750 pounds, and Asteroid is probably about 200 or 300 pounds lighter.

“Bushwacker is real calm in the chute, and Asteroid (two years younger) a little more nervous. Bushwacker comes really blowing out, front feet high in air. When he gets running, he’s so fast and athletic that he blows the riders three or four feet in the air.

“Asteroid is good, really good, too. He just finds a different pattern when he does his turns.”

The bulls have been in the same field 12 times in their careers, with Bushwacker winning seven. Moreno says the only time they have been in the same event this year was in Arlington, Texas, and Bushwacker won 47 1/2-44 1/2.

Bushwacker hasn’t been ridden the full eight seconds since 2009 and has bucked off 39 straight riders.

J.B. Mauney attempts to ride Moreno/Oliveira’s Bushwacker in the third round of the Springfield PBR Built Ford Tough Series. (COURTESY OF ANDY WATSON)

The bull with the highest marks this weekend wins prize money from Pabst Blue Ribbon, but Moreno wasn’t sure of the amount. The ultimate goal is the World Championships, where $50,000 and other prizes and sponsorships are on the line.

NOTES: All 35 riders will get one bull to ride in each of the three nights. After Sunday’s competition, their three-round scores will be totaled and the top 10 to 15 advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round for one more ride and a chance at the $30,000 title.

… Besides Mauney, other top riders are two-time winner L.J. Jenkins (2008, 2011) and the PBR’s current No. 1, Shane Proctor. There are five former PBR World Champions in the event: Silvano Alves (2012, 2011), Renato Nunes (2010), Kody Lostroh (2009), Guilherme Marchi (2008) and Mike Lee (2005).

… Tonight’s competition will be streamed live via the PBR Live Center at www.pbr.com. Saturday will be a Pure PBR broadcast live at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Round 3 action and the Built Ford Tough Championship Round will air at 6 p.m. Sunday, also on CBS Sports Network.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal