Luciano De Castro wins sold-out Big Sky PBR

Capping his outing at the picturesque Big Sky Town Center with a monstrous 90-point ride, Castro garnered $72,562 and 142.8 Challenger Global points.

Kacie Albert | PBR

BIG SKY, Mont. – Against the picturesque backdrop of Big Sky, Montana, Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) showed up and showed out, clinching the event win at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Challenger Series’ Big Sky PBR with a monstrous 90-point ride.

Big Sky PBR kicked off celebrating its 10th consecutive honor of being named the Event of the Year by the organization’s top riders.

Castro first struck in the event’s opening round, besting Macho Man (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 86 points.

While the score gave Castro, who rides for the Arizona Ridge Riders in the separate PBR Teams League, the chance to attempt Ridin’ Salty (Drink LMNT/McCoy Rodeo) for a $10,000 bounty, Castro was upended in 3.58 seconds.

The reserved Brazilian returned determined as the second night of competition got underway. After dominating Uncle Jim (McCoy Rodeo/MJ Bucking Bulls) for a Round 2 best 89.5 points, he bested bounty bull Han Solo (McCoy Rodeo/MJ Bucking Bulls) for a matching 89.5 points to collect a $21,000 paycheck.

While Castro’s Championship Saturday began with back-to-back buckoffs, tossed by Twisted Sister (Triplett Bucking Bulls) in 2.35 seconds in Round 3, and Blood Moon (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Mark Maker) in 2.7 seconds in Round 4, his opening two scores were enough to punch his ticket to the three-man, winner-take-all Shoot Out Round which concluded the event at Big Sky Town Center.

Tasked with Outlaw (Big Sky Bulls, LLC/McCoy Rodeo), Castro converted when it mattered most. Nodding with confidence, Castro burst into the arena as the sold-out crowd erupted in boisterous cheer. Marked a monstrous 91 points, the score cemented the victory for Castro.

Castro left Montana with a check for $72,562.71 in addition to 142.8 Challenger Global points.

Fellow Arizona Ridge Rider Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) was second, garnering $25,266.04 and 97.5 Challenger Global points.

After bucking off Left Turn Clyde (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) in 2.34 seconds in Round 1, Aparecido rebounded in resilient form in both Round 2 and Round 3.

Aparecido first rode The Judge (Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 87.5 points, before conquering Blackstone (Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 86.5 points.

Despite coming down short in Round 4, bested by Spendin’ Cash (Kelly & Cami Heath/McCoy Rodeo) in 3.26 seconds, Aparecido was also dominant in the Shoot Out Round as the veteran contender logged the first 90-point ride of the 2024 iteration of Big Sky PBR, topping Safety Meeting (Hruby/Kainz/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for a commanding 90 points.

Brady Fielder (Clermont, Queensland, Australia) was third.

The Texas Rattlers rider earned $31,578.37, in addition to 51 Challenger Global points, for his 89.5-point ride on Cliff Hanger (Pioneer Bulls/McCoy Rodeo) in Round 2, 87.5-point score on bounty bull Viper (Big Sky Bulls, LLC/McCoy Rodeo) and 82-point effort atop Wild Child (Triplett Bucking Bulls) in Round 6.

Fielder’s trip on Viper was met with added significance. The out marked the retirement trip for the powerful animal athlete who had made multiple trips to the PBR World Finals.

Fourth was the Arizona Ridge Riders’ Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah).

Whitehorse went 2-for-4, riding Peyton’s Daddy (McCoy Rodeo/Outlaw Partners) for 84 points, and I’m Busted (Ken Barnhart/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 83.5 points, to collect 27 Challenger Global points.

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was the Florida Freedom’s Conner Halverson (Gordon, Nebraska).

Also delivering a 2-for-4 showing, Halverson covered Big Secret (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 80 points and WSM’s Scary Larry (WSM Auctioneers/Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger) for 87 points.

The young Nebraskan earned 38 Challenger Global points.

In the bull pen, Spendin’ Cash (Kelly & Cami Heath/McCoy Rodeo) bucked supreme, crowned the Bull of the Event. Bucking in Round 2, the animal athlete was marked an unrivaled 45.5 points for his 1.89-second buckoff of Dustin Martinez (Canjilon, New Mexico).

PBR Challenger Series
Big Sky PBR
Big Sky Town Center – Big Sky, Montana
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Round 5-Round 6-Round 7-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Luciano De Castro, 86-0-89.5-89.5-0-0-91-175.50-142.75 Points.
2. Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-87.5-0-86.5-0-90-174.00-97.5 Points.
3. Brady Fielder, 0-0-89.5-87.5-0-82-0-171.50-51 Points.
4. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 84-0-0-0-83.5-0-0-167.50-27 Points.
5. Conner Halverson, 80-0-0-0-87-0-0-167.00-38 Points.
6. Andrei Scoparo, 83-0-0-0-77-0-0-160.00-16 Points.
7. Trey Benton III, 0-0-87.5-0-0-0-0-87.50-16.5 Points.
8. Marcus Mast, 86-0-0-0-0-0-0-86.00-19.75 Points.
(tie). Brady Oleson, 86-0-0-0-0-0-0-86.00-19.75 Points.
(tie). Paulo Eduardo Rossetto, 86-0-0-0-0-0-0-86.00-19.75 Points.
(tie). Brady Turgeon, 0-0-86-0-0-0-0-86.00-15 Points.
12. Michael Lane, 85.5-0-0-0-0-0-0-85.50-14.5 Points.
(tie). Ezekiel Mitchell, 85.5-0-0-0-0-0-0-85.50-14.5 Points.
(tie). Alan de Souza, 0-0-85.5-0-0-0-0-85.50-14 Points.
15. Brandon Chambers, 85-0-0-0-0-0-0-85.00-13 Points.
(tie). Adriano Salgado, 0-0-0-0-85-0-0-85.00-16.5 Points.
(tie). Dawson Branton, 0-0-0-0-85-0-0-85.00-16.5 Points.
18. Jesse Petri, 0-0-82.5-0-0-0-0-82.50-13 Points.
19. Boudreaux Campbell, 0-0-82-0-0-0-0-82.00-12 Points.
20. Marcelo Procopio Pereira, 0-0-0-0-81.5-0-0-81.50-14 Points.
Dustin Herman, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Dustin Martinez, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Rogers, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Briggs Madsen, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Cole Trivette, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Jadon Fiasco, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Dawson Gleaves, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Ky Bothum, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Jaxton Mortensen, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
McCoy Morton, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Andy Bohl, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Moulton, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Trace Brown, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
William Wright, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Adilson Junior, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Vitor Losnake, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Guilherme Valleiras, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Thiago Salgado, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Max Castro, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Jenks, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Junior Patrik Souza, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Hagen Braswell, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Hoak Corrgetlli, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Paulo Henrique da Silva, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Colby Gravier, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Tucker Shanklin, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00