Carlee Otero is a proud Texan.
But once upon a time, she was a young Canadian …
From right up the road — not far away — in Red Deer.
“Destined to be here,” said the star barrel racer, with a big smile, of the Calgary Stampede.
“My mom’s from Red Deer, too,” continued the 44-year-old Otero. “I moved to the States way too quickly — when I was three. The only thing I know about the Calgary Stampede was my dad, Bobby Hill, was a bullfighter and he was at the Calgary Stampede all the time in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and I was too little to know about it. But we’d come back and forth with my mom.”
Now Otero — formerly Carlee Pierce — is coming back and forth to Canada with her horse, Sly.
And they’re having success.
On Wednesday’s final day of Pool B action at the Stampede, the pair laid down the fastest run of the week — a 17-second-flat effort — to push their way onward to Showdown Sunday.
“I needed it — I knew I needed to try and win first if I wanted to be back Sunday,” said Otero, of the $7,000 payday to give her a money total of $11,500 over three days.
That’s enough to join Arkansas’ Taycie Matthews ($17,500), Texan Katelyn Scott ($14,750) and Oklahoma’s Paige Jones ($8,250) as the Pool B qualifiers headed to championship day, when Otero will fly the Canadian flag of sorts.
“I’m going to be wearing my Canadian red on Sunday and do what I’m supposed to do and go home with the big cheque,” said Otero, who had to win the U.S. qualifier to punch her ticket to Calgary. “I come up here as often as I can to Canada. We have so many friends up here that win, lose or draw, they are here for us.”
Here in Calgary, and here for her two appearances in the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
The last time she was here at the Stampede was way back in 2012, when she also made Showdown Sunday — but finished a heartbreaking fifth in the short-go to fall shy of the final four.
“That’s not going to happen this year,” promised Otero, who was also fifth at the 2023 CFR. “I’m going to make the final four this week.
“My horse deserves it.”
In between Stampedes, she had a couple of kids and worked to become a top realtor living in Perrin, Texas.
“Life happened,” added Otero, who has qualified for three National Finals Rodeo, to boot. “But I’d say I was just born to do this. I’ve tried other things. I’ve tried to get away from horses, but it’s like a really bad habit.
“And if I could come every year, the CFR and the Stampede would be my two picks.”
BULLY FOR TREY
Trey Kimzey’s trip to Calgary has already helped him crack 100 grand on the bull-riding season.
The cowboy from Strong City, Okla., is a hair shy of $20K here — actually, $19,575 — after his victory in the Day 6 go-round.
That boosts him into the top seven in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings, which are topped by fellow Stampede competitor Josh Frost, of Randlett, Utah.
Frost is flying with $150,000-plus on the year.
“It’s a long, hard-fought battle,” said Kimzey, who won Wednesday with 88.5 points on Tactical Error. “All year long, we go up and down the trail. But we’re just competing against our bulls. I’m not competing against Josh — he’s my buddy. If I do my job and he does his, the cards are going to play out the way the big man upstairs determines.”
It played out strange for the fourth and final spot from Pool B.
After both being bucked off Wednesday and exhausting all tiebreakers, Frost was awarded that last spot for Showdown Sunday after winning a coin toss over Saskatchewan’s Jared Parsonage — both on $8,333 after three rounds.
So it’s Frost, Kimzey, Louisiana’s Jace Trosclair ($15,575) and Missouri’s Creek Young ($12,283) off to the championship day in bull riding.
AROUND THE CHUTES
Best name of the rodeo? That’s Eastan West, also the best novice saddle bronc rider of the 2024 Stampede. The South Dakota cowpoke rode Unsoft Marshmallow to 75 points Wednesday to claim this year’s title. That topped Alberta’s Devon Hay, who had 70.5 on Autumn Bubbles … Young tie-down roper Riley Webb won for the second straight day — on Wednesday with a 7.1-second run — to lasso a spot in Showdown Sunday. The Texan’s $14,000 is the most among tie-down ropers in Pool B and sends him to the championship day with Montana’s Haven Meged ($11,500), Texan Kincade Henry ($10,208) and New Mexico’s Bryce Derrer ($9,000) … A top-spot re-ride of 84 points aboard Snap Chat wasn’t enough to send Minnesota’s Tanner Aus on to Showdown Sunday. When the dust settled in bareback, it was fellow competitors — and fellow Americans — RC Landingham ($12,500), Richmond Champion ($12,500), Taylor Broussard ($11,500) and Rocker Steiner ($10,250) collecting enough cash in Pool B to advance to the championship day … And the best bull-dogger Wednesday was Oregon’s Jesse Brown with a 4.0-second run for $7,000. But it wasn’t enough to send him through to the saddle-bronc finale on Showdown Sunday. Instead, it’s Nevada’s Dakota Eldridge ($13,375), Montana’s Ty Erickson ($10,500), Texas’ Clayton Hass ($9,250) and Idaho’s Stetson Jorgensen ($8,125) advancing from Pool B to the championship day.
CALGARY STAMPEDE
BAREBACK
POOL B
Wednesday — Day 3
1. Tanner Aus (Granite Falls, Min.), Snap Chat (re-ride), 84.o points, $7,000;2. RC Landingham (Castle, Calif.), Oh Blah Di, 83.5, $5,500;3. Richmond Champion (Stevensville, Mont.), Blue Wings, 82.5, $4,500; 4. Bradlee Miller (Huntsville, Texas), Zip Code, 81.5, $3,250; 5. Ty Taypotat (Nanton, Alta.), Blue Moon, 79.0, $2,000; 6. Taylor Broussard (Estherwood, La.), Mexican Tattoo, 76.0 $1,000; 7. Rocker Steiner (Weatherford, Texas), Rizz Up, 64.5, $0; 8. Cooper Cooke (Victor, Idaho), One More Reason, Double Grab, $0; 8. Brayze Schill (West Columbia, Texas), Winning Rose, BO, $0.
Aggregate — after three rounds
1. RC Landingham (Castle, Calif.), $12,500; 1. Richmond Champion (Stevensville, Mont.), $12,500; 3. Taylor Broussard (Estherwood, La.), $11,500; 4. Rocker Steiner (Weatherford, Texas), $10,250; 5. Tanner Aus (Granite Falls, Min.), $9,000; 6. Bradlee Miller (Huntsville, Texas), $7,750; 7. Cooper Cooke (Victor, Idaho), $4,250; 8. Ty Taypotat (Nanton, Alta.), $2,000; 9. Brayze Schill (West Columbia, Texas), $0.
bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday
BARREL RACING
POOL B
Wednesday — Day 3
1. Carlee Otero (Perrin, Texas), 17.00 seconds, $7,000; 2. Taycie Matthews (Wynne, Ark.), 17.22, $5,500; 3. Katelyn Scott (Odessa, Texas), 17.26, $4,500; 4. Paige Jones (Wayne, Okla.), 17.37, $3,250; 5. Lynette Brodoway (Brooks, Alta.), 17.49, $2,000; 6. Chelsea Moore (Rose Hill, Kan.), 17.65, $1,000; 7. Sissy Winn (Chapman Ranch, Texas), 17.66, $0; 8. Ilyssa Riley (Hico, Texas), 17.79, $0; 8. Blake Molle (Chauvin, Alta.), 17.79, $0; 10. Abby Phillips (Marshall, Texas), 17.89, $0.
Aggregate — after three rounds
1. Taycie Matthews (Wynne, Ark.), $17,500; 2. Katelyn Scott (Odessa, Texas), $14,750; 3. Carlee Otero (Perrin, Texas), $11,500; 4. Paige Jones (Wayne, Okla.), $8,250; 5. Chelsea Moore (Rose Hill, Kan.), $7,000; 6. Lynette Brodoway (Brooks, Alta.), $4,000; 7. Sissy Winn (Chapman Ranch, Texas), $3,250; 8. Ilyssa Riley (Hico, Texas), $2,000; 9. Abby Phillips (Marshall, Texas), $1,000; 10. Blake Molle (Chauvin, Alta.), $500.
bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday
NOVICE SADDLE BRONC
Wednesday — Day 3
1. Eastan West (New Underwood, S.D.), Unsoft Marshmallow, 75.0 points; 2. Devon Hay (Wildwood, Alta.), Autumn Bubbles, 70.5; 3. Lonnie Dunn (Big River, Sask.), Barred Lieutenant, 61.0; 4. Quinn Tallmadge (Meadow Lake, Sask.), Becareful ICU, bucked off.
bolded — champion
TIE-DOWN ROPING
POOL B
Wednesday — Day 3
1. Riley Webb (Denton, Texas), 7.1 seconds, $7,000; 2. Haven Meged (Miles City, Mont.), 7.5, $5,500; 3. Bryce Derrer (Portales, N.M.), 7.9, $4,500; 4. Beau Cooper (Stettler, Alta.), 8.5, $2,625; 4. Kincade Henry (Mt. Pleasant, Texas), 8.5, $2,625; 6. Brushton Minton (Witter Springs, Calif.), 10.8, $1,000; 7. Trevor Hale (Perryton, Texas), 10.9; 8. Westyn Hughes (Caldwell, Texas), no time, $0; 8. Dylan Hancock (San Angelo, Texas), NT, $0; 8. Shane Hanchey (Carmine, Texas), NT, $0.
Aggregate — after three rounds
1. Riley Webb (Denton, Texas), $14,000; 2. Haven Meged (Miles City, Mont.), $11,500; 3. Kincade Henry (Mt. Pleasant, Texas), $10,208.33; 4. Bryce Derrer (Portales, N.M.), $9,000; 5. Shane Hanchey (Carmine, Texas), $8,500; 6. Beau Cooper (Stettler, Alta.), $7,958.33; 7. Westyn Hughes (Caldwell, Texas), $5,500; 8. Dylan Hancock (San Angelo, Texas), $2,083.33; 9. Brushton Minton (Witter Springs, Calif.), $1,000; 10. Trevor Hale (Perryton, Texas), $0.
bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday
SADDLE BRONC
POOL B
Wednesday — Day 3
1. Brody Wells (Powell, Wyo.), Little Muffin, 88.0, $7,000;2. Lucas Macza (High River, Alta.), Zorta Proud, 85.5, $5,000; 2. Dawson Dahm (Duffield, Alta.), Elvira, 85.5, $5,000; 4. Damian Brennan (Injune, Australia), Night Devil, 84.5, $3,250;5. Ryder Sanford (Sulphur, La.), Lunatic Party, 84.0, $2,000; 6. Isaac Diaz (Desdemona, Texas), Bannock Slap, 82.0, $1,000; 7. Chase Brooks (Deer Lodge, Mont.), Aloha Margie, 81.5, $0; 8. Kolby Wanchuk (Sherwood Park, Alta.), 80.5, $0; 9. Trenton Burd (Madison, Kan.), North Star, 78.5, $0; 10. Cort Scheer (Bluff Dale, Texas), Night Vision, double grab, $0.
Aggregate — after three rounds
1. Kolby Wanchuk (Sherwood Park, Alta.), $13,250; 2. Lucas Macza (High River, Alta.), $11,500; 3. Dawson Dahm (Duffield, Alta.), $10,500; 4. Brody Wells (Powell, Wyo.), $8,000; 5. Trenton Burd (Madison, Kan.), $6,500; 6. Chase Brooks (Deer Lodge, Mont.), $6,250; 7. Isaac Diaz (Desdemona, Texas), $5,250; 7. Ryder Sanford (Sulphur, La.), $5,250; 9. Damian Brennan (Injune, Australia), $3,250; 10. Cort Scheer (Bluff Dale, Texas), $0.
bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday
STEER WRESTLING
POOL B
Wednesday — Day 3
1. Jesse Brown (Baker City, Ore.), 4.0 seconds, $7,000; 2. Stetson Jorgensen (Blackfoot, Idaho), 5.4, $5,500; 3. JD Struxness (Milan, Minn.), 5.5, $3,875; 3. Dakota Eldridge (Elko, Nev.), 5.5, $3,875; 5. Ty Erickson (Helena, Mont.), 6.4, $2,o00; 6. Clayton Hass (Weatherford, Texas), 7.7, $1,000; 7. Travis Munro (Townsville, Australia), 8.3, $0; 8. Jacob Edler (Alva, Okla.), no time, $0; 8. Stan Branco (Chowchilia, Calif.), NT, $0; 8. Dirk Tavenner (Rigby, Idaho), NT, $0.
Aggregate — after three rounds
1. Dakota Eldridge (Elko, Nev.), $13,375; 2. Ty Erickson (Helena, Mont.), $10,500; 3. Clayton Hass (Weatherford, Texas), $9,250; 4. Stetson Jorgensen (Blackfoot, Idaho), $8,125; 5. Travis Munro (Townsville, Australia), $8,000; 5. JD Struxness (Milan, Minn.), $8,000; 7. Jesse Brown (Baker City, Ore.), $7,000; 8. Jacob Edler (Alva, Okla.), $5,500; 9. Stan Branco (Chowchilia, Calif.), $0; 9. Dirk Tavenner (Rigby, Idaho), $0.
bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday
BULL RIDING
POOL B
Wednesday — Day 3
1. Trey Kimzey (Strong City, Okla.), Tactical Error, 88.5, $7,200; 2. Creek Young (Rogersville, Mo.), Muley Madness, 88.0, $5,700; 3. Jace Trosclair (Chauvin, La.), Splash Tide, 87.50, $4,700; 4. TJ Gray (Klamath Falls, Ore.), Krytonite, 83.5, $3,450; 5. Weston Davidson (Strongfield, Sask.), Bob’s Your Uncle, 76.0; $2,200; 6. Jared Parsonage (Maple Creek, Sask.), Wonkey Donkey, bucked off, $0; 6. Coy Robbins (Camrose, Alta.), First to Swing, BO, $0; 6. Jordan Hansen (Amisk, Alta.), Whistleblower, BO, $0; 6. Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah), Gundy BO, $0; 6. Brody Yeary (Morgan Mill, Texas), Destination Unknown, BO, $0.
Aggregate — after three rounds
1. Trey Kimzey (Strong City, Okla.), $19,575; 2. Jace Trosclair (Chauvin, La.), $15,575; 3. Creek Young (Rogersville, Mo.), $12,283.33; 4. Josh Frost (Randlett, Utah), $8,333.33; 4. Jared Parsonage (Maple Creek, Sask.), $8,333.33; 6. TJ Gray (Klamath Falls, Ore.), $3,450; 7. Weston Davidson (Strongfield, Sask.), $2,200; 8. Brody Yeary (Morgan Mill, Texas), $0; 8. Coy Robbins (Camrose, Alta.), $0; 8. Jordan Hansen (Amisk, Alta.), $0.
bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday
