National Finals Rodeo: Utah's Kaycee Feild seeks third title

Kaycee Feild's quest for a three-peat starts Thursday night in the opening round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Feild, who was born in Payson and resides in Spanish Fork, is one of six Utahns who qualified for the NFR, which runs through Dec. 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Feild won consecutive world bareback titles in 2011 and 2012 and he is well-positioned to make a run at his third straight championship.

Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., leads the bareback standings with earnings of $126,1287. Feild, with earnings of $120,375, sits in second place.

The top 15 in each event qualify for the National Finals.

Feild started the year quickly with wins at big-money rodeos on Fort Worth and San Antonio, so he used the final few months of the season to get ready for Las Vegas.

During the Days of '47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City in July, Feild said, "These rodeos now, it's not necessarily practice for the NFR, but it feels like that. They get us ready for the biggest show in our sport. That's where you make money. If you want to put money in the bank for your savings, you do that at the National Finals."

Besides Feild, Utah's other NFR qualifiers include Caleb Bennett of Morgan in bareback, Steve Woolsey of Payson in bull riding and Miford brothers Cody, Jesse and Jake Wright in saddle bronc.

Cody Wright is a two-time world champion. His last title came in 2010, but he currently leads the saddle bronc standings.

Younger brother Jesse is looking for his second straight world championship after an extremely close finish last year. His winning margin over Cody DeMoss of Heflin, La., was only $797.

Wright failed to finish three of his 10 rides at the NFR, which almost opened the door for DeMoss.

"I expected it to be close after the three times I hit the ground," he said. "But I'm glad I capitalized on the ones I did stay on. It panned out all right at the end."

luhm@sltrib.com —

Utahns at NFR

Utahns who will compete in the 2013 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. The top 15 in earnings qualified:

Caleb Bennett

Residence: Morgan

Event: Bareback

World championships: 0

2013 earnings: $67,475

Season ranking: 15th

Highlights: Making his third trip to the National Finals. ... Finished seventh in the world last year. ... Won this season at Amarillo (Texas), and Arcadia (Fla.) in addition to Tremonton, Coalville, Cedar City and Delta.

Kaycee Feild

Residence: Spanish Fork

Event: Bareback

World championships: 2

2013 earnings: $120,374

Season ranking: 2nd

Highlights: Seeking his third consecutive world championship. ... Making his sixth National Finals appearance. ... Won this season at Fort Worth, San Antonio, Moab, Heber City and the Utah State Fair.

Steve Woolsey

Residence: Payson

Event: Bull riding

World championships: 0

2013 earnings: $70,067

Season ranking: 15th

Highlights: Rebounded from injuries in 2012 to qualify for his seventh National Finals Rodeo. ... Among his victories this season were Nampa (Idaho), New Braunfels (Texas), Great Falls (Mont.), Ogden and Heber City.

Cody Wright

Residence: Milford

Event: Saddle bronc

World championships: 2

2013 earnings: $128,703

Season ranking: 1st

Highlights: Won the world title in 2008 and 2010. ... Making his 11th appearance at the NFR. ... Biggest wins this season at Denver, Cody (Wyo.), Sisters (Ore.) and Clovis (Calif.) in addition to Tremonton and Delta.

Jake Wright

Residence: Milford

Event: Saddle bronc

World championships: 0

2013 earnings: $88,084

Season ranking: 7th

Highlights: Qualified for his second straight National Finals. ... Finished sixth in the world last year. ... Won this season at Pendleton (Ore.), Lovington (N.M.), Prescott (Ariz.), Evanston (Wyo.), Pleasant Grove and Coalville.

Jesse Wright

Residence: Milford

Event: Saddle bronc

World championships: 1

2013 earnings: $108,950

Season ranking: 2nd

Highlights: The reigning world champion is appearing in his fourth NFR. ... Among his wins this season were Salinas (Calif.), Amarillo (Texas), Lewiston (Idaho), and Pueblo (Colo.) as well as St. George and Farmington, —

National Finals Rodeo

O Thursday-Saturday

At the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas