J.D. YATES RIDES BAD PAINT JOB TO HIS FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
BY KATIE HENDRICKSON, MARKETING INTERN
J.D. Yates and Bad Paint Job.
J.D. Yates had an exciting night – to say the least. After recovering from a slip in junior heading, competing in a rope-off against Bobby Lewis to earn the reserve world championship in junior heading, and repairing his hobble strap moments before making his final junior heeling run, he earned both the reserve world championship and world championship in junior heeling. It was Bad Paint Job, a 2003 stallion, who carried J.D. to the world championship with a score of 228.5. After giving J.D. a moment to catch his breath, here is what he had to say about his winning run:
Q: Tell us how you’re feeling about this world championship? J.D.: It’s exciting anytime you can win one. Miss Cathy, the owner, is an unbelievable owner. She’s really excited, and it’s her first world championship ever. That makes you feel good, too.
Q: Will you go through your run tonight? J.D.: I was actually going in the arena, and my hobble strap broke on my saddle. I was stopped right at the gate, and Robbie Schroeder helped me tie it back together. It kinda, maybe, took my mind off and gave me a little ease. There wasn’t quite so much pressure when I was trying to get my saddle put back together before I went. After that, I drew a really good steer. The steer ran straight and handled really good. My cousin did a great job and turned him for me. It came together. It was my turn.
Q: Will you tell us a little about Bad Paint Job’s personality? J.D.: He’s just a really quiet and laid-back horse. Actually, I rode a colt out of the mare he’s out of in the senior and won ninth in the senior heeling. So I had two half-brothers here showing. Both of them are really nice horses, and I feel fortunate to be able to ride more for Cathy.
Q: Do you have any plans for his future? J.D.: We’ve not really discussed our plans for him. Plans change a lot when they become a world champion. We’ll know more after the excitement is gone, probably the day after tomorrow -- when we have to go back to work.
Q: Is there anyone special you’d like to thank? J.D.: It’s exciting for me to have my family down here: my mom, dad, sister, my little boy, my cousin who ropes with me, and the guys who work for me, bust their rears all the time for me, and you just can’t thank them enough. They never get any of the limelight, but without them, it wouldn’t make my job this easy. I guess, fortunately, behind the scenes, they’re the ones who make me look good if I perform in the arena. I can’t thank them enough. Jordan Allen has been with me, and he’s just a wonderful person. I think someday I’ll be watching him here. I think he’ll be able to make the grade. He’s one of the next up-and-coming trainers.
Fun Fact: J.D. has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo more than 20 times.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Bad Paint Job Pedigree: 2003 stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun x Lenas Peppy Cutter by Smart Peppy Lena Exhibitor: J.D. Yates, Pueblo, Colorado Owner/Breeder: Cathy Corrigan Frank, Phoenix, Arizona Trainer: J.D. Yates
Total class entries: 96 Purse: $77,462
World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, Cripple Creek-logo jacket, world champion patch, Tex Tan product, Justin Boots
