No Gray area for top bareback rider Friday night
     Cowboys turned the table on the rough stock at the Friday performance of the 74th Omak Stampede and World Famous Suicide Race.
     Ryan Gray, Cheney, scored a best of 84 in barebacks where four of five riders finished with complete rides. Right behind were Bobby Motes, Culver, Ore., with an 82 and Jason havens, Prineville, Ore., with an 80.
     In the Apple Meadows Buck-Off, buck Johnson had a best of 84 to edge Chet Hutton at 80.
     In saddle bronc, Shawn Morehead, Bruneau, Idaho, led the way in saddle bronc riding with an 81. There were nine full rides.
     The one area where the cowboys have yet to make a dent at this year's Stampede remains bull riding, where only two cowboys stayed on a full eight seconds.
     Tylee Lanham, of Sweet, Idaho, took top honors with an 85. Charlie Barker, Terrebonne, Ore., had a 72.
     In mutton bustin, Shantana Pakootas, Omak, held on the longest. The six-year-old lasted 11.2 seconds for first in a field of nine entrants (eight rode).
     In Friday night's Suicide Race that followed the rodeo, Patch and Taz established themselves as the top favorites for the overall title.
     Patch, owned by Kevin Carden and ridden by Aaron Carden, won for the second straight night.
     And Taz finished second for the second straight night. The horse is owned by Jim and Joan Phillips and ridden by Loren Marchand.
     The field was reduced to 13 horses with J-31 and Max not running, reported Owners and Jockey president Pete Palmer.
     Rounding out Friday's top official finishers (horse, owner, jockey) were:
     3, Party Boy; Frazier, Whitley, Marchand; Edward Marchand.
     4, Sinbad; Chris Corey, Francis Marchand taking the reins after Steven Zacherle rode the first night.
     5, The Rock; Melissa Louis; Louis Zacherle.
     6. Skar Tar; Leroy and Lucetta Cate; Ryan Cate.
     In the overall standings, Patch leads with two firsts and Taz follows with two second-place finishes.
     Skar Tar was the only other horse that's placed in both races. Skar Tar was third Thursday night.
     A salute to the armed forces brought four active service men into the arena in a Humvee. Recognition was given to Master sergeant Gary Fletcher, Kennewick; staff sergeant Steven Rowe, Wenatchee; staff sergeant David Jenkins, Moses Lake and corporal Justin Morris, Moses Lake.
     Morris is a 1989 graduate of Okanogan High School.
     In other rodeo events:
     Mike Johnson, who has had more NFR appearances in tie down roping scored an 8.5 run and jumped in the lead in the average at 19.8.
     In steer wrestling, B.J. Campbell ran off a 4.5 second run that jumped him into the lead in the average at 19.3
     In slack Saturday morning, Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, had top time of 4.1 seconds.
     Top team roping time was 4.9 seconds turned in by Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore., and B.J. Campbell, Benton City.
     Linzie Walker, Conway, had top time in barrel racing at 17.35 seconds.