User:Dawnleelynn/Smooth Operator (bull)

Smooth Operator #001 is an American bucking bull. He is the 2019 and 2021 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Champion Bull.

Background
Smooth Operator's recorded date of birth is January 2, 2010. His sire was Gigolo, and his dam was TW 5571. Smooth Operator's sire Gigolo was sired by Playboy Skoal, and Gigolo's dam was Lady Rocker. Smooth Operator's dam TW 5571 was sired by 951 Mission Pack and her dam was TW 571. Playboy Skoal was the 1990 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Finals and the 1991 Reserve PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year. Smooth Operator's brand is #001, and he is an American Bucking Bull breed, registered ABBI number 10116204. Smooth Operator generally weighed 1500 lb when he was perfoming, and his coat was white in color with black speckles.

The American Bucking Bull, Inc., held its inaugural World Premier Sale in October in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Saturday, October 11, 2014, Smooth Operator was bought by Jeri Harmon for $125,000. Smooth Operator came in at third place at the ABBI World Finals in the Classic event. Sweet Pro's Long John and his brother Sweet Pro's Bruiser, both ultimately world champions themselves, placed first and second ahead of him. Chad Berger and partners bought Smooth Operator sometime in early 2015.

Career
Smooth Operator bucked professionally on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the PBR circuits starting in 2013 and bucked until 2021.

Season 2012
A two-year-old Smooth Operator bucked with a dummy on his back at his breeder's ranch, Rockin Rafter P Ranch, on March 11, 2012. He also bucked as a two-year-old at the Kerriville Open in Texas on March 24, 2012. This was Smooth Operator's first official bucking event.

On April 29, 2012, Smooth Operator tied for 9th place at the United Bucking Bull, Inc., (UBBI) Gold Standard in Duncan, Oklahoma. On June 4, 2012, Smooth Operator bucked in the UBBI Futurity at Palestine, Texas for the first time. Even though he stumbled, he still placed in 12th place. On July 22, 2012, Smooth Operator placed 10th at the UBBI event in Duncan, Oklahoma, his second time at this event.

Season 2013
Smooth Operator placed 5th at the UBBI Derby on May 17, 2013. On June 1, 2013, 3-year-old Smooth Operator bucked at a National Bucking Bull Association (NBBA) Derby event. On June 9, 2013, Smooth Operator bucked at the UBBI Derby in Palestine, Texas. This was his second time bucking at this event. On September 30, 2013, Smooth Operator bucked at the UBBI Derby BullTrip 1 Finals in Kansas. Smooth Operator came in 5th place at the Lifetime ABBI Derby in Las Vegas on October 28, 2013.

In 2013, Smooth Operator bucked in the PBR for the first time in at least three events. He bucked three times on the PBR Pro Touring Division, a lower level tour. In June, he bucked in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He bucked off Zach Wright in 1.95 seconds and scored 42 points. In October, he bucked in Las Vegas, Nevada. He bucked off Josh Birks in 1.92 seconds and scored 44.50 points. Last, he bucked in Springfield, Missouri. He bucked off Stetson Lawrence in 2.75 seconds for a score of 42.50 points. Rides are scored from 1 to 100, with 50 percent of the ride score coming from the rider and 50 percent from the bull.

Season 2014
In May, Smooth Operator bucked at a PBR Touring Pro Division event in Stephenville, Texas where he bucked off Simao Da Silva in 4.71 seconds and earned a bull score of 43.50 points. Next he bucked at another Touring Pro Division event ,also in May, in Decatur, Texas, where he threw Jory Markiss off in 7.12 seconds, earning a bull score of 42.00 points.

Smooth Operator tied for third place at the ABBI Classic in Stephenville, Texas on May 3, 2014. This event occurred with a pen of 86 bulls. On May 18, 2014, Smooth Operator won first place at the UBBI Red River Classic in Ada, Oklahoma, with an 88.75 score. The bull took the summer off and the next event he bucked at was in August at the PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, throwing off 2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee in 2.61 seconds and earning a bull score of 41.75. Also in August in Oklahoma, at Thackerville, he bucked off Jordan Hupp in 4.21 seconds and earned a bull score of 44 points. In September, he bucked in a BFTS event in Springfield, Missouri and threw off Zane Cook in 2.80 seconds, earning a bull score of 40.50 points. He stayed there to also take on Claudio Crisostomo and threw him in 3.13 seconds, earning 43.75 points. In October, Smooth Operator attended his first PBR BFTS World Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. His first out was with Robson Palermo, whom he bucked off in 3.28 seconds earning 45 points. Then his second out the score was just as good, 45 points for bucking off Kasey Hayes which he did in 2.18 seconds.

Rockin Rafter P Ranch bucked Smooth Operator at the 2014 ABBI Classic World Finals late December 2014. The bull placed second in the first round. In the final round he placed third, with winnings of $40,000. Bruiser placed second with winnings of $75,000, and Long John placed first with winnings of $200,000. Long John won the event. Both bulls are from D&H Cattle and are half-brothers.

Smooth Operator sold at the ABBI inaugural Premier Sale for $125,000 on December 23, 2014, to Jeri Harmon.

Season 2015
Smooth Operator started out the 2015 season strong, in January he bucked off top bull rider Cody Nance in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 2.54 seconds, and earned a bull score of 44.00 points. Also in January, he bucked off Jordan Hupp in Sacramento, California, in 1.64 seconds, earning a bull score of 45.50 points. In February, in Anaheim, California, he bucked off Dave Mason in 2.68 seconds, earning a bull score of 44.00 points. Also in February, he bucked off rookie Kaique Pacheco in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2.45 seconds, earning a bull score of 44.25 points. Yet another buck off in February was Rubens Barbosa in 2.43 seconds with a high bull score of 45.75 points.

Smooth Operator's owner, Chad Berger, who had recently acquired him in the off-season, meaning sometime after the last finals and prior to this new season starting in January, brought him to a BFTS event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on March 13. The bull improved his season record to 6-0 after bucking off Nathan Schaper in 3.42 seconds. His bull score was a very good 45.00 points. Schaper, who had almost selected the bull at the last event, admitted he had underestimated his strength. Even at this event, the only reason he had the bull was because he had the last selection in the draft and the bull was the only one left. After bucking off him, Schaper said, "He is the real deal." Berger pointed out that he believes Smooth Operator is his rankest bull. Riders who have attempted the bull so far have lasted an average of 2.53 seconds on him. Schaper was considered one of the best bull riders this season. After Sioux Falls, Smooth Operator appeared in Albuquerque, New Mexico in March at a BFTS event to make another great buck off on another top bull rider, L. J. Jenkins, in 2.27 seconds, earning a very good bull score of 44.75 points.

Smooth Operator made an important showing in Seattle, Washington, when he finished out his March appearances. He met up with 4-time PRCA world champion bull rider J.W. Harris two times in less than 24 hours at the end of the month. During his first meet-up with Harris in the 15/15 Bucking Battle, he bucked him off in 3.33 seconds and earned a bull score of 46.00 points. In his second meet-up with Harris, he bucked him off in 2.44 seconds and earned a bull score of 46.50 points. Smooth Operator went right both times. On this ride, Harris tried to compensate by moving further out. However, the bull spun faster and then cut him off. Additionally, Berger described a movement that the bull used to dislodge Harris his "corkscrew bucking style" which he used to "yank the bull rope" out of Harris' hand, so he could then slide the rider off his back. Harris added that the bull fooled him, he faked left and then turned right, making Harris lean backwards.

Commentator Justin McBride added that he feels the bull is the real deal too. He belonged in in that season's world champion bull conversation. Berger also explained that the bull seems to be double-jointed, which helps him twist and turn his body around. His confidence about Smooth Operator was at an all-time high. Berger stated that Smooth Operator showed everyone his full potential in how he handled Harris, further making his case on top of how he has been handling riders all season thus far.

In April he next faced top rookie Kaique Pacheco in Nampa, Idaho, who would win the rookie of the year, and he bucked him off in 2.37 seconds, earning a bull score of 44.50 points. In mid-April, Smooth Operator met his match, Guilherme Marchi, who was the first to ride the undefeated bull with a streak of 17 consecutive buckoffs. In Billings, Montana, at the Stanley Performance in Action Invitational, Marchi explained that the way the bull riders have been trying to ride him doesn't work. He said he was going to try something different. It's a tactic that he used on Bushwacker. It worked; Marchi rode Smooth Operator for 83.50 points. However, the bull only scored 41 points.

In June, Smooth Operator bucked on the PBR Touring Pro Division event in Bismarck, North Dakota. He bucked off Cody Rodeo Tyler in 3.00 seconds, earning an excellent bull score of 46 points. Still in Bismarck, he next bucked off Wallace Vieira de Oliveira in 3.47 seconds, earning a good bull score of 44 points. In the PRCA, in July at Mandan, North Dakota, he bucked off Tate Thybo in 3.70 seconds for a low bull score of 42.00 points. A second out in Mandan, he bucked off Lane Gambill in 1.10 seconds for another low bull score of 42.00 points. Still in the PRCA, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, he bucked off Jacob Smith in 3.61 seconds for a bull score of 42.50 points. Then again in Cheyenne, he bucked off Lon Danley in 4.65 seconds for a bull score of 44 points, all of this still in July.

In July, he participated in a PBR Velocity Tour event up in in Sage Brush Field in Big Sky, Montana where he bucked off Sean Willingham in 3.70 seconds for a career high bull score of 47 points and demonstrating he was past his sub-par out with Marchi in Billings. Willingham commented that the bull had what it takes for a world champion. Berger said the bull was back to his best level, and couldn't foresee any bull riders catching a qualified ride on him if he stayed there. PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert agreed that the bull would become a strong contender for world champion.

With the BFTS back in August, he went to an event in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the 14th to buck off Emilio Resende in 3.42 seconds for a very good score of 45 points. Lambert commented that Operator needs to be exceptional from now on due to his off day with Marchi. Also in August, at a BFTS event in Nashville, Tennessee, he took care of Robson Aragao in 3.55 seconds for a very good bull score of 45.25 points. Lambert commented that both Smooth Operator and Air Time were the leading contenders at this point. There were five season events left prior to the World Finals which were held on October 21 to 25. Smooth Operator's bull score average was currently at 44.73 points for 13 season outs. Lambert considered Long John third in contention, Little Red Jacket fourth and Roy fifth.

In September, at a BFTS event in Springfield, Missouri, he bucked off top bullrider Matt Triplett in 3.44 seconds for a good bull score of 44.25. Berger was a guest on an episode of "PBR Road to Vegas" on CBS Sports Network where he again claimed that he believes "this year is the best chance he has ever had at winning the World Champion Bull title because of Smooth Operator." He had made the same claim back in Seattle. "I won it with Code Blue, but I think this bull is ranker than him," Berger said. "I think he is my best shot I ever had to win bull of the year." Berger was joined on the show by Lambert, McBride, and J.W. Hart.Commentator Justin McBride had some concerns whether he could beat Air Time due to his 45 point bull score in Allentown. However, Air Time is also a very unpredictable bull.

Also in September, at a BFTS 15/15 Bucking Battle in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he bucked off 2011 PRCA world champion bull rider Shane Proctor in 6.25 seconds for a very good bull score of 45.00 points. Smooth Operator had a battle getting the top bull rider off his back. This was his last out before finals. Berger commented that although his bull had the best performance this weekend, he doesn't believe it was his best out. Perhaps he was a bit sore. Berger had three weeks to get him ready. Smooth Operator has scored 45 or more points eight times now this season. Berger was looking for two outs at finals in the range of 91-92.5 points. The champion bull is the bull with the highest combined bull score from two outs. Berger planned to get Smooth Operator home after Allentown for rest and therapy to prepare for finals that he believes can help the bull back to peak condition.

On October 6, the PBR announced who the World Champion Bull contenders were for the PBR World Finals. Seven bulls were chosen for the honor: Air Time, Smooth Operator, Sweet Pro's Long John, Roy, Sweet Pro's Bruiser, Stone Sober, and Jeremiah. The top 35 bull riders in the PBR voted to select these bulls, who have all competed on the BFTS this season. This is Smooth Operator's first world finals event. He has been ridden only once in his career. His buckoff rate is 95.45 percent. His record of outs is 22-1 over three years on the BFTS.

PBR World Finals
At the PBR BFTS World Finals in October, Sweet Pro's Long John of D&H Cattle Company won the World Champion Bull title. In the final round of the event on Sunday, Long John was one second away from a qualified ride in the Championship Round. Fabiano Vieira was the bull rider attempting to get a ride, but Long John bucked him off just in time and he received an outstanding bull score of 47.25 points. This score was high enough to outscore Bruiser by 2 points for total points scored in two outs. The bull won his owners $50,000 and a trailer. Meanwhile, Smooth Operator suffered two sub-par scores at the finals. He bucked off Guilherme March in 4.04 seconds with a poor score of 42.75. Then he bucked off Gage Gay in 4.50 seconds with a poor score of 42.00 points. This completed his season.

Season 2016
Smooth Operator was absent from competition in the PBR for the first half of the season without any explanation. Berger finally made an announcement that the bull would return to competition at the PBR Touring Pro event in Bismarck, which is the neighboring city of his hometown of Mandan, North Dakota. His explanation for the bull's absence was that he had suffered a lower back injury, which the vet stated was completely healed. This injury accounted for the bull's sub-par performances in the second half of the 2015 season and his poor performance at the finals event, where he finished second to last even though he was one of two-front runners most of the season. These performances prompted Berger to bring him to the vet where he learned Smooth Operator had been competing with a lower back/pelvis injury. This event was his first attempt at bucking since the finals last year. Lambert says it will take time to find out if the bull can buck at the same level as before; Lambert doesn't think the bull has the try at this point. Berger also was not sure when or where the injury happened; they just had to move on.

So, in his season debut in June at in the PBR Touring Pro Division event in Bismarck, Smooth Operator bucked off Nevada Newman in 1.49 seconds for a bull score of 44.00 points. He next bucked at another Pro Touring Division event in July in his home city of Mandan, North Dakota, and bucked off Mickey Andrews in 4.00 seconds for a bull score of 44.00 points.

At this point, Smooth Operator had an average bull score of 44.26. He also had an average buck off time of 2.94 seconds. He was reported to be seven years old. Also in July, Smooth Operator was at another PBR Touring Pro Division event for the summer. He was joined by 2012 World Champion Asteroid, newly acquired by his owner, Chad Berger. Prior to the opening night, a substantial rainstorm had put both bulls in a very sour mood due to what it had done to them and their pens. It was a precursor to the evening's events. Smooth Operator bucked off Kasey Hayes in a decisive manner of 2.66 seconds, earning himself the highest score of the event with 47 points. Asteroid bucked off Cody Nance in 3.55 seconds and had a substantial bull score of 46.5 point bull score. Berger was more than satisfied with both bulls' scores.

Smooth Operator then bucked in August on a Touring Pro Division event in Livingston, Montana, where he bucked off Cody Ford in 2.13 seconds for a bull score of 45.00 points. Smooth Operator got back to the BFTS after finishing his summer out on the Touring Pro Division. First, he bucked at a BFTS event in August in Nashville, Tennessee, where he bucked off Eduardo Aparecido in 1.24 seconds for a bull score of 43.00 points. He bucked off Kaique Pacheco in Springfield, Missouri, in September in 2.13 seconds for a bull score of 43.50 points. He bucked at a BFTS event in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in September, where he bucked off Robson Palermo in 2.02 seconds for a bull score of 44.00 points. He met up with Mike Lee again in Eugene, Oregon, and bucked him off in 1.52 seconds for a bull score of 44.50 points. In October he took on Tanner Byrne in Nampa, Idaho, and bucked him off in 3.27 seconds for a bull score of 44.50 points. Also in October, he bucked off Eduardo Aparecido again, this time in 2.26 seconds for a bull score of 44.25 points.

PBR World Finals
All season, PBR commentators referred to Bruiser as the most consistent World Champion Bull contender. At the PBR World Finals, he proved them right. In his second out, he just managed to throw 2016 PBR Brazil champion Dener Barbosa at 7.15 seconds, while earning himself a 46.25 point bull score in the process. With his two out combined score of 90.75 points, he won the World Champion Bull title. One of Bruiser's owners, H.D. Page, had some doubt of his chances coming into the finals, but soon had hope after his first out. Once all competitors had finished, there was actually a three-way tie for the title between Bruiser, 2015 World Champion Long John, and Pearl Harbor. The rules stated that the first tiebreaker was the sum of a bull's best eight outs. That tiebreaker went to Bruiser as he was the regular season bull winner. Another contender who was a frontrunner, Air Time, posted a sub-par score in one out, by hooking himself in the fence. Smooth Operator was not considered a world champion bull contender this season.

Smooth Operator attended the world finals and competed; it just wasn't as a title contender. In his first out in Las Vegas, he was ridden for a qualified ride by Guilherme Marchi for a second time. This time the ride score was better; it was an 89.50, and he earned a 43.50 bull score. His second out he bucked off Justin Paton in 6.11 seconds for a low of 43.00 bull score points.

For his season summary, Smooth Operator had twelve outs, and one qualified ride at all levels. On the BFTS, he had eight outs, and one qualified ride. For the BFTS, his bull score average was 43.78.

Season 2017
This season Smooth Operator started his year with the first BFTS event, which took place in Chicago, Illinois in January. He bucked off Mason Lowe in 1.24 seconds for a bull score of 43.25 points. Next in January, he traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to buck off Luis Blanco in 2.20 seconds for a bull score of 43.75 points. For his last out in January, 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi wanted to try to ride him again. Marchi remained the only rider in four years to conquer the 7-year-old bull. Other riders average 2.9 seconds against the bull. Both Marchi and Berger cannot name any particular cause that Smooth Operator is dominant. Marchi is 2-1 against the bull. Berger's thought was that the bull's shoulder roll is part of his success against riders. One downside to bucking a bull who has previously been injured, is that he may not buck the same afterwards. Berger says he was not the same, and he didn’t extend himself as much as before. He is smart enough to know he could hurt himself again. He was still a championship round quality bull, but not the rankest bull out there anymore. His BFTS career average was 43.96 points per out. When Marchi got his shot at the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Sacramento, California, the bull bucked him off in 4.29 seconds for a bull score of 44.25 points.

In February, Mike Lee got a third chance at Smooth Operator in Kansas City, Missouri. But the bull bucked him off in 1.83 seconds for a bull score of 43.75 points. Also in February, Smooth Operator got ridden by another rider. Mason Lowe conquered the bull for a ride score of 90.75 points. The bull score was 44.75 points. The ride took place at Iron Cowboy in Arlington, Texas. The ride was the high-marked ride of the event. Lowe made it to the final three cowboys. Lowe received $26,000 for the ride. At the end of February, Marchi got another chance at Smooth Operator in St. Louis, Missouri. At the Bass Pro Chute Out in the Scottrade Center, the bull bucked Marchi off in 6.52 seconds for a bull score of 45.25 points. This was their fifth matchup, which stands at 2-3 in the bull's favor. Marchi spoke about the bull at this event, giving him respect for his record and his effort.

In March, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Shane Proctor got another attempt at Smooth Operator. The bull bucked him off in 4.17 seconds for a bull score of 44.00 points. Also in March, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Joao Ricardo Vieira got another chance at the bull. He bucked him off in 2.72 seconds for a bull score of 44.00 points. In April, Marchi used yet another draft for a 6th meetup with the bull, in the place where he rode him before in Billings, Montana. The bull bucked him off in 2.44 seconds for a bull score of 42.50 points. In April, Stormy Wing tried the bull in Tacoma, Washington, and was bucked off in 3.63 seconds. Smooth Operator earned a bull score of 45.00 points. Joao Ricard Vieira tried him at Last Cowboy Standing in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was bucked off in 1.545 seconds for a bull score of 43.50 points. While the BFTS was off for the summer, Smooth Operator bucked at some PBR Pro Touring Division events. In June, in Bismarck, North Dakota, he bucked off Josh Faircloth in 2.18 seconds for a bull score of 45.50 points. Also in Bismarck, he bucked off Cody Rodeo Tyler in 2.4 seconds for a bull score of 46.50 points. Back to the BFTS in August in Nashville, Tennessee, he bucked off Kaique Pacheco in 2.55 seconds for a bull score of 43.25 points. Then in September, in Springfield, Missouri, he bucked off 3-time world champion Silvano Alves in 1.70 seconds for a bull score of 42.75 points. In September, in Austin, Texas, he bucked off Kaique Pacheco in 6.53 seconds for a bull score of 41.25 points. In Nampa, Idaho, in October, he bucked off Stetson Lawrence in 4.92 seconds for a bullpoint score of 43.50 points.

PBR World Finals
For this season's world finals, the world champion bull contenders who were predicted to win were Bruiser and Pearl Harbor. After both had their first out in the finals, their scores were very close. Pearl Harbor led Bruiser, 46.38 to 46.34. There was a rule change this year in how the champion was determined. The top eight outs in the regular season plus the two outs at finals determines the total point score. Then they take the highest average of the score to determine the champion. The world champion bull was awarded $100,000. Lambert had said the bull race was going to be won by one of these two bulls unless there was some kind of foul or injury.

The World Finals concluded with a historic moment for the World Champion Bull race. Bruiser became the fourth bull to win back-to-back world championships. He also became the second bull after Bodacious to win a champion title in both the PBR and the PRCA, not just that, but also in the same year like Bodacious did in 1995. Bruiser earned superb bull scores on his two outs to do this. He earned 47 points with Emilio Resende and 46 points with Ryan Dirteater. He also won Bull of the Finals. Smooth Operator bucked at the finals too. He had one out with Cooper Davis. He bucked off Davis in 4.92 seconds but had a seriously subpar out of 34.75 points; obviously he did not get a second out.

Berger let Smooth Operator buck at the Velocity Tour event in New Town, North Dakota, in December. Smooth Operator bucked twice at this event. Canadian Logan Biever selected the bull with his sixth pick. Biever said others regarded him a little crazy for that pick, but he thought the bull's record made him the one to win on. Biever was happy with his ride even though he was bucked off. The bull scored 45 points. The bull also bucked off Cody Casper in 3.05 seconds for a bull score of 45.00. Berger was happy with the improvement in Smooth Operator's scores thus far after switching his delivery.

Season 2018
Smooth Operator began his season with a very good bull score of 45.75 points at the first premier series event of the year, now known in 2018 as the Unleash the Beast Series (UTB) in Chicago, Illinois. He bucked off top bull rider Fabiano Vieira in 5.19 seconds in January. Next he took on Cody Rodeo Tyler for another time in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, also in January, and bucked him off in 4.79 seconds for a bull score of 44.00 points.

Smooth Operator had been improving since Chad Berger switched him to a right-hand delivery. Following the bull's substandard out with Cooper Davis at the 2017 World Finals, Berger made the decision to switch the bull from the left to the right beginning with his New Town, North Dakota, bull riding event last November. The bull was still not quite bucking in his true form from before his suffered a lower back/pelvis injury that was responsible for making him miss seven months of the 2016 season. Smooth Operator reacted by bucking off both Cody Casper and Logan Biever with 45 point bull scores in under 3 seconds. Smooth Operator performed well in his first two outs of the season. Regarding his upcoming ride on the bull, Kolbaba said, "I didn't see him last weekend, but out of the right he looks like the one to have."

When the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Sacramento, California, did take place, Smooth Operator bucked Derek Kolbaba off in 2.80 seconds for a bull score of 44.75 points. Guilherme Marchi had to try the bull yet another time; in February, in Anaheim, Calfornia, Smooth Operator bucked him off in 2.00 seconds for a bull score of 45.00 points. Then also in February, the bull bucked off Wallace Vieira de Oliveira in St. Louis Missouri, in 2.84 seconds for a bull score of 43.00 points.

In the summer, Smooth Operator bucked in the Big Sky, Montana Touring Pro Division event, which takes place in July. First he bucked off Nathan Burtenshaw in 3.02 seconds for a bull score of 44.50 points. Then he was matched with Derek Kolbaba again, who he bucked off in 2.88 seconds for a bull score of 46.50 points. The bull's outs at Big Sky garnered Lambert's attention, who commented that Smooth Operator was the rankest bull this summer, even in only two outs. The bull had been absent for more than five months. Lambert also stated that the bull was more consistent out of the right hand delivery. This means he can predict a rank trip each time. Smooth Operator was still working his way back to his best form. Last year, he delivered 15-1 in elite tour outs. His elite tour bull score average was 43.14 points. His ride average at all levels is 73-3.

The UTB came back from break in August and the PBR proclaimed Bruiser as the frontrunner for the World Champion Bull race. Possible challengers to upset Bruiser in the case where he would under-perform were listed as 2018 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year Spotted Demon, Cochise, Smooth Operator, Frequent Flyer, Bad Beagle, and Old Fort Days. Spotted Demon was 10 years old and thus would be the oldest title winner in PBR history.

Starting back from summer break on the UTB, Smooth Operator bucked off Koal Livingston in 2.10 seconds for bull score of 45.75 points in Nashville, Tennessee. Smooth Operator had an appointment with Cody Nance again in Springfield, Missouri, in September. But he hipped himself and the ride was ruled a foul. Nance got a reride.

Cooper Davis has not forgotten that failed ride he took on Smooth Operator at the 2017 World Finals. But Davis had watched the bull since he was switched to a right delivery, and he had wanted to ride him since then, stating, "It was a little bit of revenge right there." He got his chance in September at the Atlantic City Invitational in Atlantic City, New Jersey, UTB event. Davis got a qualified ride and a career high 93.75 points on Smooth Operator in the championship round. He took second place in the event. Ride scores that high are exceptional. The bull earned a bull score of 46.25 points, a career high at the time. Berger felt the score should have been 47 points. Berger rested the bull for a couple of weeks and then brought him to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Nampa, Idaho.

Mason Lowe award-This year the award for highest ride score went to Jose Vitor Leme riding Smooth Operator. And by coincidence Mason Lowe rode Smooth Operator for his highest career ride. In 2017, Lowe became only the second rider in five years (at the time) to ride the World Champion Bull, winning the $26,000 Ride Score Championship at Iron Cowboy. Leme rode Smooth Operator two years later 92.50 points in a 15/15 Bucking Battle in Columbus, Ohio. This year he rode the bull again at a 15/15 Bucking Battle in Billings, Montana, on September 12, becoming the sixth rider to best him. “I think Smooth Operator likes me,” Leme said with a laugh. “I get on him three times, but I rode him just two. He bucked me off one day. He is a pretty hard bull, and he was not easy away from my hand, but I was lucky he come two times into my hand. It is amazing when you ride a World Champion Bull. It is great for me and my career. I will keep this memory for my entire life, too.” Leme and Lowe are two of six men to reach the 8-second mark on Smooth Operator in 117 outs at all levels of competition.

PBR World Finals
In November, Kaique Pacheco fought an injury to his knee to compete in the PBR World Finals this year. He went 2-for-5 inside T-Mobile Arena to hold off other riders and win the World Champion title. Sweet Pro's Bruiser last bucked in July. He scored 44.75 bull points in Round 2 by bucking off Francisco Garcia Torres in 3.35 seconds. In the championship round, Bruiser was matched up with Jose Vitor Leme. Leme rode Bruiser for a qualfied ride and a high score of 93.5 points. He scored 45.75 bull points, which won him his third consecutive World Champion Bull title.

Smooth Operator came -0.33 points away from winning the World Champion Bull title, but Bruiser had the better final score. Smooth Operator's final average was 45.70, and Bruiser's final average was 46.08 points. Smooth Operator bucked off Fabiano Vieira in 6.20 seconds for a bull score of 45.50 points in his first out. Then he bucked off Cooper Davis in 7.74 seconds for a bull score of 46.50 points.

Season 2019
On January 11, Sarah Berger had to tell her husband about Pearl Harbor.

On August 1, Cody Lambert, reported that the rankest bull he saw this summer was Smooth Operator. The bull only bucked two times this summer, but caught Lambert's eye. Smooth Operator had not bucked in over five months. He bucked at the PBR Touring Pro Division event in Big Sky, Montana, two times. His scores were 44.5 and 46.5. The eight-year-old bull first bucked off Nathan Burtenshaw and then Derek Kolbaba pretty easily. The bull threw the 6 foot 2 Burtenshaw upside down off his backside in 3.02 seconds. Then he buckoff off Kolbabain 2.88 seconds. Smooth Operator was bucking from a right-handed delivery which seemed to work well for him. Berger changed it earlier this year after a slight knee fracture took Operator out of competition. Berger continued the delivery change in Big Sky, and he believes Smooth Operator will post consistently solid scores when the second half begins on August 11 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Smooth Operator was in full force when he dislodged Burtenshaw and Kaboba. “He definitely made me look stupid,” Kolbaba said. “He is a big bull and has a lot of power. For me, as a left-handed guy, he is right there to the right and he just pushes and drives so hard that it is almost like he disappears if he comes around to the right just because he is pushing off his front end and kicking through it. “That was probably the best out I would say he has had with me on him. You could just feel he was bringing it.” This was Smooth Operator's highest bull score at any level of competition since he got 46.5 points for bucking off J.W. Harris at the 2015 Seattle 15/15 Bucking Battle. RidePass commentator Colby Yates said, “That is a rank bull of Chad Berger. Watch the whip and kick that this bull brings. He is so intense and so hard to get ahold of.” Smooth Operator has not returned to his full 2015 world championship contender form since missing the first seven months of the 2016 season. However, in 2018, he did have an impressive score average of 15-1 with a 43.14 point bull score. The question on everyone's mind is who will try to take the throne alongside Bruiser with Pearl Harbor's passing. Could Smooth Operator be an underdog in this race?

Bruiser and Smooth Operator are certainly different in a variety of ways, including their bucking patterns, but Kolbaba believes Smooth Operator can potentially sneak into the race if he bucks the way he did in Big Sky. “The other night I got on him, he dang sure had a pretty outstanding out,” Kolbaba said. “He is one there is definitely not much time to catch back up with him. I know after about the second jump I lost him and he kind of disappeared around to the right. I tried to make a move to get back there and he was too strong and he got me down that day.“If he has outs like that, I would put him up there as a competitor for sure.”

In August, the top two spots belong to Smooth Wreck (45.66) and Smooth Operator (45.63). A incremental score separates them, .03 points. Berger was asked his preference on which one wins, since he owns both of them. He punted. “I hope they tie,” he said with a smile. “Then I get two buckles.” He would also potentially take home $160,000. However, a lot could happen between now and Las Vegas in November 6-10. Although Smooth Operator appeared to lose a step in three events, he just made up for it. At the Bok Center he bucked off Ryan Dirteater in 2.56 seconds for a 46 point bull score. Despite dirt issues at the stadium, Smooth Operator displayed his strength and receive a high score. Smooth Operator had failed to be marked over 45 points in two consecutive events, and his 46-point score is his first since earning 46 points for 5.62 seconds of work against Cannon Cravens on March 31 in Tacoma, Washington. Berger says he didn't considered age to be an issue. “I’ve always kept him in the conversation because I have a lot of faith in that bull,” Berger said. “We have spent a lot of time, heart, sweat and tears keeping him healthy. I always keep him in the conversation because I know for him to even buck like that he has to have a big heart because he had to battle a lot of things.”

In August, Smooth Operator and Jose Vitor Leme matched up. The bull bucked off Leme in 3.77 seconds for 46.25 bull score in Round 3 of the Jack Daniel's Music City Knockout. This gave the bull the lead in the World Champion bull race.The fact that Smooth Operator once again went to the left didn't help this time. Smooth Operator has a World Champion Bull average of 45.81 on eight outs. Smooth Wreck dropped to number two. “I was sure proud of that bull,” Berger said. “When I seen Jose had him – you know, Jose had him earlier in the year, and he did turn back to the left for him, but he really bucked today, and I was real proud of him. He’s 9 years old, and you can’t ask any more out of that bull than he’s given, and I’m just so proud of that bull.”

In September Smooth Operator and Smooth Wreck were No. 1 and No. 2 in the World Champion Bull Race. Smooth Operator was at 45.81 points and Smooth Wreck was at 45.66 points. In two months, Berger has his bull Smooth Operator contesting for World Champion Bull all year. Once Burger had part ownership of a bull, Code Blue, in 2009 champion, but he wants to have a champion who he controlled and take care of 100 percent. When asked if this year was his best shot in recent memory for winning at a World Champion Bull titles, he repied that he felt he was closer with the late bull Pearl Harbor. Berger replied, ": No, I think I was closer with Pearl Harbor last year, but I feel real good with where we are at now with Smooth Operator. We will just kind of bounce around here a little bit and get to the Finals. If he has two good trips there, it will be good."

He was also asked, "You have yet to have one of your bulls under your sole control win a world title. You have said before you would trade a Stock Contractor of the Year title in a heartbeat for a World Champion Bull. How bad do you want to get over that championship hump?" Berger replied, "Yeah, I really want it bad. Not just for me, but for my partners. Especially with Smooth Operator being 9 years old, and I really had high hopes for him when he was 5 years old. Him or Smooth Wreck, but I am hoping Smooth Operator can do it because of that. Julie Rosen and Clay Struve have been partners of mine for years. We are talking 15 years or more. For them to be on that World Champion list would be awesome for me." He was also asked, "Did you expect to have a World Champion contender this year? Pearl Harbor was going to be the face and leader of your bullpen." Berger responded, "Yeah. I actually thought it would be Smooth Wreck because I think a lot of that bull. And Smooth Operator coming out at 9 years old, I didn’t know. He never ceases to amaze me. He keeps coming and trying his heart out. It is all you can ask out of a bull. It is kind of a surprise to me. I am pretty happy with where we are now."

At the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Target Center, Smooth Operator bucked off Matt Triplett in 4.05 seconds. His bull point score was 45.25 points. He was marked the high score of the event. It wasn't enough to increase his World Champion Bull average score. “This is the last one for him before the Finals,” Berger said earlier in the night. “He is 9 years old. This is his last chance I think.” Berger did not venture on saying whether he would retire the bull at the end of the year. "It will depend,” Berger said. “We will see.” Smooth Operator is currently No. 1 in the rankings with a 45.81 average on eight outs. His 14 out average of 45.36 is a career best. Smooth Operator flipped Triplett off his back quite easily. He has bucked four riders off a row now. “Yeah, I just let him beat me around the corner,” Triplett said. “I’m going to love to get on him again, because I know I can ride him. I just need to bring a little better ballgame to the court. He does something different every time. He threw a hop skip with me today, and I wasn’t prepared for that. I just needed to bow up. But great bull, and best of luck to him.”

In the Ford Idaho Center, in only 1.48 seconds, Smooth Operator sent Junio Quaresima to the dirt. This was the bull's fatest buckoff since Chicago at the beginning of the season which was 1.46 seconds. It netted the bull a 45.5 bull score. It was enough to increase the bull's World Champion Bull average during championship round of the the Cooper Tires Take the Money and Ride event. “I still think he is 46 plus,” Berger said after the event. “They just won’t give it to him, but we have to fight until the end. I was real happy with his trip. I thought he bucked really rank. All we can do is keep chipping away.” This out gave Smooth Operator the bull of the regular-season title and $25,000 in bonus money to Berger.

Berger has said that Smooth Operator winning the World Champion Bull title would be the first one where he had sole control of the bull leading up to it. He said, “I have never been scared of competition,” Berger said. “The only way you get better is if you have good competition. If I didn’t have competition, I promise you I wouldn’t be as good at what I do as I do. You have to get better to stay in the game.”

Berger's original plan was to buck the bull until the World Finals after the Minneapolis Invitational. The event in Mandan, Dakota, changed his mind. If his out on Saturday night helps him out, it could be a $100,000 change of heart. It might help hold off his rivals in Vegas. “I just figured you have to roll the dice,” Berger said. “I wasn’t going to bring him after Minneapolis, but then I got to doing the math. He doesn’t have to buck until Nov. 7, and he had two weeks off, so I figured we might as well try and increase his average score." If his average can go up a bit more, it can be harder for them to catch him. It turned out to be a good decision because the Pages ended up bringing their bulls to increase their average. Lambert believes the other contenders will have more trouble catching Smooth Operator if he stays consistent as he as all season. His yearlong consistency has made a difference in this title race. Only 45 points have been marked in four of his 15 outs in 2019. Smooth Operator is 12-3 this season. His average bull score is a career high 45.37 for 2019.

“He has been rock solid,” Lambert said pre-event. “He has had plenty of good outs to win it and he deserves to win it. If he doesn’t win it this year, he probably never will, but I think if he doesn’t screw up at the Finals I think he wins it. I know he has a big enough lead that if he doesn’t have a bad trip he will be tough.” Smooth Operator bucked off Jose Vitor Leme in 3.77 seconds in Nashville, He was scored 46.25 points, the best score of his season to date. This past April, in Columbus, Ohio, Leme had ridden Smooth Operator for 92.5 points, after Smooth Operator unexpectedly turned into Leme's hand. Leme congratulated the bull for finishing at the top of the regular-season standings.

“He speaks for himself,” Leme said. “Every time that chute opens, he shows he is No. 1 in the world. I had the chance to get on him the first time and he was kind of friendly and I got to ride him. The second time he was not as friendly and he had his normal trip and bucked me off. He is an excellent bull and deserves every bit of it.” “That is a big thing, going in No. 1, but it is Bull of the Year that means the most,” Berger said. “These couple points maybe are what it takes to win.” The 2019 World Champion Bull will be the bull with the highest average bull score from their top eight regular-season outs and two outs at the PBR World Finals. Smooth Operator’s top eight regular-season outs give him a 45.84-point score in the world standings ahead of the Finals.

The World Finals bulls have been announced. Smooth Operator was in the No. 1 spot. This one was his sixth consecutive finals. He has hunted down his first World Champion Bull title. A large amount is awarded to the winner of $100,000. They took his best eight regular season outs and his two outs at Finals and averaged them. The Bull of the Finals is awarded to the best bull score of the world finals event. This went to Legit and Hocus Pocus, who had the highest average of two outs at Finals. They tied their averages. Bruiser is still in the mix and is fifth in the race. Smooth Wreck is in second place.

PBR World FInals
In early November at the PBR World Finals, Smooth Operator was in Round 2 making his first out. Berger made signs of relief when the bull bucking off Dylan Smith was being replayed on the jumbotron. The buckoff time was 6.99 seconds. The bull increased his bull average to 45.89 points. Berger is anxious for the next out still. However, Berger has taken pressure well for a long time. “It is a lot of pressure,” Berger said. “I take pressure real well and I have been around this thing for a long time. But I want this so bad. I have had more success than any one man should have, but I have partners and that bull deserves it.”

“Smooth Operator showed what he can do,” Lambert said. “I think he will win it. He is so close that something weird will have to happen for him to lose.” Berger hopes Smooth Operator’s incredible 2019 season ends with that $100,000 World Championship and that things go smoothly inside T-Mobile Arena. “That bull is like my kid, and for him to win it would mean the world for me,” Berger said. “That is what I hope: we come out Sunday and get it done.”

In early November, Berger was anxiously awaiting the final rounds of the PBR World Finals. He rolled out of bed at 3:00 a.m. “I was up before the chickens,” Berger said. “I had things to do. I just couldn’t sleep.” He wanted to address one of the things on his mind. The contractor had been waiting for this day for years. He has not let things eat away at his confidence, but Berger has always wanted his own world champion. The sun hasn't even risen, but Berger had grabbed his lucky pair of socks and some cowboy boots. Last time he wore them was when Smooth Operator had his first out during this finals with Dylan Smith. Not one to mess with good vibes regardless of the fact that the veteran bull held his fate. The bull only needed to leave the chutes cleanly and put up a solid score in the championship round. “After I bucked him Thursday, when I got home I put my right sock in my right boot and my left sock in my left boot,” Berger said. “I then put my pants away. Today, I wore the same outfit (except my shirt). I wore all the same things.”

It was practically 4 p.m. inside the T-Mobile Arena when Berger was standing on the back of the bucking chutes. Smooth Operator was ready to go. The six-time world qualifier erupted out of the chutes to buck off Chase Outlaw in 4.11 seconds. It was only seconds later that the score was announced. The bull's career best score of 47 points assured the victory for them. “I said a little prayer right before he bucked, and thanked God for today,” Berger said with his eyes still wet with tears on the back of the bucking chutes. Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) even took a victory lap inside the arena once he was announced as the champ.

“I will tell you what. That bull. I don’t know if that bull knew today was the day, but he left every ounce he had right here on that dirt,” Berger said. “I never seen a bull try that hard. He is 9 years old, and to come out and do what he did was amazing.”

Smooth Operator is the first world champion bull that Berger has had since being co-owner of Code Blue in 2009. This is his first world champion bull whom he had control over and managed. “Chad is a competitor, and it doesn’t matter what is going on. He wants to win,” PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert said heading into the Finals. “This is a year long, lifelong thing that will mean a great deal to him, especially on a bull like that. A bull he has had for quite a while.” Chase Outlaw and Berger are good friends; Berger wished Outlaw could have a high score on Smooth Operator. He knew Outlaw would showcase his bull's abilities great. Outlaw made sure to climb up the back of the bucking chutes to shake Berger’s hand and congratulate him.

“He has been after it, trying to get it,” Outlaw later said. “It could have went the wrong way, and I am glad it worked out that he had me in the short round. Somebody that was going to try his ass and make that bull show.” Smooth Operator earned $150,000 by winning the YETI World Championship ($100,000), Bull of the Finals ($25,000) title and regular-season top bull honors ($25,000).

Outlaw had hopes for a rematch, but now a year later, there has been no rematch. Berger is hopeful Smooth Operator can push for a second world championship title in 2020. If he bucks great, he will go ahead. If Berger feels he's not bucking well, he will retire him.

Season 2020
It started when Berger lost his world champion bull contender, Pearl Harbor, in 2018. Berger believed he was going to be the 2018 World Champion Bull. Pearl Harbor died unexpectedly though, during the time he was the No. 1 bull that year. Berger needed to pursue his next world champion. He didn't have to go far; the bull he needed was on his ranch. One of his least affectionate bulls he owned is the one that took Pearl Harbor's place. Berger never gave up on the bull, despite his myriad of injuries and failures. When the bull exploded in January 2019 at the Chicago Invitational, even an optimistic man would have trouble believing the bull could go the whole season and win the title.

“Smooth Operator coming out (last year) at 9 years old. I didn’t know,” Berger said. “He never ceases to amaze me. He keeps coming and trying his heart out. It is all you can ask out of a bull. It is kind of a surprise to me.” The bull never quit on Berger througout the season. Berger could see his face on the jumbotron during the finals and he began to tear up. “I said a little prayer right before he bucked, and thanked God for today,” Berger said. “I will tell you what. That bull. I don’t know if that bull knew today was the day, but he left every ounce he had right here on that dirt. I never seen a bull try that hard. He is 9 years old, and to come out and do what he did was amazing.” He teared up, and his family shed a few tears with him finally seeing receive that championship belt.

Smooth Operator concluded 2019 with a World Champion Bull average of 46 points to defeat No. 2 Smooth Wreck (45.63), No. 3 Heartbreak Kid (45.55), No. 4 Fearless (45.45) and No. 5 Lil 2 Train (44.95). The veteran bull went 14-3 with an average bull score of 45.51 points. Smooth Operator was marked 46 points or higher in seven of his 17 outs. Berger thought about retirement but decided to have him compete in 2020 first. He wants to see if he can become a back-to-back winner. “This just means so much more to me because I have had this bull since he was young, and he has went through so much to get here,” Berger said.

At the Chicago Invitational this January, in the championship round, Smooth Operator threw Ezekiel Mitchell off himself to remind all of his strength and why he won a title, and garnered a 46.75 bull score. “Well, you can expect everything from him, that bull, but that was phenomenal,” Berger said, somewhat in disbelief. “46.75, if that’s all he was worth, then them guys all need to get on another bull, these four judges here. But that’s beside the point. That bull was outstanding. There wasn’t a fault in him. He was rank. And I guess at 10 years old, he might have a chance.”

In January, Smooth Operator turned 10 years old. Berger decided the bovine star should try a seventh season. Mitchell said, afer the event, that the bull definitely does not feel like an old bull. “They’re amazing animal athletes,” Mitchell said. “They get taken care of, and Chad Berger loves him, so I know he’s doing whatever it takes. He said he even gave him a bath before he came up here, so I figure he’ll still bring it as long as Chad keeps bringing him to buck.”

Berger said he will handle Smooth Operator carefully in 2020, but still would like to get him 10-12 outs this year prior to the PBR World Finals November 4-8 in Las Vegas. He may buck the bull in two weeks at the Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic in Sacramento, California, on January 24-26. “It all depends on him,” Berger said. “We’ll watch him. We’ll listen to what he tells us and go from there. But I plan on bucking him as much as I can. I’d like to get at least 10, 12 outs on him in case he has a bad out here or there, and we can wipe it out. Like I said, we’ll let him tell us how many times he needs to buck.”

Wherever Berger decides to bring Smooth Operator, you can expect Mitchell to be looking for revenge. He was not happy to get demolished by Smooth Operator this weekend, and he has every intention on evening the score this season. “I’m going to get on him again,” Mitchell said. “Wherever the next short round is, hopefully I’m sitting in first. I’m coming in and I’m picking him. World Champions ride World Champions, and I want to be a world champ, and that’s all there is to it. He won’t get me on the ground again.”

Smooth Operator concluded 2019 with a World Champion Bull average of 46 points. The veteran bull went 14-3 with an average bull score of 45.42 points. Smooth Operator was marked 46 points or higher in seven of his 17 outs. No bull has won a PBR World Championship at 10 years old. In January, Smooth Operator returned to the elite tour. His first out of the season he scored 46.75 points.

In April Smooth Operator was No. 3 in the rankings. Chiseled was No. 1 with a 45.75 season average. Air Support was No. 2 with a 45.69 season average. And Smooth Operator, had an average of 45.58. Smooth Operator was matched against Taylor Toves in the championship round. He dispatched him in 2.51 seconds for a bull score of 45 points.

The 2019 World Finals was a showcase for Smooth Operator. At 9 years-old at the time, he had a commanding season which was topped by all of the awards. He won the World Champion Bull title, the Bull of the World Finals title, and the regular season top bull award. After his first out, which was a 46.25 buckoff of Dylan Smith in Round 2, he needed another great score in his second out. In the championship round, Smooth Operator bucked off Chase Outlaw in 4.11 seconds for a very high score of 47 points. The bull took a victory lap to celebrate.

In July, Smooth Operator picked up 45.75 points after bucking off Marco Eguchi in 3.93 seconds. Smooth Operator is No. 3 in the world standings with a 45.47 point season average. Smooth Operator and Hocus Pocus are the only two bulls with eight outs on record.

In July, Smooth Operator bucked Marco Eguchi in 3.93 seconds during the Championship Game of the Monster Energy Team Challenge in Sioux Falls, Sioux Dakota, last month. Egushi's 5.87 seconds is the longest a rider lasted on the bull in 2020 since early February when Jake Gardner lasted 7.73 seconds in Arlington, Texas, during the PBR Global Cup. Smooth Operator has bucked off 17 consecutive riders. “Smooth Operator is the best bull in the world. No doubt in my mind,” Berger said. “He is 10 years old. Hell, he has nothing to prove. I think he has a real good shot. Most of them other bulls don’t even have eight outs yet. If you get one that lasts until 9 or 10 years old, that is one tough son of a bitch.”

In August, Smooth Operator decided that, after spending the first half of the year playing catchup, no more. Catchup to the world champion bull race, that is. Once he got to Bismarck, he'd had enough of that, though. He scored 46.75 bull points which put him squarely in the lead.

In August, Smooth Operator came on J.B. Mauney's radar. Mauney has ridden every World Champion Bull that has been active since he joined the PBR. “Well, I rode every one since before him so I might as well ride him and add him to the list,” Mauney said prior to making his season debut at the 20th annual Dakota Community Bank & Trust Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires.

In August, in Bismarck, North Dakota, at the Dakota Community Bank & Trust Invitational, Smooth Operator faced his second matchup with Marco Eguchi. He bucked him off in 5.87 seconds for a bull point score of 46.75. The score is his best since last January in the Chicago Invitational for the same score with Ezekiel Mitchell This added a bull score of 46.75 points to his season average, bringing him to 45.75 points for the No. 1 ranking. (It is Air Support's ranking too.) Chiseled 's average score is 45.68, and he's ranked third in the race.

In June, world champion bull contender and frontrunner Air Support died unexpectedly. Many were left pondering which bull would fill his shoes. “Air Support was not a veteran like Pearl Harbor, but he was that kind of bull that made you pretty sure he was going to win it this year,” PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert said last week. “Now it is wide open. My favorite bull right now is I’m Legit Too. He is my favorite to win it, but there is a lot of them that could. Smooth Operator and (SweetPro’s) Bruiser are still there, and I think they are still great.” Smooth Operator made a case for himself by bucking off Marco Eguchi in at the Dakota Community Bank & Trust Invitational, in Bismarck, North Dakota, for a bull score of 46.75. A bull score which tied the season high bull score to date. This pushed Smooth Operator into the No. 1 world ranking. He now holds a 45.75 point average on his best eight outs. He is 10-0 overall with a 45.50 average score. Last month, Smooth Operator bucked of Marco Eguchi during the Championship Game of the Monster Energy Team Challenge in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Eguchi claimed that the bull felt just as strong as when he tried him in Bismarck.

In August, the top two bulls will be bucking together at the same event. It will be the seventh time they have done so. They wil be bucking in the Ticketsmarter Invitational in Salt Lake City. They both will be entering the event with an average bull score of 45.75 points. According to Justin McBride, these two are the frontrunners. Smooth Operator just had a one week break following an event in Bismarck, North Dakota, where he bucked off Marco Eguchi in 5.87 for 46.75 bull points.That made 17 consecutive buckoffs for Smooth Operator. Smooth Operator has a buckoff streak of 17 buckoff off in a row. Berger is saying that he feels the bull is a rank and a definite threat to the face. "Smooth Operator is the best bull in the world. No doubt in my mind,” Berger said. “He is 10 years old. Hell, he has nothing to prove. I think he has a real good shot. Most of them other bulls don’t even have eight outs yet. If you get one that lasts until 9 or 10 years old, that is one tough son of a bitch.

Brennon Eldred rode Smooth Operator for 42.75 points in Lincoln, Nebraska, for 86.5 points. It has been almost three years since the bull scored that low. Berger was confident, but a bit nervous, that Smooth Operator would do better in the upcoming Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, Idaho. The bull looked typical in the first four or five seconds of the out, but then jumped out of his spin. Berger is trying to think of it as a fluke and look forward. “I don’t know what happened there,” Berger said. “We will see what happens in Nampa at the Cooper Tires Take the Money and Run. Maybe he wasn’t feeling right. Whatever will be, will be. I think he is ready.” It's just coincidence but the bull has a rematch with Eldred in Nampa.

Smooth Operator has not been ridden for less than 90 points in 506 days. That is, until Eldred converted on him, This coming Friday night. Eldred expects a rank trip from the bull and not another breakoff from his spin. “He’s a handful, and you’ve got to come at him riding,” Eldred said. “It surprised me too. I’ve never really seen him jump out of it like that, but I haven’t seen him rode very much. I think he’s going to be real good this weekend.” Berger is planning on this being the bull's last trip before the PBR World Finals. The bull is trying to leapfrog ahead of Chiseled for the lead. He requires a 45.75 score to increase his lead. A 46 or higher could bring his score higher than Chiseled's. Berger will rest him until Finals after this out.

Chiseled is leading the world champion bull race by 0.03 points over Smooth Operator. The winner this year will be the bull with highest average bull score from his highest scored eight regular season outs and his two outs at the PBR World Finals. The PBR has been using this format since 2017. The current incremental separation between the two bulls is the closest in four seasons. These two bulls have been dueling it out all season. They appear to be ready for the finals in a couple of weeks. “I have been back and forth on it,” Lambert told Janie Johnson of The Cowboy Channel. “Smooth Operator is the reigning World Champion and Chiseled is in the lead, and he just got named the PRCA Bull of the Year. (SweetPro’s) Bruiser is still around, and he is still doing well. He is almost as good as he has ever been. I think Canadian Mist still has an outside chance, and I’m Legit Too is still very much in the running.” Chiseled seems to be following in Bruiser's footsteps according to Lambert. To date, the No. 1 bull has been the one to win the title the last three years.

World No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme claimed a victory over Smooth Operator in the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Billings, Montana. The ride score was 94.25 points. It was the highest marked ride score of the season.

In September, all three bulls bucked this month and dropped a score from their average. They bucked at the 15/15 Bucking Battle durin the Ariat Invitational. Smooth Operator was the highlight as he and Jose Vitor Leme made a qualfied ride for 94.25 points. Smooth Operator suprised everyone by going to the left into Leme's hand. The judges scored the bull with 46.5 bull points. Leme said he was blessed and suprised. He said the bull is very strong. Smooth Operator has an average score of 45.94.

Meanwhile, Chiseled bucked off Cody Teel in 3.17 seconds and earned a 45.5 score. The bull made some very long jumps out of the chute. This out permits dropping an out two weeks ago where the bull stumbled and the rider got a re-ride. Hocus Pocus scored a 45.5 point score this weekend by bucking off Ezekiel Mitchell in 4.63 seconds. If the bull can keep up the pace, he can get closer to the frontrunners.

PBR World Finals
Smooth Operator bucked in Round 1, and he took the lead in the race when he bucked off Dener Barbosa in 3.57 seconds, earning a 46-point bull score. Then, in the championship round, he tied up his victory by bucking off Ryan Dirteater in 2.6 seconds for a 46.25-point bull score.

Smooth Operator, who is now 10 years old, joins elite company in the form of other multi-champion bulls. He is the sixth animal athlete to earn the world champion title in many seasons. Other bulls who have earned two or more titles include two-time PBR World Champion Bulls Dillinger of Herrington Cattle Co., and Bones of Teague Bucking Bulls, and three-time PBR World Champion Bulls Little Yellow Jacket of Berger/Teague/Taupin, Bushwacker of Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls, and SweetPro’s Bruiser of (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.).

Smooth Operator finished this season 0.10 points over runner-up Chiseled with a 46.13-point world average. Smooth Operator tied with I'm Busted for this season's PBR Bull of the Finals.

Smooth Operator's 2.65 buck off of Ryan Dirteater in the Championship round just was enough to keep rival Chiseled from capturing the lead from Smooth Operator. Smooth Operator netted the world champion bull title and $100,000. He became the oldest back-to-back World Champion Bull in history. Smooth Operator concluded the 2020 season with a 46.13-point World Champion Bull average to edge No. 2 Chiseled (46.03) in an aggressively competitive World Champion Bull race. “We’re both in tears,” Delbert Nuse said as the droplets began to roll underneath his face covering. “I can’t believe it happened. Back-to-back.

“I didn’t know if I had it in me to make Smooth Operator do it, truthfully. It’s a special moment, where we could take a bull like that, of that age, and still compete to be the best in the world. It’s just unbelievable.” Berger was teary eyed too as his answered his phone in Mandan, North Dakota. Berger had watched on CBS Sports Network. Smooth Operator had become the oldest back-to-back and two-time World Champion in PBR history. “That’s just so amazing,” Berger told PBR.com via the phone “That’s why I got so emotional. Here’s this old bull that, when he was 5 years old, I think he was the rankest bull I’d ever seen, and he got hurt (in 2015) with what could have been a career-ending injury, really. He severely hurt his back and we did not know if he’d ever buck again. Then he breaks a kneecap (in 2016) and is out for basically half of another year.” Smooth Operator had missed the first half of the season, yet still managed to qualify. The bull did not have the world champion bull contender look that he used to have when he came back to compete. Berger and his team managed to get him back to health by 2017. However, he was really back to health last season when he won the 2019 World Championship with a 46-point world champion bull average.“That bull has won two world titles just with the heart,” Berger said. “It’s all heart. That bull has got the biggest heart to keep doing what he does. He just reminds me of an old campaigner that knew what he had to do to win. He came there, knew just what he had to do. He never got excited, never got nervous. He just come and did his job. That’s the best way to explain it. That old bull just knew what he was there for.” Smooth Operator finished the 2020 season with a 15-2 buck off average and a 45.50 average bull score.“That bull loves a big stage,” said Nuse, echoing Berger’s sentiments about Smooth Operator’s heart. “He loves showing out on a big stage.”

The seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier's 46.13-point world champion bull average, a bull's top eight regular-seasons outs and two outs at the World Finals is actually higher than his 46-point championship score last year. “He earned it again, and he did his job,” PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert said. “That is what it took. At the beginning of the week, I thought Chiseled was going to win it, and at the beginning of the day today I thought Smooth Operator was going to win it.”

Smooth Operator is the fifth back-to-back PBR World Champion Bull. He joins SweetPro’s Bruiser (2016-2018), Bushwacker (2013-2014), Little Yellow Jacket (2002-2004) and Dillinger (2000-2001). Smooth Operator becomes one of six World Champion bulls with multiple world titles. (Bones is the only other bull not mentioned above to have won two or more world titles). “When he’s 9 years old and 10 years old, and still competing like this, and still the best in the world, that is the best thing in the world,” Nuse said. Nuse was the man Berger entrusted to help propel Smooth Operator to a historic and second consecutive World Championship as he was not able to be in attendance at the PBR World Finals because of personal reasons.

“That was special, getting on the bull that won the world on my last bull,” Dirteater said. “Chad Berger has done great. All of his team has done a great job with his bucking bulls. Smooth Operator is a two-time world champ. That is pretty special. I know I didn’t ride him, but my career has been great. I put my name Dirteater in the history books regardless.” Berger waited to see what Chiseled would do on CBS Sports Network. He was happy with Smooth Operator's last out. However, he knew the youthful Chiseled would score big too. Keyshawn Whitehorse rode Chiseled for a very high score of 93.25 points; however, Chiseled was only marked 45.25 points. Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) tied with his traveling partner I’m Busted as co-bulls of the PBR World Finals as both bulls finished with a two-out score total of 92.25 points.

“Chiseled is a great bull,” Berger said. “Smooth Operator just did what he had to do to beat him, and he beat him fair and square. The only thing wrong with Chiseled is he ain’t mine. That’s all I can say. He’s a great bull, and it was a dogfight from January 1 to November 15. It was a dogfight. Them two bulls battled it out everywhere they went.” Berger isn't saying whether Smooth Operator will compete next year or not. "You’re going to see him for sure in January some time, and we’ll see how he does and how he feels,” Berger concluded. “That’s the same approach I went last year after the 2019 World Finals. I told you I wasn’t sure. I think in Chicago, we went there and he was 46.75, and I thought, ‘Well, he don’t want to quit yet.’ “He’ll let me know when he wants to quit.”

Season 2021
In February, at the PBR Can-Am Invitational at the Cowtown Coliseum, Smooth Operator was ridden by Taylor Toves for a 92.75 ride score. It was his third time on the bull so he finally rode him. Chiseled and Woopaa also had good rides this event.

Two-time champion Smooth Operator made his season debut at the PBR Pendleton Whiskey Invitational. He is 11 years old now. He will push for a third champion title. This is his eighth season on the PBR. "I will bring him to the first one and see how he does, just as I did last year:, Berger said.he bucked in the championship run in Arcadia, Florida. “I didn’t expect him to win it again last year, and he proved me wrong,” Lambert said. “Smooth Operator has entered into legendary status. He has been winning since he was a 2-year-old. He has been winning everything since he was 2 years old.” Lambert chuckles. "Now, at 11 years old, anything he does or doesn’t do doesn’t change the fact that he is a definite legend".

Last season Smooth Operator had 17 outs. He bucked off Mitchell in Chicago in 2 seconds for 46.75 bull points. It was the first of six outs in which he was 46 points or higher in that 17 out run. He just turned 11 this month (February). Five of his six-plus scores came between August-November. None were bigger than his 46.25 points on Championship Sunday at the 2020 PBR World Finals when he bucked off Ryan Dirteater in 2 seconds to clinch a second consecutive world title. That out, combined with his 46 points against Dener Barbosa (3.57 seconds), helped him usurp previous No. 1 Chiseled, who entered the Finals with a 0.03-point advantage.

“If the Finals was any indication, hell, that bull may have another season in him if they can get him managed right,” two-time World Champion and CBS Sports analyst Justin McBride said. “After the Finals, he was the best bull, and bar none, he is still the best bull to beat.”

Smooth Operator finished the 2020 season with 15-2 on the elte series with a 45.50 average bull score. A seven time World Finals qualifier, with a 46.13-point World Champion Bull average, a bull's eight regular-seasons outs and two at the World Finals, is higher than his 46-point championship score from 2019. Smooth Operator is the fifth back-to-back PBR World Champion Bull. He joins SweetPro’s Bruiser (2016-2018), Bushwacker (2013-2014), Little Yellow Jacket (2002-2004) and Dillinger (2000-2001). Smooth Operator becomes one of six World Champion bulls with multiple world titles. (Bones is the only other bull not mentioned above to have won two or more world titles).

Smooth Operator is 85-9 in his elite series career and 112-9 at all levels of competition. “That bull has won two world titles just with the heart,” Berger said after Smooth Operator won his second world title. “It’s all heart. That bull has got the biggest heart to keep doing what he does. He just reminds me of an old campaigner that knew what he had to do to win. He came there, knew just what he had to do. He never got excited, never got nervous. He just come and did his job. That’s the best way to explain it. That old bull just knew what he was there for.”

One advantage for Smooth Operator in pursuit of a third world title is that a bull only needs eight outs to become eligible for the 2021 YETI World Championship before the World Finals. Therefore, Berger can pick and choose when, where and how hard to push his veteran bull. “They could definitely get him back into the running again if they spread him out,” McBride said.

Ezekiel Mitchell has been wanting to get a ride on Smooth Operator for three years. In January, Mitchell finally made good on his third chance at the bulll. Mitchell had already been bucked off the bull two times prior, getting no further than 3.7 seconds. Mitchell has never ridden Bruiser either, so he has not ridden a world champion bull yet. But it must be three times the charm as Mitchell rode Smooth Operator at this event for a career-high 93 points. Smooth Operator scored 45.5 bull points

In December 3, 2021, H.D. Page was pulling out of the D&H Cattle Company ranch in Ardmore, Oklahoma, last month when he glanced out into the pasture to see three-time World Champion SweetPro’s Bruiser playing in a dirt pile. Bruiser immediately let out a holler when he realized the two D&H Cattle Company trailers were headed to Las Vegas without him for the 2021 PBR World Finals. “Them two trucks drove by, and he went to hollering and screaming,” Page said. “He wanted to come with.” Bruiser was retired earlier this year after he injured his tendon in Nampa, Idaho. “It was time,” Page said. “It wasn’t hard at all. I mean, it is hard not having him on the truck and replacing him, but it isn’t hard to leave him at home. It was the right decision, and he had nothing left to prove. He is doing good. He will never compete again, but he is doing good.” Bruiser will go down as one of the greatest bucking bulls in PBR history. The 10-year-old bull is one of three bulls in PBR history who have won three world titles (2016-18), alongside Little Yellow Jacket and Bushwacker. Little Yellow Jacket and Bruiser are the only bulls to win three titles consecutively. Bruiser and Bodacious are also the only two bulls in history to win World Championships in both the PBR and PRCA. The friendly bovine was a favorite in the locker room, as well as in the grandstands. Bruiser concluded his career with a 60-17 record on the premier series and 104-29 overall. He was ridden for 90 or more points 25 times, which is all but four times that he was ever ridden. The bull who Bruiser beat out for his last world title three years ago was none other than Smooth Operator. If not for Smooth Operator, Bruiser could have finished his career with at least four world titles.

Smooth Operator – the oldest two-time YETI World Champion Bull in PBR history – also retired this year following a PBR-record eighth and final World Finals qualification. “Those eight in a row contractor of the year titles (I won), Smooth Operator was there for every one of them,” Chad Berger told The Cowboy Channel after the PBR World Finals. “Right now, he is the only bull in the history of the sport to go to the World Finals eight times and to win two world titles at the age of 9 and 10, which is another record. He has set a lot of records quietly while Jose was setting them loudly.” “Smooth Operator is a strong bull,” Leme said. “He moves a lot to the front. He knows what he needs to do to drop off cowboys. He is one of the best.” Leme owns the highest score aboard the 11-year-old superstar – 94.25 points on September 12, 2020, in Billings, Montana. Smooth Operator ended his career with one final buckoff – the 91st time he dumped one of the PBR’s top bull riders on the premier series – when he bucked off Derek Kolbaba in 5.52 seconds during Round 2 of the 2021 PBR World Finals. The out was nowhere near Smooth Operator’s finest, but Berger looked on proudly at the bull who finally provided him his long-desired world title in 2019 as Smooth Operator took one final victory lap around T-Mobile Arena. Smooth Operator went 91-13 in 104 outs on the premier series/METC after making his debut in 2014. The feisty bovine is 116-13 at all levels of competition. To really appreciate how special Smooth Operator’s career was, you have to go back to 2015 and 2016, where injuries appeared ready to end the up-and-coming bull’s career. “When he was 5 years old, I think he was the rankest bull I’d ever seen,” Berger said last year. “And he got hurt (in 2015) with what could have been a career-ending injury, really. He severely hurt his back, and we did not know if he’d ever buck again. Then he breaks a kneecap (in 2016) and is out for basically half of another year.” Smooth Operator qualified for the 2016 PBR World Finals despite missing the first half of the season, but he no longer looked like the World Champion Bull contender he previously was. Berger and his team at Berger Bucking Bulls worked Smooth Operator back to full health by 2017, but it wasn’t until 2019 that Smooth Operator miraculously returned to championship contention, winning the 2019 World Championship with a 46-point World Champion Bull average. “That bull has won two world titles just with the heart,” Berger said. “It’s all heart. That bull has got the biggest heart to keep doing what he does. He just reminds me of an old campaigner that knew what he had to do to win.” Smooth Operator’s new era of dominance ensued as he spent 2018-20 battling Bruiser for the YETI World Champion Bull titles.

Before 2021 YETI World Champion Woopaa rose to the top of the bucking bull throne, Bruiser and Smooth Operator dominated the last five years.

Pedigree
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