summer and that really was kind of a turning point for me” – and also a big win for her horse. Boisjoli was riding Lil Punch (registered For Goodness Shakes), a 5-year-old who has only been to a handful of big performances so far. She brought the horse west with her as a backup horse, but when she ended up juggling the Nampa and Salinas rodeos simultaneously, Lil Punch moved into the top spot in Salinas. It was a crazy couple of days. Boisjoli had roped in Nampa, sending Lil Punch to Salinas with some friends while leaving her other mare in Nampa for the short go there. She flew to Salinas and roped the first two rounds, then ended up on a chartered flight to make it to Nampa for the short round and back to Salinas for that short round. Hectic, but worth it. Boisjoli won $5,225 at Salinas and $6,264 for a second place average finish in Nampa. And she was very pleased with Lil Punch. “He’s coming along really good, and I think he’ll be one of the best horses I’ve ever had,” she said. “I was sort of forced to ride him and he worked so well. He’s still a little green, but it’s hard to fault him. He’s been so good.” With about a dozen rodeos left on the books before the season is over, Boisjoli said she’s excited to do all she can, then give her horses a good rest before the NFR. Last year she entered in the No. 1 position, so this year she’ll be chasing and said that’s okay. “Last year I had everything to lose, and this year there’s nothing to lose! It’ll be really interesting,” she said. runs. A 16.46 was the slowest time to place, and that came about in the opening round. It can be tricky, but Pozzi Tonozzi seems to have that mastered. Earlier this season, she also won her fifth title at another rodeo with a complex set-up in Denver. Of course, over a career that spans two decades, she’s earned big-time titles in just about every set-up possible. Pozzi Tonozzi has earned just shy of $2.8 million in the WPRA since joining in 2003. She and her husband, Garrett, have a 5-year- old daughter, Tinlee, who has also started running barrels – Garrett Tonozzi is a two-time NFR qualifier as a header, so the genetics are strong with their youngster. To look at her career, Pozzi Tonozzi has a strong resume that will deserve Hall of Fame contention once that time comes. It all started in 2002, when she won the National High School Rodeo Association title, then decided to test her skills against the best cowgirls in the game in ProRodeo. She won her first NFR average title in 2006, then followed it up with another a year later when she won gold for the first time. Since then, she’s added two national titles (2012-13) when the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo (now dubbed the NFR Open) took place in Oklahoma City. Her victory in Salinas was nothing new, but it was certainly special as she battles to her way to a 16th NFR bid in 20 seasons.
Shelby Boisjoli loves the breakaway roping set-up at California Rodeo Salinas and has used that to her advantage winning the title both years breakaway roping has been an event at the rodeo. This year Boisjoli won the average title in a time of 14.0 seconds on three runs. Photo by Fernando Sam-Sin
SALINAS: BARRELS continued from page 22
forward to every year and I know Birdie had some extra special wings today from Duke.” The pattern at California Rodeo is different than most, with the barrel racers entering from the first turn of the track closest to the grandstands. The track runs alongside the arena, and the first two barrels aren’t far apart. The sprint in and sprint out makes for exciting Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is racing her way to her 16 th Wrangler NFR in her 20 year career and she and Birdie added another title to her resume with a win in Salinas. Pozzi Tonozzi has definitely mastered the set-up having won the title five times on two different horses. Photo by Phil Doyle
SEPTEMBER 2022 WPRA NEWS 25
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