On November 4, South Point Hotel and Casino welcomed over 500 people including bull riders, stock contractors and fans into the South Point Showroom for one of the most highly anticipated bucking bull sales of the season.

The biggest stock contractors came together to offer the best genetics and some future superstars to make this a can’t-miss event. With only 23 coveted lots up for bid, and everything from futurity prospects to PBR stars currently on the Built Ford Tough Series, the poker tables held no interest for any serious breeders or fans while the 2009 ABBI Select Sale was in progress.

Superior Livestock provided real-time internet access to the interested bidders who could not make it to Sin City. Auctioneer Justin McKee always brings a wealth of knowledge to the bucking bull industry and this sale was no exception. McKee’s excitement about the caliber of each lot and the potential of the young bulls being offered reverberated throughout the standing room only venue. Working with Justin were commentators Clint Adkins, Brandon Bates and PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert.

The anticipation grew as prospective bidders pored over the sale catalog—and with the list of consignors including Cindy Rosser, Gary Blythe, J.W. Hart, D&H Cattle Co., Russ Gant, Steve and Julie Ravenscroft, Jeff Robinson, and Tom Teague to name a few—the odds of owning a future superstar were far better than the odds at the craps table.

This year ABBI Registry Manager, Zach Gunter went to great lengths to put together a diverse sale with everything from a Whitewater calf, consigned by Cindy Rosser, to a pair of calves sired by PBR Superstar Apollo, consigned by Jerry Lindley.

Live breeding to a select group of PBR Superstars including Big Tex, consigned by Chad Berger and Clay Struve, and Bones, consigned by Tom Teague, generated a tremendous amount of interest among the serious breeders who knew the potential of producing a future PBR athlete with the right combination of genetics.

The sale got off to a good start when Ken King of Box K Cattle, bought 4-year-old Depths of Despair for $17,500, consigned by Russ Gant and Kelly Orhood. Depths of Despair had a great year in the Classic competition, winning the North Platte ABBI Classic event and finishing in the ABBI Top 20. King was also the high bidder on Ferocious Beast, consigned by Cliff Wiggins. A pair of yearling bulls, offered by Jerry Lindley out of PBR Superstar Bull Apollo will also be added to the Box K Cattle Co. herd. King explained that although he owned Apollo, he wanted to get a head start on his offspring by purchasing yearlings so he’ll be able to compete at ABBI events sooner.

Phillip Harrison took the opportunity to partner once again with 6-time PBR Contractor of the Year, D&H Cattle Co. on Red Hot for $55,000, the highest bid of the night. Red Hot was ridden by L.J. Jenkins at the BFTS event in Reno for a score of 89 points and this bull is eligible to compete as a classic bull in 2010 as a 4-year-old.

Dillon and H.D. Page bet that S8, an exciting futurity prospect (sired by Sampson) who was the winner of the Archdale ABBI Futurity Event will continue to shine. D&H Cattle Co. also took the opportunity to add Loudamy 883, a full brother to PBR Finals Bull Zorro who retired this year at the World Finals. Loudamy 883, consigned by Kevin Loudamy, is a yearling bull sired by Doo Dad and will be eligible to buck in the futurity events in 2010.

Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger will be adding an exciting futurity prospect to his trailer with the purchase of Dr. Performance, sired by Dr. Hou and consigned by Mitch Terrell. Dr. Performance was the winner of the third ABBI Junior Futurity of the season in Sulphur Spring where he earned Trevor Terrell $10,000. Berger will also take home Paralyzer, an athletic 2-year-old sired by Electric Avenue, consigned by Shane George.

Jody South is rolling the dice on a partnership with J.W. Hart on a yearling bull who’s the full brother to PBR Short Round Bull Cat Man Do. Cat Man Do has been ridden 15 times with a score of over 90 points. “Cat Man Do is the best bull we’ve ever raised,” reiterated Hart before the Sale, “and this is the best calf I’ve got this year. I’d never sell something I wasn’t proud of.”

Trevor Walker of Walker Bucking Stock took the opportunity to bid on two units of semen from Code Blue, son of Sky King. Code Blue has had 16 PBR outs with an impressive 100% buck off percentage and went on to be crowned PBR 2009 World Champion Bucking Bull. Walker also had the winning bid on a live breeding opportunity with Black Pearl offered by 2009 Breeders of the Year Steve and Julie Ravenscroft. To add some new genetics to his already outstanding breeding program, Walker also bid on a live breeding with PBR legend Mudslinger, consigned by D&H Cattle Co. Mudslinger is the 2006 PBR World Champion Bucking Bull with an average rider score of 91.32 points.

Jeff Robinson mixed things up this year and offered a live breeding choice to one of three superstars on his trailer to the winning bidder. S. Jackson paid $5,000 for a live cover opportunity with either Skyhawk Cut-A-Rug, Mayor Payne or El Presidente.

The sale came to a close with Chad Berger and Clay Struve consigning two straws of semen out of Big Tex, who was purchased from Brian Agnew at last year’s ABBI Sale. Big Tex has a 95% career buck off rate and the average rider score is 91.25—making his semen much sought after.

The very last lots went to benefit a great cause. Both Cody Ohl and Ken King bought a Little Blue Bucking Dummy with the proceeds going to the USBBA Junior Futurity.

The ABBI Select Sale generated an impressive total of $191,250 and gave established and new breeders opportunities to get genetics that just aren’t easily available on the market today.