Martha Angelone was undeniable at the 2024 California Rodeo Salinas, besting the rest of the field by 0.5-of-a-second or more on three head, roping in 12.7 seconds on sorrel rocket “Legend.”
“It’s a buckle I’ve always wanted,” the 2022 World Champion said. “It’s one of my bucket-list rodeos that I’ve wanted to win because it shows the ability of your horse, your ability to score, ride your horse and set your run up well. I feel like when you get a Salinas buckle, you’ve done a good job.”
Often heralded for her ability to break the rope off fast inside short setups including the Cowtown Coliseum and the South Point Arena, Angelone admitted that success on a longer score is more satisfying.
“Legend is a superstar when it comes to those kinds of setups,” Angelone said. “He makes my job easy.”
Martha Angelone’s Salinas play-by-play
2024 was Angelone’s second year to make it back to the short go in Salinas. In 2023, she had three faster calves and focused on getting them roped cleanly, finishing No. 5 in the average. This year, though, the drawing gods were in her favor.
“My first calf—I just had videos from St. Paul of him—and he was good,” Angelone said. “My second calf was also good. But my short round calf was stronger, and both girls that had him had run him almost to the camera pit. The fastest they’d been on him was 4.5, so I was trying to hit the barrier and take my first throw, especially since Suzanne [Williams] had 0.2 second on me in the average race.”
Reigning California Circuit Champion Williams had been leading the pack with a time of 8.4 seconds on two head prior to the Short Round. From Angelone’s vantage point backed into Salinas’ iconic head-box setup, it was time to blast the competition.
Her final time was 4.1 seconds, which paired neatly with her two 4.3-second runs from the go-rounds.
“I team rope so much that coming out of the head box isn’t very different for me,” Angelone explained. “I just try to get into my position. It’s not everyone’s position—but I try to go right behind the calf or a little off to the left so I can set the calf up to go where I want it to.”
Learn some of Martha Angelone’s ground drills here.
While the money from her Salinas win isn’t finalized, Angelone figures she’s rounded up $18K in the last week between Salinas, the Days of ’47 in Salt Lake and Cheyenne Frontier Days. (the last two’s money isn’t included in the WPRA Standings yet because the rodeos have not finished).
“I should be around $70K now, and I don’t know what everyone else has won, but I should be No. 6, top five or so,” Angelone said.
It’s a big jump from the start of the summer run, when she was perched in the dreaded No. 15 hot seat after a disappointing winter rodeo season. She has an opportunity to win more money this week, too, roping in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Quarterfinals on Friday, July 26.
2024 California Rodeo Salinas Breakaway Results
Breakaway roping: First round: 1. Timber Allenbrand, 3.8 seconds, $3,250; 2. Jackie Crawford, 4.0, $2,763; 3. (tie) J J Hampton and Suzanne Williams, 4.2, $2,113 each; 5. (tie) Martha Angelone, Samantha Fulton, Sutton Mang and Cheyanne McCartney, 4.3, $1,056 each; 9. (tie) Lari Dee Guy and Hanna Hundsdorfer, 4.4, $528 each; 11. Haliegh Grant, 4.5, $406; 12. Liz Hirdes, 4.7, $325.
Second round: 1. (tie) Katrina Dugo and Sierra Spratt, 3.9 seconds, $3,006 each; 3. Hali Williams, 4.0, $2,275; 4. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged and Allie Hoskins, 4.1, $1,788 each; 6. (tie) Bradi Good, Quincy Sullivan and Suzanne Williams, 4.2, $867 each; 9. (tie) Martha Angelone, Bailey Bates, Emily Gately and Gianna O’Day, 4.3, $447 each.
Finals: 1. Martha Angelone, 4.1 seconds, $1,454; 2. (tie) Haliegh Grant and Hali Williams, 4.2, $1,169 each; 4. (tie) Katrina Dugo and Allie Hoskins, 4.3, $790 each; 6. Bailey Bates, 4.7, $506; 7. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 5.2, $316; 8. Suzanne Williams, 5.7, $126.
Average: 1. Martha Angelone, 12.7 seconds on three head, $4,875; 2. (tie) Allie Hoskins and Haliegh Grant, 13.3, $3,778 each; 4. Hali Williams, 13.5, $2,925; 5. Katrina Dugo, 13.9, $2,438; 6. Suzanne Williams, 14.1, $1,706; 7. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 14.2, $1,219; 8. Bailey Bates, 14.6, $975; 9. Timber Allenbrand, 17.3, $853; 10. (tie) Bradi Good and Liz Hirdes, 9.2 on two head, $670 each; 12. (tie) Gianna O’Day and Quincy Sullivan, 9.9, $244 each.
