HERMISTON? You win some, you lose some.

Its a lesson every rodeo cowboy learns early on in their career and a point that has been driven home several times for saddle bronc rider Bradley Harter by Calgary Stampedes bucking horse Lynx Mountain.

The six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier figures hes won about $30,000 on that horse, but Lynx Mountain got the best of him the last time they teamed up in the final round at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

Lynx Mountain tossed him off, and the way Harter sees it that cost him about $18,000 and the win.

So when he drew the horse again on Thursday at the second night of the Farm-City Pro Rodeo in Hermiston, Harter was determinned not to let that happen again.

This time the rider won, and with the 12-year-old mare doing her part, both became a part of the history of the 25-year-old Wrangler Million Dollar Tour silver stop.

Harters 88 not only won him the round, it tied the arena record he had already tied once in 2010 originally set in 2005 by a mentor of Harters, Dan Mortensen.

Its a dream when you ride bucking horses, you want to beat records,?he said. I just try to do my job, staying on top and making the best full ride I?can.

Ive been fortunate up here to get on two great bucking horses in order to set those arena records but its nothing Ive done, you know, just got on good horses and stayed on top.

The Weatherford, Texas, bronc rider is hitting up four different rodeos this week and is hopeful to pick up a few more rides like the one he had in Hermiston to help him move up the PRCA?leaderboard, where he is No. 15.

In the past couple years Ive been in the top five so its kind of like a kick in the butt, he said. I need to get rolling. Ive got a month and a half left to kick butt.

Bareback rider J.R. Vezain was kicking himself a little bit after his attempt on Calgarys Risque Elsie resulted in a re-ride option.

Risque Elsie got hung up coming out of the gate, but Vezain said it was his fault.

They tie a lead on the flank strap inside the chute and you have a guy run it so if theres a knot tied on the outside,?he said. I never checked to see if anybody was there so it was tied in.

Thats a superstar bareback horse and I?false started.

But with his re-ride, Vezain didnt make the same mistake twice and scored an 80 that was good enough to edge Danny Webb out of the top spot for the performance. Cain Riddle still holds the overall lead with his 87 from Wednesday.

Vezain, of Cowley, Wyo., is ranked No. 7 in the PRCA as he attempts to qualify for his first NFR?in just his third season as a pro his second riding with a tour card.

Last year I?felt like I?deserved to be there, but youre still playing with the big dogs and theres a little more pressure on you I?think,?he said. This year I?feel like I?am one of the big dogs.

Monty Lewis won the 2004 tie-down roping world title, but on a night at Farm-City that also included current top 10 riders Hunter Herrin (No. 2), Houston Hutto (No. 6) and Cody Ohl (No. 7), not to mention eight-time world all-around champion Trevor Brazile, the No. 15 ranked Lewis said its easy to feel like a little guy.

Thats what he wants, though, and he said that competition fuels him.

I?love it being at the same time as Cody and Trevor and those guys,?he said. I?feed off it. You really know what its going to take to win. With those guys already went, I?might not get first, but they wont get me too bad.

After getting a 9.4-second time in his slack run, Lewis knew he needed an 8.7 or better to jump ahead of Josh Peek in the average. Peek scored an 18.1 in two slack runs on Wednesday.

I?knew what I?needed to do, but I?had a good calf, so I knew I?had a chance,?Lewis said, adding hes feeling the crunch as the season winds down. I need to win. I?havent had a whole lot of chances last few weeks and Im starting a little dry, so right now Im fighting for my life.

Lewis got what he was looking for with an 8.4 that was third in the performance, but most importantly moved him into the lead in the aggregate with 17.8 on two head.

Steer wrestling continued to be led by Jake Rineharts 9.8 seconds on two head from Wednesday, but Thursdays performance went to former Boise State football tight end Andy Weldon. On a night when several riders went for broke and came up empty, Weldon turned his steer in 5.1 seconds. It was a consolation victory, though, as his first attempt in the afternoon slack got him little more than some dirty Wranglers.

Team roping, barrel racing and bull riding scores were not available in time for todays edition, but the leaders going into the performance were as follows:?in team roping it was Brandon Beers and Cully Stafford with 15.5 seconds on two head; in barrel racing it was Nancy Hunter holding a slim lead over Echos Jody Hale with 35.10 on two runs Hale has 35.11; in bull riding it was McKennon Wimberly with a 79 on Kessler Rodeos Kyle Style.

Each night of performances at the Farm-City Pro Rodeo is sandwiched between two rounds of slack. As the previous days riders head out for more rodeo action around the country, a new group comes to town to try their hand in Hermiston.

Check Saturdays edition for the highlights from Thursdays late action.

Contact Matt Entrup at mentrup@eastoregonian.com or 541-966-0838.