by Terry Lidral
Spotted Demon is once again proving himself to be one of the best bucking bulls on the professional circuit. That in itself is impressive. But factor in that Spotted Demon is 12 years old and his performance is nothing short of amazing.
“That bull won the PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year title in 2018 at the age of 10,” said Moreno about his bull who finished 3rd in the PRCA standings last year at the age of 11. “I was going to retire him after last season,” he continued. “I thought about it. But Spotted Demon figured out a way to let me know he wanted to go on the truck. He was always looking and made it clear he wanted to go play. So, I said ‘Why not?’”
For Moreno and Spotted Demon, the decision to postpone retirement was a good one. The bull is currently ranked #17 in the PBR bull standings ahead of bulls like Sky Harbor, Lil 2 Train, Big Black and Axle. Spotted Demon’s 44.5 average bull score is only a little over a point away from #1 ranked Chiseled and less than a full point away from #2 ranked Smooth Operator.
“He’s still with it,” said Moreno. “He loves to go buck and he’s competed with all the young ‘kids’ this year. And he’s competed against the best.”
Spotted Demon ended the UTB 2020 season in the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Nampa, Idaho. He bucked off #7 ranked rider Lucas Divino in 4.44 seconds to earn a bull score of 45.25. That bull score matched his first out of the 2020 season at the Sacramento UTB 15/15 Bucking Battle where he bucked off 2018 world champion Kaique Pacheko in only 3.41 seconds.
“He had 7 outs this year and he was good in every one,” Moreno said about his 12-year-old superstar. “Cole Melancon won the Iron Man on him back in February. I really thought Spotted Demon was spectacular at Salt Lake in August. I’d say that was his best trip this year.”
Spotted Demon was the #3 high marked bull at the UTB Salt Lake event with a bull score of 45. He bucked off #17 ranked Brennan Eldred in 4.68 seconds.
“I exercise him and work to keep him in good shape. I make sure he gets the right feed. That’s a big part of it,” Moreno told about keeping his bull fit. “I let him exercise in the sand. I’ll tell him to ‘Come play,’ and he’ll run into the pen and start playing. Sometimes I’ll go in and move him around. Now that he’s 12, I don’t push him. He’s in exceptional shape. You look at him and you can see that he still has all his muscle.”
Spotted Demon is headed to this year’s UTB Finals and to the WNFR.
“He’ll have 2 outs at the PBR Finals and 2 outs at the WNFR. And then he’s done,” said Moreno with resolution. “I’m retiring him. I’m going to miss him, but he’s got age. The only thing bucking him longer will prove is that he has a big heart. I don’t want him to get hurt. I lost Roy and I never want that to happen again.”
(Moreno’s bull Roy was vying for the title of PBR World Champion Bull in 2016. But Roy sustained severe lower leg injuries bucking at a UTB event in Phoenix which eventually ended his life.)
Moreno, and his partner Dallas Schott, have plans for Spotted Demon’s retirement.
“I told Dallas that it’s time to retire him and put him out on cows next year. We want to breed him to some Bushwacker daughters. He’ll live out his life in the pasture with his cows.”
Author: Terry Lidral
Terry Lidral is a western writer/journalist who lives in Idaho. She is the publisher and editor of the online magazine Bucking Stock Talk and the online magazine Western Living Journal. Her publishing credits include Storyteller for Real American Cowboy Magazine, writing feature articles for Humps N Horns Magazine as well as a wide variety of national and international web sites, historical magazines and news publications. She is known for her "up close and personal" profiles of celebrities and industry moguls such as NPR's Tom Bodett; PBR's Wiley Petersen and D.H. Page, PRCA's Sammy Andrews, Cindy Rosser and Julio Moreno to name a few. She has been applauded for her way of making a personal connection between her readers and her subjects. She indulges in her love of rodeo by serving as an associate board member for the Caldwell Night Rodeo. She is also an accomplished trainer and handler in dog agility. Her shelties Amelie and Milo are titled in NADAC, USDAA and AKC.
I will miss him! But understand your reasons and agree with you. Just know when he goes out, there will be a great performance! Thank you.