DENVER, Colo. --- Ryan Gray is at the top of the leaderboard in every category of bareback riding at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

Gray, from Cheney, Wash., had an 86-point ride during the first performance and followed it up with an 85 at the second. He now leads the first round, second round and over-all standings. There is plenty of rodeo left in the Denver Coliseum, so Gray’s position may change, but he should be making travel plans to compete here in the finals.

The twelve contestants with the highest total score on two rides or runs make it back to the finals. By virtue of his two rides, Gray has a total score of 171 points. At last year’s rodeo, contestants with a total of 160 points qualified for the finals, so Gray is definitely looking good.

He shared the title here in 2005, the first year he qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The top 15 contestants in the world standings get to compete at rodeo’s championship event held in December in Las Vegas. Winning a Denver championship can go a long way to help cowboys and cowgirls get there.

Gray’s traveling partner Bobby Mote knows this as well. Mote won the title here in 2003 just after he earned his first of three world titles.

Mote left Las Vegas in 2009 with his third. He also has the potential to qualify for the finals here with a total score of 163 points.

Jesse Kruse was hoping to be among the saddle bronc riders riding for a Denver championship but didn’t have any luck here on Sunday. Kruse received a re-ride after the first horse he got on did not have its best day. Then, he failed to have his feet over the point of the second horse’s shoulder and was disqualified for not marking the horse out.

Kruse will have to wait and see if he gets a check in the first round for his 81-point effort on Saturday.

Competition continues in the Denver Coliseum on Monday with the first of three performances featuring the Professional Bull Riders. Rodeo competition returns on Thursday.