Eight-time world champion Fred Whitfield's "Gator" is saving Robinson's NFR, after his own "Batman" could not get it done.

Robinson, a Davis High graduate who now lives in Spanish Fork, tied for first in the event formerly known as calf-roping in Thursday's eighth round and earned $14,341, the third

straight night he has been in the money after five nights of nothing at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"I'm just ecstatic," he said. "It's an unbelievable turnaround."

Not coincidentally, Robinson switched horses after finishing no better than seventh through the first five rounds.

"My horse [Batman] wouldn't work in this arena, for whatever reason," Robinson said. "I asked Fred if I could use his horse, and he's a great man to let me on him. It has worked out great."

Per the usual cowboy's agreement, Robinson will give Whitfield 25 percent of his earnings. The 24-year-old Robinson said he will do it with a smile on his face.

"I've gotten two seconds and a first on that horse," he said. "For a rookie year at the NFR, that's just great."

The three nights have made Robinson $38,115, and he's now up to 10th in the average here and is third in the overall all-around cowboy race, having earned some money in steer wrestling before the NFR.

The only other Utahn to finish in the money Thursday, of the six who competed, was Payson's Wesley Silcox. He earned $9,561 by staying on Crystal Ball for eight seconds, as only three bull riders covered.

Payson's Steve Woolsey, who finished second in the world standings last year, saw his horrendous NFR continue. He was bucked off a bull for the eighth-straight night.

Payson's Jess Davis is having the best NFR of any Utah cowboy, but the 25-year-old making his first appearance in Las Vegas finished well out of the money Thursday in bareback riding. Davis was awarded a 75 on Sports News, good enough for only 11th.

Worse, Davis fell further behind Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas, in the aggregate race. Davis was just a point behind, 576-575 heading into the go-round, and now is eight back, after Lowe was second with an 82 on French Wake. Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., slid between Lowe and Davis and is six back.

"I can't complain," Davis said. "I'm doing better than I dreamed I would."

Having won the second and fifth go-rounds, Davis has won $43,887 at the NFR, with two rounds remaining, although Thursday's ride probably took him out of the aggregate race and the $41,087 that comes with it.

The week has moved Davis up to sixth in the world standings, with $114,800 overall this year.

Utah has two cowboys in saddle bronc riding, but neither excelled Thursday. Milford's Cody Wright recorded an 81.5 on Centerfold, which is normally good enough for the top six, but not on this night as South Dakota cowboys went 1-2-3 and the winning score was 86.

"The horse probably wasn't quite as good as some of the others tonight," said Wright, who won the sixth round with an 89 on a Utah horse, Fire Fly (from the Bar T herd). "At least, that's what I hope the judges thought."

Wright finished in eighth, while Lehi's Rusty Allen was 12th after getting a 78.5.

Despite leaving without a check Thursday, Wright is still fifth in the average and only 10 points out of fourth.

That Allen is still riding is remarkable, considering he was stepped on in Round 4 and has been going at half-speed since.

drew@sltrib.com