Brad Mitchell claimed the Augusta Futurity on Saturday with a 223-point win on Cat A Rey and the reserve championship with 222.5 riding Holly Is Smooth. Cat A Rey is owned by Painted Springs Farm, Nashville, TN; Holly Is Smooth belongs to Robert Norton, Columbia, TN.

“It was nerve-wracking,” said Painted Springs Farm owner Barbara Brooks of Cat A Rey’s run, the first in the second set of cattle.“I don’t think I breathed during the two-and-a-half minutes.” Brooks won last year’s non-pro championship on Sass And The City, also conditioned by Mitchell, 39, who is beginning his second decade as resident trainer for Painted Springs.

Cat A Rey, by Dual Rey out of Sheza Smart Cat, was also a finalist (16th) in the NCHA Futurity and has career earnings of $73,225, including $18,748 for his Augusta win.

Smooth As A Cat daughter Holly Is Smooth, who Mitchell showed immediately following Cat A Rey in the second set, had earned just $312 prior to the Augusta Futurity, where she collected $13,509.

Chad Bushaw, Weatherford, TX, won the Augusta Non-Pro Futurity and $14,110 with 219 points aboard Twisting Playdough. Bushaw also rode the Freckles Fancy Twist daughter to place fifth in the Abilene Spectacular earlier this month.

Jarrett Callahan, McConnells, SC, was reserve non-pro champion with 216 points on Catman Bingo, by High Brow Cat.

Click here for complete Augusta Futurity results with finalist pedigrees.