Augusta Futurity action began on Thursday, January 23 with with 70 entries in the 5/6-Year-Old Amateur go-round. Andrew Sligh, Altoona, Ala., the second rider in the first of five sets, laid down the pace with 219 points on the Kit Kat Sugar gelding Carmylantalized LTE $45,030, who had been an Augusta Open finalist in 2018 and 2019 with Todd Gann.
Matthew Coldiron, Jefferson, Ohio, won the day, however, with 220 points on Justa Lil Brown LTE $80,383 Sugar, by Kit Kat Sugar. Joey Varnadore, Appling, Ga., scored 219 on Sly Smooth Girl, by Smooth As A Cat, to match Andrew Sly, while four riders, including Coldiron, on McSugar High, by Smart Sugar Badger tied with 218 points. Robert Gale, Conway, S.C., riding Driven Miss Sallie, by Hydrive Cat; Eric Van Boekel, Mt. Elgin, Onario, on Spot The Hottie, by Spots Hot; and Steve Duff, Westerville, Ohio, aboard Countess Gunsnroses, by Im Countin Checks, also earned 218 points.
Nicholas Johnson, Benson, N.C., and Lauren Minshall, Vine Grove, Ky., tied with 218 points as winners of the 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Intermediate Finals, which followed Thursday’s 5/6-Year-Old Amateur go-round. Johnson, the NCHA earner of $164,706, rode the One Time Pepto daughter Sweet On Pepto LTE $363,546, whose dam, Some Kinda Sweety LTE $134,193, is a half-sister to Some Kinda Highbrow LTE $480,632, out of 1997 NCHA Futurity champion Some Kinda Memories LTE $363,546.
Lauren Minshall, the NCHA earner of $398,035, was aboard the Reydioactive daughter Reyz Your Chelada, who also qualified Minshall for the Non-Pro Finals, and was an Open Intermediate finalist under Gabe Reynolds. Reyz Your Chelada is out of a three-quarter sister to Whiskeynadirtyglass $183,978.
“The 41†any-age events, exclusive to the Augusta Futurity, also held Open, Non-Pro and Amateur finals on Thursday, January 23. The Open Finals was won with 227 points by 7-year-old Sir Long Legs LTE $365,015, by High Brow Cat. Sir Long Legs was shown by Austin Shepard for Lew Hall, Lakeland, Fla. Seven-year-old Kreepin Cat LTE $78,917, by Metallic Cat, placed second with 222 points, under Craig Thompson for Mark Senn, Augusta, Ga.
The 41 Non-Pro was won by Cheyenne Johnson, NCHA earner of $85,108 from Pine Level, Ala., with 220.5 points aboard 10-year-old CR Tuff Boo Bear LTE $70,922, by Woody Be Tuff. Blake Graham, the NCHA earner of $136,106 from Rock Ledge, Ga., was second with 220 points on Legal Dream, by Dual Rey.
Jordan Vaughn, Forsyth, Ga., won the 41 Amateur with 222 points, while Barnwell Ramsey, Huntersville, N.C., placed second with 219. Vaughn rode Juan In A Million LTE $77,543, by Spots Hot,; Ramsey was aboard Reyzurbetonthiscat, by Bet Hesa Cat.
The 5/6-Year-Old Amateur Finals lead off a slate of six finals on Friday, January 24, in addition to the Pat Parelli Clinic and the ACCHA Stallion Stakes Auction.
The 2020 Augusta Futurity concludes on Saturday, January 25 with the Augusta Futurity Sale, followed by the Area 18 Youth Scholarship Finals and four limited events finals.