Tag Rice, who won the 2003 Augusta Futurity with a record 230.5 points on Chiquita Pistol, claimed last night’s Augusta Classic on Copaspepto with 221.5 points. The win was worth $28,000 for the gelding’s owner, Marvine Ranch.
Copaspepto’s score was just enough to knock Lloyd Cox and Halreycious (with 221) into second place. But it was a $41,000 payday for Cox, who also took third with 217 points on Sophisticated Catt and eighth on Reydiculous (214.5).
Halreycious won the second go-round with 220 points and came into the finals with the top aggregate score of 434. He set the standard as the second horse in the finals with a fast-paced and polished run. Rice and Copaspepto, fourth to work in the second set, were on the hunt with a wild and wooly ride.
This was the sixth major championship win for 5-year-old Copaspepto. The gelded son of Peptoboonsmal, out of Miss Martini Play, by Freckles Playboy, has NCHA lifetime earnings of nearly $330,000. Six-year-old Halreycious, a Dual Rey son bred by his owner, Linda Holmes, out of Stylish Play Lena, is the earner of nearly $150,000.
This is not the first time that Rice and Cox have been one-two in an event. In 2003, Cox and TR Dual Rey were reserve to Rice and Chiquita Pistol (Triple Crown champions) in both the NCHA Super Stakes and the NCHA Derby.
Rice and Copaspepto are qualified for Friday night’s Western Horseman Cup, and Cox shows Hard Hat Henry and Rey To Play in Saturday’s Augusta Futurity.
Augusta Classic Non-Pro champion
Matt Miller, who won the 2006 Augusta Non-Pro Futurity on Hokies Cat, was the decisive winner of last night’s Augusta Non-Pro Classic with 222 on Soda Rey Bay. Elizabeth Queen, also a former Augusta champion, took reserve with 219.5 aboard Bet On Blue 498, by Bet On Me 498.
Miller’s 225-point win in 2006 set a benchmark for Augusta Non-Pro champions. He also tied for 14th last night on Hokies Cat, by High Brow Cat. Five-year-old Soda Rey Bay, by Dual Rey out of Genuine Soda, by Genuine Doc, is the earner of more than $150,000.
Miller and Queen are both finalist’s in the Western Horseman Non-Pro Cup.