It was a case of the best saved for the last, with Laura Fenimore and Misplaced Cat with a score of 219.5 points, working third-from-last in the Amateur Finals last night at the Borden Milk NCHA Futurity.

“I was a little nervous because we didn’t have much left for cows,” said Fenimore, 21, a Texas A&M student, who had to make daily trips to coordinate the Futurity schedule and final exams.

Fenimore raised Misplaced Cat, by WR This Cats Smart, the first foal out of Tangy Starlight, a mare that she showed to win the NCHA $10,000 Novice Non-Pro World championship.

“She had a lot of expression,” Fenimore said of the dam. “With her natural ability, she was a true cow horse.”

Fenimore started riding with Ronnie Rice as a Youth in 2003, and it was Rice who trained Misplaced Cat.

“Ronnie has had her since the beginning and he’s done a phenomenal job,” said Fenimore. “She’s been pretty tough. She’s a hot little mare and he’s camped on her – sometimes all day long. He’s put a lot of effort into her.”

Robert Tiemann’s 215 on Ubet Ima Barmaid earned him the Senior Amateur title. Ubet Ima Barmaid is the first registered foal by Ubet I Wood, a 1998 son of Zack T Wood.