Phil Rapp, cutting’s all-time leading money earner, claimed a record tenth win at the Augusta Futurity, which concluded on Saturday, January 29.
Riding Smoothe Bye Design, owned by Smoothe Design Ltd, Rapp posted 221.5 points in the 4-year-old finals; Acatbequick, with Austin Shepard, was reserve with 216.5 points.
Rapp was also reserve champion of the 5/6-year-old Classic with 221 points aboard Dont Look Twice, owned by Waco Bend Ranch. Dees Mr Charles, ridden by Sam Shepard, won the Classic with 228 points – the same score that Dont Look Twice and Rapp marked to win the 2009 Augusta Futurity.
This year’s Augusta Futurity was a stellar event for Waco Bend Ranch, who are partners in Smooth Design Ltd. Ray Baldwin, whose family owns Waco Bend, also won the Augusta Non-Pro Classic with Catlike Kit, and placed fifth in the same event on Zacks Fifth Avenue.
Nicholas Johnson won the Augusta Non-Pro Futurity riding Itch My Stylish Cat.
Phil Rapp’s 10 Augusta championships include seven Futurity wins and three Classic wins, beginning with Playboys Ruby, 1991 Non-Pro Futurity champion; Tap O Lena, 1994 Non-Pro Futurity champion; Smart Little Jerry, 1998 Open and Non-Pro Classic champion; Pastels Smart Lena, 1999 Non-Pro Classic champion; Cats Full Measure, 2000 Non-Pro Futurity champion; Dulces Smart Lena, 2002 Open Futurity champion; 2009 Dont Look Twice, 2009 Open Futurity champion; and Smoothe Bye Design.
Rapp has over $7.13 million in official NCHA earnings. His Augusta wins alone (he’s also claimed multiple reserve championships and placed in scores of finals there) have earned him a total of $210,261. This year’s Augusta Futurity Open winner’s payout was $10,165 compared to Rapp’s greatest – $33,048 in 2002.
Click here for full Augusta results and pedigrees.