Augusta's William S. Morris III, aboard Tanqs Freckles, won the $50,000 Amateur for 5/6-year-olds Thursday. Special

As the final score flashed on the board above, Augusta's William S. Morris III raised his arms and let out a "Yes!"

After 12 long years, Morris captured his second Augusta Futurity title. This time, he and Tanqs Freckles marked 217 to win the $50,000 Amateur for 5/6-year-olds by one point Thursday night at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

Morris, the Augusta Futurity show chairman and chief executive officer of Morris Communications Co., parent company of The Augusta Chronicle, won his first title in 1993, the $50,000 Amateur.

"I can't believe it," Morris said to seven-time Augusta Futurity champion Phil Rapp after a congratulatory embrace. "I finally won something."

Morris earned $5,573 in the event, open to riders who have career earnings of less than $50,000 in sanctioned events. Jordan Shultz of Bloomington, Ind., and Peppiers Little Lena posted 216 to place second for $4,350. Todd Quirk of Denham Springs, La., and Why Two Kit finished third at 215.5 for $3,480.

On the first day of the 26th annual show, Morris was the only rider to qualify two horses into the 13-horse finals. He drew the third and fifth positions in the order, posting a disappointing 185 on Miss Peptogin on the first of his two runs.

"I think I was a little more aggressive in the second run," he said. "The first run, I wasn't really happy with what happened."

On Tanqs Freckles, Morris cut three cows. His 2-minute, 30-second ride continued to build momentum all the way to the buzzer. Morris said he could sense his run shaping up into a championship one.

"You never want to think you have anything won," he said. "There's so many things that can go wrong. These cows can eat you up. I felt good about what was happening, but you never want to count your chickens before they hatch."

Morris raised Tanqs Freckles, a 6-year-old gelding by Tanquery Gin out of Miss Barbi Freckles.

"He's a great gelding," he said. "He's done a great job. I rode him aggressively and he performed well for me."

Earlier in the day, Austin Dietrich and WSR Looking High won the go-round, finishing two points ahead of Shultz. Dietrich cut second and managed 213 in the finals.

"To win any cutting-horse contest is very meaningful," Morris said. "We work very hard. Every ride is different. The cows are different. And when you put it all together, it's very satisfying."