Lu Liles rides Stylin Orphan to a score of 216.5 and a share of the lead after the first go-round of the Futurity Non-Pro competition. Special

With the advances in technology, Danny Miller can work and play at the same time.

A hotel developer, Miller never travels anywhere without a cell phone or laptop. While he competes in the Augusta Futurity, he can stay in constant communication with his office.

"Twenty years ago when I started this, there was no way I could do this," he said. "There were no cell phones. Now, I'm even able to see who's staying in one of my hotels through the Internet. It really helps me focus on my cutting."

Miller continues to be in a zone this week. He and Little Rey Dual marked 214 on Thursday to easily advance out of the first go-round of the Futurity Non-Pro.

Cole Rothwell and Peppys Stylish Lena tied for the top go-round score at 216.5 with Lu Liles and Stylin Orphan. The top 57 horses with scores of 205 or better advanced to today's second go-round, which begins at 8 a.m.

Miller, a National Cutting Horse Association member since 1979, won the Classic Non-Pro second go-round Wednesday. He still is seeking his first Augusta Futurity title, even though he's been coming to Augusta off and on since the first show. Pat Earnheart, the 1980 Augusta Futurity Open champion, was his mentor.

"I started coming over here with him," he said. "That's been a long time."

Miller, who has two Sanctuary Ranches in Arkansas and Texas, took an eight-year hiatus from the sport to enjoy his children - Matt and Meredith - when they were young. Now, Matt is a full-time competitor like his father. Matt Miller is one of 15 contestants in tonight's Western Horseman Cup Non-Pro event, which begins at 6:30.

Danny Miller will be competing in the second go-round of the Futurity Non-Pro earlier in the day. He won't be distracted with job concerns.

"I have excellent people back home who look after the day-to-day operations," he said. "It really frees me up to travel. And I can do everything."

Miller is showing Little Rey Dual, a gelding by Dual Pep out of Janie JR Too, for the first time since last month's NCHA World Championship Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas. There, the pair marked 203 in the first go and came back and rung up 218 in the second go. They missed the semifinals by five points.

"He's just been real inconsistent," Miller said. "One day, he's phenomenal. The next day, he's middle of the road to sorry. Today, everything felt good to him."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Friday, January 27, 2006 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle