Faron Hightower, on Just Playin Smart, scored 223 to win the Classic Open finals by one point Thursday over Austin Shepard. Special

Faron Hightower made history Thursday night, but he wished it could've been under better circumstances.

Two days after the death of his mother-in-law, Hightower dedicated his fourth Augusta Futurity Classic Open championship to her. He and Just Playin Smart marked 223 to win the finals by one point Thursday night at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

"It was all for her," Hightower said. "The run didn't start out good, but just got better and better.

"I felt like Mary Jo (Lyle) was there saying, 'Pick it up, pick it up.' "

Hightower, of Bluffdale, Texas, earned the first-place check of $26,128. Austin Shepard of Summerdale, Ala., and Widows Intentions finished second at 222 for $17,603, while Lloyd Cox of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Pale Face Jose placed third (221, $15,194).

With the victory, Hightower moved into second place by himself in all-time Augusta Futurity wins with five. He trails all-time champion Phil Rapp by two.

Hightower also equaled Pete Branch's mark of four Classic Open championships. Hightower also is No. 10 in Augusta Futurity earnings with more than $179,000.

None of that was on Hightower's mind as he hurried to leave the arena. He plans to attend the funeral today in Eatonton, Ga., and return to compete in the Western Horseman Cup Open finals later tonight.

In the Classic Open, Hightower ran second in the second bunch of cattle and used the position to his advantage. He went out and cut three cows, taking the lead away from Shepard.

Just Playin Smart delivered Hightower his first win in Augusta since he took the 2001 Futurity and Classic open titles.

The horse was on his game, just as Hightower predicted earlier in the week.

"He's as good as good as I've had in a while," Hightower said earlier in the show. "Maybe he can pull me out of the rut I've been in the past two, three years."

Just Playin Smart, a 5-year-old stud by Freckles Playboy out of Smart Little Pet, is owned by Brazos Bend Ranch, Inc.

"He's a Playboy, and he's got a lot more cow than a typical Playboy," Hightower said earlier in the week. "He really thinks back to that cow. Normally, Playboys are big stoppers, and he's got all of that.

"He's been slow coming. But I think we're about to get him trained and put together. Hopefully, that's just signs of things to come."