Tag Rice and Chiquita Pistol won the 2003 Augusta Futurity Open finals. In the process, they set an arena record.

There was no need for an encore performance Thursday night. The 5-year-old mare gave one anyway.

Rice and Chiquita Pistol marked a spectacular 230 to capture the inaugural Western Horseman Cup Open finals by 5 points at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

Rice, of Buffalo, Texas, earned $50,000, the highest paycheck in Augusta Futurity history. Lloyd Cox of Fort Morgan, Colo., and TR Dual Rey finished second at 225 for $23,250, while John Wold of Bartonville, Texas, and Cats Merada and Kobie Wood of Stephenville, Texas, and Peppy Plays For Cash tied for third ($12,985 each).

"It's fun to win any cutting when all the best cutters in the world are here with the best horses," Rice said. "I don't know what to say. I just feel honored to be able to ride that mare."

Chiquita Pistol, by Smart Little Pistol out of Miss Chiquita Tari, was the 2003 National Cutting Horse Association Triple Crown champion. The horse is owned by Wallace Dorman of Oakwood, Texas.

In last year's Augusta Futurity, Rice and Chiquita Pistol posted 230.5 in the Open finals to defeat Lindy Burch and Play Peek A Boon by 3.5 points. This year's rematch never came to fruition as Burch and her mare lost their second cow.

Riding second in the second group of cattle, Rice and Chiquita Pistol thrilled the crowd from the beginning.

"It felt good right off the bat," the 29-year-old Rice said. "As soon as I dropped my hand she was right there. She was sharper than she has been, and I didn't even work her."

After cutting two cows, Rice and the mare had 40 seconds to cut one final cow. The two finished off the cow to loud applause. After the score was posted, Rice tipped his hat to the fans.

"She's a good horse, and when you get her to the finals and the crowd gets in there, it seems like she always rises to the occasion," he said. "I was able to cut some good cows, and it just all fit. You always know you have a chance when riding her."

Some might say the competition was over Wednesday in the Western Horseman Cup draw when Rice picked the No. 1 ball, which allowed him to select when he would ride.

"I've been lucky all my life," Rice said. "That's what everybody tells me. I'll take it."

Cox has been on the opposite end of Rice's lucky streak since the 2003 season. Riding last in the 17-horse event, however, he and his stallion were able to collect a nice paycheck.

"Being last and everything, you try to get as much done as you can," Cox said. "Tag put up a mark that was pretty unreachable, unless everything was just absolutely perfect.

"I knew there was a lot of space between first and second. I knew if I could lay down a run I could finish second. That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm getting a little tired of being second to (Rice), but what can you do? It's hard to beat that mare."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 868-1222, ext. 114. or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.