Jim Vangilder never doubted his mare. It was the rider he was concerned about.

Vangilder had no reason to worry Friday night. He and Zacks Lena marked 227 - the highest Non-Pro score in the 25-year history of the Augusta Futurity - to run away with the Classic Non-Pro finals at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

"I knew she was capable," Vangilder said. "Whether I was up to the task or not was the question. We just happened to work tonight very well."

Vangilder, of Jackson, Mo., earned $21,378 for his first Augusta victory. Defending champion Bucki James of Purcell, Okla., and Rambo Merada scored 220 to finish second for $15,050. Greg Coalson of Weatherford, Texas, and Quejanaisalena and Mary Ann Rapp of Weatherford, Texas, and TM Quiver tied for third (218.5, $11,095).

The 57-year-old Vangilder drew 16th in the 22-horse finals, fifth in the second set of cattle. James had posted her score two runs earlier, but Vangilder, who finished fifth in this event last year, was not to be outdone.

After cutting their first cow, Vangilder and his mare began building momentum. As they cut their second cow, the fans started getting louder.

"The key was I got really relaxed and let the horse go stop the cow," Vangilder said. "As the run went further, I got more comfortable. Everything was working well. I wasn't as tense as I was when I first started out. I knew whatever happened (after the second cow) we had already shown well at that point."

Vangilder went back into the herd and cut a third cow that "turned out to be great," he said. By the time Vangilder finished his run, the roaring fans were deafening.

"I didn't hear the buzzer," he said. "I did not know the buzzer went off, because of the crowd noise."

Vangilder also didn't know about his new record, which eclipsed the 1994 Classic Non-Pro finals score of 224.5 set by Dick Cogdell on Susie Dry. When Vangilder learned of the feat, he was taken aback.

"That's really awesome," he said. "That's unbelievable. I just can't comment on that. I'm going to have to go watch that run to see it I guess."

"(Zacks Lena) is certainly capable of it. That's a once-in-a-lifetime deal for me. I've never marked a score like that."

Vangilder purchased Zacks Lena, a 6-year-old mare by Zack T Wood out of Ceelena Jo, in May 2001 two years after he sold his manufacturing business. Upon his retirement, Vangilder's cutting career began and his trainer at the time, Matt Gaines, persuaded him to buy the mare.

"I really didn't know anything at the time," Vangilder said. "I really didn't buy her for me. I bought her for (Gaines) to ride."

Vangilder, though, rode the horse to their biggest win together. Vangilder said the victory helps reassure him of his cutting ability.

"I think it gives me some confidence," he said. "I've been having a problem with not being assertive with my cutting. And I've had some bad runs because of it. Tonight I just made up my mind that I was going to go out there and push the cows out and whatever happened, if they ducked under me or if they went around me, whatever happened, happened."

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