Bucki James proved three horses were better than one in the Classic Non-Pro final Friday night.

Bucki James on Sonita Lena Chick works a cow during the Classic Non-Pro (5/6) Finals Friday. James won the event with a score of 223. Steve Norman

After riding first on Rambo Merada in the 20-horse competition, James rung up 223 on Sonita Lena Chick three horses later to win the division in the 24th annual Augusta Futurity at Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center Friday night. She also placed third on Starched Wranglers with 219.5.

James, of Purcell, Okla., collected $21,597 for her winning run and another $12,238 for third place. Benjie Neely of Lyons, Ga., marked 220.5 on Smart Little Glo for the reserve championship and $15,117.

"I felt really good with the 23," said James, the only cutter with more than one horse in the final. "The cattle are going to dictate what the scores are. If the cattle are tough, you're going to have lower scores. If the cattle are real good, you're going to have higher scores. A 23 was a good score, because these cattle are kind of tough."

James drew up first on Rambo Merada and used that run for experience. The two marked 216.

"You get a little more feel for the cattle in there," she said. "You become more familiar with the herd that way. And you've got that first run out of the way, the nerves."

James rode fourth in the first of two groups of 10 horses on Sonita Lena Chick, a 6-year-old mare by Smart Chic Olena out of Lenas Taxi Driver. James' husband, David, gave the horse to his wife as a birthday present. Bucki James has trained the mare since it was a yearling.

On Friday night, James cut her first cow with 1:19 remaining but made up time on the second cow. With 15 seconds left, James carved a third cow out of the herd to cap the run.

"I love doing good on her, because she's really just a special horse," James said. "I feel in the past I just hadn't served her justice. I've had little mistakes here and there, or I would get in her way. It's just a blast to win on her, because she deserves to win if I don't mess up. She's really unique."

For James and Sonita Lena Chick, it was their first win since capturing the Classic Non-Pro division of the Music City Futurity in October. Earlier in the week, the two won the first go-round and had the top aggregate score.

Neely ran next to last in the second set of horses. But she said James' mark didn't affect her preparation.

"I didn't pay any attention to the scores," Neely said. "I didn't really know what anybody had scored other than I knew Bucki had a good run, because you could hear it in the loping area."

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 114.