It's been almost two decades since Ronnie Rice won the Augusta Futurity Open finals. That's something that hasn't gone unnoticed.

"I'm going to see if I can do something about that," Rice said.

Aboard Dr Cuzin, Rice rung up a score of 219 on Tuesday to tie Sean Flynn and Cats Ruby atop the Futurity Open first go-round standings. Jason Clark and Moms Stylish Scoot finished third at 218. Austin Shepard and High Brow CD, the 2007 National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity champions, placed fourth at 217.5.

The top 63 horses with scores of 211 or better advanced to the second go-round, which begins at 8 this morning.

Rice is 11th in all-time Augusta Futurity earnings, but most of it came years ago -- he has three Augusta Futurity titles (1990 Futurity Open, 1991 America's Greatest Cowboy and 1999 America's Greatest Cowboy). His son, Tag, has gotten the good horses in recent years.

Tag and Chiquita Pistol, the 2002 NCHA World Championship Futurity champions, have won three titles in Augusta (2003 Futurity Open, 2004 Classic Open and 2004 Western Horseman Cup Open). Rice also marked the highest score inside James Brown Arena with Chiquita Pistol in 2003 with 230.5. In 2006, Tag and Cat T Masterson won the Western Horseman Cup Open finals.

"He's a hell of a hand," the elder Rice said of his son.

"He deserves them. He's a good showman and a great trainer."

Ronnie said he finally has a top-level horse he can compete with. Rice and Dr Cuzin, a gelding by Dual Rey out of Short Candy, qualified for the NCHA World Championship Futurity finals last month in Fort Worth, Texas.

"He's one of the best colts I've had in some time," Rice said. "He just fits me. He's quick, and he sure wants to come back to that cow.

"I feel like this colt here can go and compete against anybody."

Flynn may feel the same way after overcoming two terrible draws during the first go-round. He and This Kats King drew last in one bunch and marked 217. Later, Flynn and Pepto Olenas Dually marked 216.5 out of the last hole in another bunch.

"It means a lot, especially with bad draws," he said. "It gives you a little bit of cushion. Nothing's easy. You can't take anything for granted."

Flynn and Cats Ruby, a mare by High Brow Cat out of Rubys Rhapsody, benefited from riding third in a 13-horse bunch.

Flynn, the 2002 Classic Open champion, sold the horse to Chad Bushaw before the NCHA World Championship Futurity.

"She's been a really good mare," Flynn said. "She's pretty cow smart. She stops hard."

From the Wednesday, January 23, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle