For the first time since having children, Mary Ann and Phil Rapp are alone in Augusta.

Six-year-old Ryan returned Sunday to Weatherford, Texas, for first grade. Emma, who turns 2 in February, flew back home with family friends as well.

"It's putting a damper on the family unit," Mary Ann Rapp said. "We don't like that much.

"It's hard on us. We're used to doing this all together. So it's been a little change."

The children missed Mary Ann Rapp and Miss Reycine's Classic Non-Pro first go-round winning score of 217. The pair won the go-round Tuesday by one point at James Brown Arena.

One of four competitors to tie for second place, Jarrett Callahan, of York, S.C., and Cats Dual Olena marked 216.

Callahan is joined at 216 by by Stacy Shepard, of Summerdale, Ala., and her horse, Thomas E Hughes; Matt Miller, of Poolville, Texas, and Soda Rey Bay; and Curry Diehl, of Millsap, Texas, and Uno San Sunday.

The top 36 horses with scores of 211 or better advanced to the second go-round, which will be held today after the Futurity Open second go-round.

Rapp advanced with only one of her three horses, but it's a good one. The Rapps purchased Miss Reycine, a 6-year-old mare by Dual Rey out of Smart Pudden, in April from Robert Graves, of Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Last year, Graves and Miss Reycine advanced to the second go, but failed to make the finals in this event.

"She's got a really big stop and a big move," Rapp said. "And Phil had her in training. So we knew her quite well. That made it an easier decision.

"Robert really didn't get along with her very well. She's just real hard to ride. They just didn't jell real well."

Rapp took advantage of ideal position in the draw, running third in the second bunch of horses. That early, she had plenty of good cattle to choose from.

"We drove up and cut the cows we wanted to cut very well," Rapp said. "She did a good job controlling them."

Rapp is seeking her first Classic Non-Pro title, which is for 5- and 6-year-old horses. She's won twice in Augusta in the Futurity Non-Pro (2001 and 2003), which is for 4-year-old horses.

She and Phil own a combined 10 Augusta titles.

"We like coming to Augusta," she said. "Obviously, it's been very good to us over the years."

Last year, Rapp finished second and fourth in the Classic Non-Pro finals.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.

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