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Coalson maintains lead after 218.5 run in Open
By Chris Gay
Staff Writer
Despite a big lead in the Classic Non-Pro, Greg Coalson couldn't afford to breeze through the second go-round.
So he decided to go for it.
Coalson had the second-highest score of the second go-round Thursday with a 218.5 on Quejanapep to lead the event with an aggregate total of 437.5. On Shes A Dream As, Ginger Turner placed second with a 219 for a combined score of 437, while first go-round go-leader Dean Sanders posted a 216 on Swinging Little Gal for a 435.
The top 21 horses with an aggregate score of 427.5 or better advanced to tonight's Classic Non-Pro finals, which will be held at 7 and will be followed by the Classic Open finals.
On Quejanapep, Coalson tied with Dean Sanders for the first go-round lead with a 219.
"I wasn't really trying to win the second go," Coalson said. "I just wanted to get her shown. These cattle really make you have to take a hold because you can't really coast. You really have to stay in there and hold 'em."
Coalson, of Weatherford, Texas, rode his 6-year-old mare, by Dual Pep out of Quejanamia, next-to-last in a group of 12 horses.
"Drawing this late in the bunch, I was just trying to survive, not having any major penalties," Coalson said. "When you win that first go and you only have to coast that second go, sometimes you really have to be cautious. When you try to coast, sometimes you'll make a mistake. You've got to do as much as the cows will let you do. If the opportunity presents itself where you can step on it and make a good run, it's better off to keep doing it."
In his ninth year in the Augusta Futurity, Coalson is still searching for his first Augusta title.
"In this thing, so many things can go wrong," Coalson said. "You never go in there and think you're going to win. If you cut good cows, you try and take advantage of it. If you cut bad cows, you just try and hold 'em."
Defending Classic Non-Pro champion Deborah Kelley Bartlett marked a 217.5 on Playguns Desire for an aggregate total of 434 to advance to the finals.
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