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Rice, Butler share lead in Classic Open first-go
By Chris Gay
Staff Writer
Faron Hightower knows how to make an entrance.
The 2001 Augusta Futurity Classic Open and Futurity Open champion opened the Classic Open go-round Sunday with a score of 219 on Bingo On The River and later posted the same score on Instant Chex, advancing both horses to the second go-round. Sixty-three riders who marked a score of at least 216 qualified for the second go-round.
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Ronnie Rice, riding Squeaky Clean, marked a 222 Sunday to share the Classic Open first-go round lead with Randy Butler, who was riding Playin Wild.
JEFF BARNES/STAFF
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Ronnie Rice on Squeaky Clean and Randy Butler on Playin Wild each posted a 222 to share the first go-round lead. The second go-round of the Classic Open begins Tuesday.
"I was nervous when that first cow I cut tried to run me over," Hightower said. "That mare, she tries to be good. She's as honest as the day is long."
Today, Hightower will open defense of his Futurity Open title when the first go-round begins at 8 a.m.
In 2001, Hightower picked up his first victory in Augusta in five years when he won the Classic Open. The next night, he added his first Futurity Open title with a dominating three-point win.
"Any time you can start the year with pair of wins its makes the rest of the year a bit easier," Hightower said. "You're not having to press as hard."
To top the year off, Hightower's wife, Jody, had a baby boy - Hayden Hightower - in August.
"Last year was a real good year," Hightower said.
The 45-year-old Hightower has four Augusta titles under his belt. Should he defend both events successfully this weekend, he would tie Phil Rapp atop the Augusta Futurity career victory list with six.
"Sure, you'd like to come back and repeat again," Hightower said. "But there's so many factors involved. You hope it all works out. The main thing here is just to get to the finals. So many things here can eliminate you. If you can make it through the go-rounds and get to the finals, then most of the pressure is gone. Everything is kind of gravy after that. Just surviving the go-rounds is sometimes a chore in itself."
Hightower said he didn't expect to win either event last year. After all, he struggled in the event that precedes the Augusta Futurity - the Abilene Spectacular.
"Coming from Abilene, I didn't do very good," he said. "Hopefully, we'll get a chance to repeat again, because I didn't do very good at Abilene again this year."
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