JVaughn

Jordan Vaughn & Wild Haired Fitz Take Unlimited Amateur Title

JVaughnJordan Vaughn & Wild Haired FitzThe Augusta Cutting Horse Futurity, held Jan. 17-24 in Augusta, Georgia, crowned the first of its limited-age champions on the evening of Thursday, Jan. 22. In an exciting night of Amateur finals, Wild Haired Fitz and Jordan Vaughn topped the 4-Year-Old Futurity Unlimited Amateur division.

Wild Haired Fitz (Wild Haired Cat x Tina Bars Gracie x Tina Bars Peppy), bred by Marilyn Jo Franz, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, carried Vaughn, of Forsyth, Georgia, to a 213.5 in the four-horse finals to win the championship. Along with bragging rights and a plethora of prizes, Vaughn and the horse took home a $3,000 paycheck.

“He’s been a good horse. I bought him as a yearling and trained him all the way through,” Vaughn, 26, said. “I have a lot of friends that help me, but he’s been honest all the way through.

“He’s real cowy and easy to get along with,” he continued about “Fred.” “I ended up winning the go-round this morning. I’ll keep showing him until somebody wants to buy him.”

Gary Reichart piloted his and his wife, Michelle’s, Kual Lil CD to the 4-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur Reserve Championship and the Amateur Championship after marking a 211 from the first draw in the Unlimited Amateur finals. Kual Lil CD (High Brow CD x Kual Gun x Playgun), bred by M&N Cutting Horses/Grace Ranch, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, also won the stallion incentive.

5/6-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur

Blakley Colgrove, of Boligee, Alabama, is already making the best of Vespaa’s final year in limited-age competition. The young cutter piloted her 6-year-old gelding (CD Olena x My Scooters Smokin x Smart Lil Scoot), bred by Bar H Ranche, of Weatherford, Texas, to a smokin’ 224 from the second draw in the seven-horse 5/6-Year-Old Unlimited Amateur finals.

“This feels really good; it’s really exciting,” Colgrove said. “He’s the most fun horse to show out of all the ones I’ve had. He’s just like a kid.

“I started showing him last year, and I’ve showed him ever since,” she continued. “Nobody else liked him, but I love him.”

Along with a new buckle and trophy saddle, Colgrove and Vespaa took home a check worth $3,401. This brings the gelding’s lifetime earnings to more than $70,000, according to Equi-Stat. Colgrove’s record has surpassed the $230,000 mark with this win.

The Reserve Championship went to SDP Moms TR (TR Dual Rey x Playboys Mom x Freckles Playboy), bred by Buffalo Ranch in Fort Worth, Texas, and Carol Dewrell. The duo, who drew first in the finals, marked a 218 to earn $2,900.

The 5/6-Year-Old Amateur class within a class saw three horse-and-rider teams return for the final round. The furthest advancing, TS Reys N Cats (Rey Dual x Hide A Kitty x High Brow Cat) and Wendy DeGroot, marked a 212 to win the division. She also finished third in the Unlimited Amateur.

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