Texan's second chance pays off

Brett Davis and Grandpaws Playgirl averted disaster earlier in the week and made the most of their second chance.

Davis and his mount capped an amazing comeback, winning the Classic Open finals by four points Thursday night at James Brown Arena.

The Texarkana, Texas, cutter and his horse marked 223 for their first Augusta Futurity title and a check for $29,312. Matt Gaines, of Weatherford, Texas, and Keechie Pep placed second at 219 for $19,828. Phil Rapp, of Weatherford, Texas, and Sportin Aristocrat finished third (217.5, $16,379).

Davis has been coming to the Augusta Futurity since the 1980s. He first made the finals in 1988, and he has two runner-up finishes in the Classic Open.

"I've been a bridesmaid twice," he said. "I've never won it here, so it's exciting to be the champ."

That Davis and his horse had the opportunity to win says a lot about the rider and the horse. Earlier in the week, Davis and Grandpaws Playgirl marked 212 in the first go-round, qualifying for the second go-round on the cut number.

"That first go, she got bogged down in the sand a little bit and I probably kicked her too early," Davis said. "It didn't look good.

"I was just fortunate to make the second go-round."

The pair then rung up the top score of the second go-round with 220, advancing to the finals with a combined score of 432.

In the finals, Davis and his horse drew up late, running ninth in the 10-horse first bunch. He decided to change up his game plan. Instead of trying to pick out cows to cut, he kept his game plan simple.

"I acted like I was at a weekend cutting and I was just going to cut shape," Davis said. "I didn't pick any cows. I just drove up and cut what I could cut clean."

Grandpaws Playgirl, a mare by Wise Play out of Tino Hickory, is owned by Leon Lewis of Carthage, Texas. Davis has been training the 5-year-old horse since she was 2.

"I've always felt comfortable with the mare," Davis said. "She really worked good this week. She's performed well. She was on her game tonight."

Shepard and High Brow CD, the 2008 National Cutting Horse Association Horse of the Year after winning the 2007 NCHA Futurity Open championship, along with titles at the Augusta Futurity and four other major shows, struggled from their opening cut. The pair, which entered the finals with the top go-round aggregate score, almost lost their first cow and finished with 214.

Shepard was not upset that Davis, his close friend, won the event.

"I'd just as soon it'd be him," Shepard said.

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