Clint Allen never passes up the opportunity to kid Lloyd Cox about his misfortune of constantly losing to Tag Rice and Chiquita Pistol.

Cox didn't have to worry about the 5-year-old Chiquita Pistol in the Augusta Futurity Open finals Saturday night. And Rice failed to make a strong showing on Playboys Lil Smarty.

So it appeared the stage was set for Cox to earn his first Augusta victory in four years. Allen and Aristo Katz, though, marked 224.5 next to last in the 25-horse event, edging Cox and Miss Woody Two Shoes by a half-point.

"I feel bad for Lloyd," Allen said. "I always give him a hard time about being second to Tag."

Cox's tough-luck streak continued as he finished second to a new competitor in first-time Augusta winner Allen. Still, Cox couldn't complain after also placing second in the Western Horseman Cup Open finals - losing to Rice and Chiquita Pistol, of course. With his two runner-up finishes alone, he earned more than $43,000.

"Everybody wants to win and nobody more than I do," Cox said. "But if I could have a week like that everywhere I'd be so happy."

Allen became happy because his mare finally matured. After making the semifinals of the NCHA World Championship, Allen didn't believe his horse was quite ready.

"She finally feels like she is now," he said. "She let down and finally let me ride like I need to to get three runs on her."

In his first Augusta appearance, Allen changed his mind-set midway through his ride.

"It's finals," he said. "I tried to be safe, but after my first cow was so good I thought I had a good chance of being in the top five. So I try to be smart and tried to win at the same time."

Other first-time Augusta Futurity winners joining Allen include: Mark Pearson (Futurity Non-Pro), James Vangilder (Classic Non-Pro), Chad Roland ($50,000 Amateur for 4-Year-Olds), Randall Bass ($50,000 Amateur for 5/6-Year-Olds and Cyndi Goodwin ($50,000 Amateur Any Age). Also, Kyle Manion won in Augusta for the first time in the Western Horseman Cup Non-Pro finals.

The lone previous champion was Rice. After winning the Western Horseman Cup finals Thursday night on Chiquita Pistol, Rice rode the mare to victory Friday night in her retirement run in the Classic Open finals. Rice joined his father, Ronnie, with three Augusta victories.