Chad Bushaw and Bitterest (Once In A Blu Boon x Bittersweet) claimed the top spot in the Augusta Futurity 5/6-Year-Old Non Pro finals, earning a payout of $12,739.52. The 2021 bay roan mare scored a 222 to pull away from the field, finishing two points ahead of Austin Shepard’s Dualz (Dual Reyish x Ashado), ridden by Kamryn Shepard, who secured second place.
This marked another major win for the 5-year-old mare and Bushaw. At the 2025 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity, the pair also posted a 222 in the finals to capture the 4-Year-Old Non Pro Championship.
Bushaw added two more horses to the 5/6-Year-Old Non Pro top 10 with full siblings Bitterly Armed and Butterflies, both by PG Heavily Armed out of Bittersweet. Bitterly Armed earned sixth place with a score of 213 and $1,800, while Butterflies marked a 206 to place ninth and add another $1,800 to Bushaw’s total.
Not finished with one championship, Bushaw also topped the 4-Year-Old Non Pro aboard Cassanova (Don’t Stopp Believin x Bittersweet). A standout score of 221 put the 2022 red roan gelding seven points ahead of the field, earning more than $21,000 in class earnings and incentives.
Bushaw continued his strong showing in the 4-Year-Old Non Pro by placing fifth on Sweet Emelia (Dual Smart Rey x Bittersweet), scoring a 210 to collect more than $5,500.
Bittersweet Greatness
Each of Bushaw’s top 10 horses shared the same dam, Bittersweet (Metallic Cat x Miss Sea Rey), underscoring the strength of the mare’s influence. Paired with elite sires, her offspring are making their mark in the Non Pro ranks.
Bittersweet was bred by Marilyn Jo Franz, and Bushaw enjoyed significant success aboard the 2014 red roan mare during her show career. He guided her to multiple major aged event Non Pro championships, and in just her second year in the show pen, she claimed the 2018 NCHA Non Pro Horse of the Year title. According to NCHA records, Bittersweet earned more than $236,000 in the cutting pen.
Bushaw’s résumé in the cutting pen is equally notable. He has captured Non Pro championships at all three NCHA Triple Crown events, amassed more than $4.7 million in NCHA career earnings, and was inducted into the NCHA Non Pro Hall of Fame in 2005.
Results
5/6-Year-Old Non Pro
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Score | Money Earned in Class |
| 1 | Bitterest | Chad Bushaw | Crown Ranch LP | 222 | $12,739.52 |
| 2 | Dualz | Kamryn Clark Shepard | Austin Shepard | 220 | $10,379.39 |
| 3 | Justa Good Old Boy | Chelsea Tatum | CT Cutting Horses LLC | 217.5 | $8,019.28 |
| 4 | Mazel Tov | Rieta Duferrena | Shona Lyn Duferrna | 217 | $5,659.16 |
| 5 | Testarosaa | Sasha Thompson | Craig Thompson | 214 | $3,729.58 |
4-Year-Old Non Pro
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Score | Money Earned in Class |
| 1 | Cassanova | Chad Bushaw | Crown Ranch LP | 221 | $13,406.18 |
| 2 | Von Hot Revolver | Ty Moore | Kathleen Moore | 214 | $10,912.73 |
| 3 | Boomtallic | Codie Green | Casey Green | 213.5 | $8,419.28 |
| 4 | Hot Catty | Blakley Simoneaux | Simoneaux Livestock | 211 | $5,925.83 |
| 5 | Sweet Emelia | Chad Bushaw | Crown Ranch LP | 210 | $3,862.91 |