Louisville - Monday Evening
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
The first time we wrote about her at Louisville was on a Friday morning in 2011. The next time was last year on Tuesday night. The first time, she was third. The next time, she was second. This time, she took on a Monday night performance and came away the winner in the Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class. This was Undulata’s Secret Rendezvous. Three different riders, three different years, three different prizes. John Conatser had the winning number for Joellen Fisher Blount’s Rose Arbor Farm. By Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of a Harlem Globetrotter mare, she also fits into Joellen’s breeding program quite nicely. Glenview’s Successful produced her second Reserve World’s Champion of the day in Say Yes To The Dress. For this one, the half sister of Glenview’s Excelalante was again bred to Designed. Designed For Success was the reserve winner earlier today in Show Pleasure. Bob Brison made the good ride tonight to take this prize for Elizabeth Ann Blankenship. Brookhill’s Fame and Alex Lawson made a strong showing in third for James Williams, followed by A Breath Away and Darrell Case for Nancy Leigh Fisher.
The runway allusions are not enough to describe Giselle anymore. She was ethereal in spots tonight for Larry Ella, winning a seven-entry-deep Harness Pony Mare Stake for Karen Waldron and Bent Tree Farm. The two-time defending World’s Grand Champion showed she is ready to rock in this her first outing of the year, winning unanimously. Heartland Queen Of The Road was stunning in all her blonde trimmings for owner and driver Susan Olcott. It was a repeat performance from the past two seasons, as she earned her third straight Reserve World’s Championship. She is directed by Mike Hylton. Minute Maide and Rodney Hicks were third here, in from New England for sister-in-law Susanne Harrod.
Claiming her first World’s Championship crown, Moonlight Memories fulfilled all that promise to win the Junior Five-Gaited Mare World’s Championship. Now owned by Pair Of Jacks Stables, the Desert’s Supreme Memories daughter was once again ridden by Virgil Helm. Winner at Lexington, Midwest, and UPHA Chapter 5, Moonlight Memories is out of Tanbark’s Enchanted Evening, by Phi Slama Jama. Fox Grape’s Sierra Madre was the Reserve World’s Champion, yet another top entry from Fox Grape Farms and Autumn Hills. Tiffany Wheeler gets to work this one. She is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Himalaya. These two horses were tops in the UPHA Five-Gaited Classic National Championship last year, with the order of finish reversed. Sena Bowling was third with Misty Marie for Saddlebred Rowe LLC. This was a second entry in the top three for sire Desert’s Supreme Memories. Chris Brannan and The Blue’s Girl finished fourth for Havana Daydreamin Farm.
The flight in from the West Coast seemed to treat Military Secret well. He fired on all cylinders to top a grand group in the Amateur Ladies Fine Harness class for the second year in a row. A winner here every year he has shown, Military Secret is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Secret Smile, by Adriatic. Grace Arnold drove to yet another World’s Championship under the direction of Jim Cherry. Lexington sensation Magical Promises was up for the Reserve World’s Championship, driven by Anna Marie Knipp for High Spirits Farm. Magical Promises was the 2011 Fine Harness Mare World’s Champion. Gold was the tone of the day, as both of the top two lady drivers were trimmed in it. Vicki Reed made a good drive with the black mare, Kalarama’s New York Lady, directed by A.J. Bruwer to the third prize. Steel The Moment and Linda Beltz earned the fourth place ribbon for Dr. and Mrs. Homer Beltz.
It’s not easy to win a junior class two years in a row here in Freedom Hall, but Matt Shiflet accomplished that task tonight, winning the Junior Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding class for the second straight year. A year ago, it was Honey Badger taking top honors. Tonight, Kalarama’s Mr. All American was the winning ticket for Gaited Inc. Whitney Shiflet joined Matt in the winner’s circle. Winner of this class at Lexington, Mr. All American got a nice sendoff as the winner. He is by Harlem Globetrotter and out of Callaway’s Lady Mac. Mitch Clark got a great ovation as the Reserve World’s Champion aboard Undulata’s Special Ed. Winner at the Shelbyville Horse Show, Special Ed is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Callaway’s Someone Special, by Blue Norther. Nelson Green has a special one in Forever A Mystery. He rode to third for owner and breeder Theresa Vonderschmitt. Debbie Foley grabbed the white ribbon with He’s Taylor Made for Debbie Gabbert.
Reserve in this class the last three years, CH STAT returned to the top of the Open 50-52” Road Pony Stake for the second time with Maureen Campbell in the bike. This entry of Dr. Chip Pugh is undefeated on the season, winning eight times so far on the campaign. Dr. Alan R. Raun was the Reserve World’s Champion at the lines of Twin Willow’s McDreamy. Always a crowd favorite, McDreamy got a loud ovation from the crowd. His extreme way of going delights the Louisville faithful, and Doc Raun being Doc Raun, one of the grand gentleman the show horse world has ever known, delights them as well. Deborah Jahn owns this one. Mitch Clark did a quick turnaround, aided by a well-placed video presentation on the Jumbotron. He drove Cruz’n Susan to the yellow streamers for Leslie Schaefer.
Some classes just need to be watched from the rail. It was purely by accident that this reporter decided to head down there for the Amateur Ladies Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under Stake. Happy accident. With closing in on 20 walk-trots storming to the ring, it was one of the most hotly contested classes in recent memory, with any prize being a great prize once the dust had settled. It was goosebumps on top of goosebumps, as only an electric Freedom Hall crowd can produce. Best of the prizes tonight would go to West Wind Stables with Cataclysmic and Jackie Ware. Mom and co-owner Lindy Ware threw her hands in the air, then gripped the rail, rotating between these two moves about four or five times sitting next to Jackie’s longtime friend and barnmate Megan McClure. Kim and Peter Cowart made the run to greet the winner. It took a second second-way trot to finally decide the outcome, with Jackie and Cataclysmic impressing the judges the most. They had to be great to win this class, as CH A Travelin’ Man was up for the Reserve World’s Championship with Ashley Wilson riding for Steven Chancellor and DeLovely. Winner of this class the past two years, Travelin’ Man never drops an ear. This was just the second time he has ever come up shy of the winner’s circle in Freedom Hall, having won 11 different classes on the green shavings. Nuttin’ But Style and Jacqueline Beck were the pick for third, a popular choice for the Golden Lantern Farms and Visser Stables. Twice The Dice and Ashley Alden enjoyed a good go in fourth from DeVore Stables.
Dena Lopez had to be pleased with the outcome of the Junior Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class, though she was not a competitor in it. She brought out both of the top two entries, having bred the winner. Talk Is Money is a full brother to World’s Champion of Champions Let’s Talk. Now owned by Tri-Color Ventures, he is trained and shown by Jim Lowry. They took the last pass tonight for sire Sir William Robert and dam Soft Spoken. They were also winners at Midwest Charity and UPHA Chapter 5. Sir Frank Sinatra is also by Sir William Robert. Out of a Sky Watch mare, he was shown to the Reserve World’s Championship by Jennifer Dixon for owner and breeder Pleasants Valley Stable. Dena drove him to a Reserve World’ s Championship here as a three-year-old last year.
Making a quick comeback from her injury at Lawrenceburg, Jacqueline Beck made her second show of the night, this time taking the World’s Championship win with Divine Asset. This was a repeat victory for the gray daughter of Attache’s Royal Assets. Another entry of Golden Lantern Farms trained by Visser Stables, Divine Asset has been lightly shown this year, winning at Asheville. The Skyline Stables entry of My Rosalita and Barbara Goodman Manilow earned the red ribbon and Reserve World’s Championship. The Amateur Ladies Champions from Midwest Charity continue to grow together as a team in their first campaign. My Rosalita is by Northern Vegas and out of Careless Heiress. Tango Mango and Kelsey Olson continued their success together in third for Maria Gilman, while Callaway’s Bookmark and Jo Ann Griffin took fourth for Silver Brook Stables.
WAVE, the NBC affiliate here in Louisville, did a story on the news tonight about the horse show, featuring some of our “Saddlebred Celebrities.” William Shatner made his appearance count tonight with a winning drive in Amateur Gentlemen’s Fine Harness behind Renaissance Man’s Medici. Just a four-year-old, Medici was the UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Champion last year with Steve Wheeler. Tiffany Wheeler, who works this one, was heading him up tonight in the lineup for Autumn Hills. Attache’s Royal Assets made another impact with Reserve World’s Champion My Best Asset. Rick Daigle did the driving under the Fairfield South banner. He is out of out of CF She’s Out Of Town, by CF First Night Out.
Keith Overall is a winner’s circle veteran here in Freedom Hall. He came through the side gate to cut down on the run as he went to head up Nutter Butter and Rob Byers, winners of the Junior Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under Stake. A World’s Champion last year as well, Nutter Butter is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Aisling’s Treasure. Longtime Premier Stables customer Sally Groub Gayeski owns this star. Susan Swope’s entry, Miss Can’t Be Wrong, was the Reserve World’s Champion. This one is by Sir William Robert and out of Mountainview’s Truly Amazing. The black mare was a World’s Champion in the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare class a year ago. James Nichols made a good show to pick up the yellow ribbon in third with I’m Still Dreamin’ for Jan Small Beth, with Elegante and Chris Reiser fourth for Cheryl Friedman.
What a knockout round of competition it has been in the Amateur Ladies divisions tonight! Their Five-Gaited Gelding qualifier did not disappoint, with 17 good ones rocking the green shavings. West Wind has taken it right to ‘em all night, winning yet another great class here with Memories Of Cabo and Caitlin Leith. Another winner tonight by Desert’s Supreme Memories, this chestnut gelding with plenty of flash was the Amateur Champion at Lexington last month. A year ago, he was twice a Reserve World’s Champion with trainer Peter Cowart up. This year, he stepped it up one spot to claim his first World’s Championship win. He was third here as a three-year-old, second as a four-year-old, and now a blue ribbon winner at five. The winner of this class in 2010 and 2011 and the two-time defending Amateur Ladies World’s Champion of Champions, Break On Through rocketed down the rail to reserve honors tonight with Laura Elliott for Stockings N Stripes LLC. Trained by Steve and Tiffany Wheeler, Break On Through is a superstar of this division, making another strong show tonight. Ceil Wheeler made a great ride to grab third aboard The Mighty Moe for Mercer Springs Farm. Theresa Vonderschmitt and the exciting Ridgefield’s Dancing Soldier were fourth under the A.J. Bruwer Stables banner.
By Designed and out of World’s Champion Harlem’s Santa Fe, Tory Burch was the Junior Fine Harness Mare World’s Champion with Bret Day driving for Elizabeth Ghareeb. The bay mare has really come into her own this year, her first showing in harness. Tempt Me was the Reserve World’s Champion with Tiffany Wheeler claiming a second straight reserve prize for Autumn Hills on the night. Sally Jackson owns Tempt Me, a Dorian Wild Temper daughter out of a Belle Reve’s Renaissance mare.
Supreme Heir broodmares had a good outing in the Amateur Ladies Three-Gaited Over 15.2 qualifier, producing the top two. What better way to make a debut with a horse than to a Louisville blue? That was the case for Jacqueline Beck and Heir To A Kiss. Purchased after the Shelby County Fair, Heir To A Kiss was a sight tonight to take the last pass with JJ aboard, completing a tremendous night on the green shavings for Jacqueline and Visser Stables. This was the Three-Gaited Park Mare Reserve World’s Champion here a year ago. Amateur Ladies Champions at Lexington, Hi On Heir and Phyllis Brookshire were Reserve World’s Champions in their first trip together in Freedom Hall. Winner of the Open Over 2 Stake a year ago with trainer Matt Shiflet, Hi On Heir is owned by Don and Phyllis Brookshire. Patrice Watson O’Brien and Jim Carrey were a good third, with Reedann’s Betsy Ross and Megan Novak fourth.
Hopefully there won’t be any turmoil in the ranks of 30 Spokes, as the lead guitarist upstaged the lead singer in the Amateur Gentlemen’s Five-Gaited class. To be fair, Gabe Deknatel did have the three-time defending World’s Champion in this division, CH The Daily Lottery. The Carriage Lane-trained entry of High Hickory Farm was right on the money tonight to claim a fourth straight blue in this class. Chad Graham made the ride for the Reserve World’s Championship aboard Don’t Ask Me for Pleasantview Farm. His instructions were to have fun and ride his ride, and he did just that, rocking out to a red ribbon. Amateur Champion at Lexington a year ago with Kelsey Price up, Don’t Ask Me was a streak tonight as he rocketed down the rail. Chad rapidly dismounted and met his good friend Gabe at the gate. “You were second? That’s awesome, man!” yelled Gabe as they went up the chute. Click here to listen to some music from 30 Spokes! Danny Cummins and Finest Hour Spent were third, with Epic Hero and Martin Gueldner fourth.
Our Brilliant Belle won her Louisville qualifier for the third straight year, the second in a row as the Ladies Fine Harness World’s Champion. Lynda Freseth was the driver once again to take top honors back to Hollow Haven for Priscilla Gise. The last time this mare left the ring with anything but the top prize was in the Fine Harness Stake last year when she was the Reserve World’s Grand Champion. Winner of the Amateur Ladies Three-Gaited Over 15.2 qualifier a year ago, CH His Supreme Reflection has enjoyed a good campaign in his new division. He and Joy Warren were the Reserve World’s Champions under the direction of Nelson Green. This was a fifth reserve world title to go along with His Supreme Reflection’s six Louisville wins. Johanna Kapioltas had the wildly athletic Alde-Mar’s Crystal Pistol up for third for Janet Kellett. Catalytic and Mary Cockriel were fourth for her dad, Martin.
Pete Fenton let the cat out of the bag a little early in the Roadster to Bike Stallion/Gelding class, as he went through his lead up to the presentation, saying that Emerson had won the class four years in a row instead of the past three. Well tonight made four, as Raymond Shively made one of his best drives with the bay full brother of Big Red. Undefeated together in the last five seasons, Emerson and Raymond are the three-time defending World’s Grand Champions. Chanteur PV earned his best Louisville finish as the Reserve World’s Champion with Merrill Murray at the lines for Jackie Tanner. They were winners this year at Shelbyville and Lawrenceburg.
The Will Shriver Five-Gaited Stallion Stake looked to be one of the greatest in recent memory on paper, and the live show did not disappoint. The finish from a year ago was reversed, as Larry Hodge reclaimed his 2011 title as the Five-Gaited Stallion World’s Champion with Kalarama’s Ultimate Choice. The Kalarama entry of Joan Hamilton cranked it up on the reverse as is his custom to top the $10,000 event. Last year’s winner, Marc Of Charm, claimed the reserve prize tonight with Lionel Ferreira up. This was the order of finish in that 2011 stud stake as well. The son of Santana’s Charm was well within himself once again tonight, looking comfortable and bright for Riverdreams LLC. Melissa Moore and It’s Double O Deuce were third for SGF Winning Ways Farm. You would be hard-pressed to find a horse that tries harder than Deuce, always giving maximum effort.
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