Louisville - Friday Evening
Saturday, August 29, 2015
It was a solo World’s Championship that began the evening in the Hackney/Harness Pony Pair class. Headed up by Joel Brown, Spiff & Polish and Park Lane made up the pair for owner and driver Lanny Judd. Lanny and Joel are the big supporters of this division at both Lexington Junior League and here in Freedom Hall.
Susi Rambler Day loves the bottom line of Leslie Lee and Sea Song P.V. Those mares figure prominently into her breeding program decisions. That is the line that produced World’s Champions like CH Open Arms. Torrential is a half sister to Open Arms, and she has now produced ASR Two-Year-Old Fine Harness National Futurity Champion Grey Ridge Wildcat. Co-owned by Susi and longtime friend and associate Tom Galbreath, Wildcat scooped up $8,000 in prize money tonight with Bret Day. Sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker, this colt is supercharged and all hinged up. He cut a striking swath all the way around the ring. Sired by their own MBA’s Manhattan’s Shooting Star, MBA’s Just About Thyme was the pretty chestnut reserve winner here with Emily Lee. Owned and bred by MBA Equestrians, he is out of their Reserve World’s Champion walk-trot mare, Callaway’s Rosemary And Thyme. This Callaway’s Blue Norther mare has all the pedigree behind her to be the next Broodmare Hall of Famer in a long line of them. Callaway’s Twice The Spice, Callaway’s Zerelda, and My Sweet Jeannie are the first three lines back on that bottom line. That’s pretty darn impressive. T.J. Santaferra made another good drive with Lady Biscotti to finish third for Kathy Capsuto Walker. Blackwatch Magic and Pedro Martinez were up for fourth for Blythewood Farms.
The Five-Gaited Pony World’s Champion of Champions for the second time in his career, The Rest Of The Story repeated his qualifier win to sweep the division with Olivia Schumacher. Sired by CH Caramac, The Rest Of The Story is out of the grand CH That’s My Story, a World’s Champion herself for Debbie Foley and a Broodmare Hall of Famer. Olivia made a memorable victory pass tonight for Kierson Farm, getting a big sendoff from the crowd for a game effort. CH Moon Charmer has been getting it done in this division for nearly a decade, scoring the 2007 Five-Gaited Pony World’s Championship. Haley Griffin took a stellar trip tonight with the son of Glenknoll’s King and Meadow Valley Melody to be crowned Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. From North Carolina, Moon Charmer moved up a spot from his placing in this one a year ago with Haley. Charles Gassen and Little Lord Huntly were up next in third for Brenda Kelly. Camelot’s Riding Out The Storm and Mary Lynes Sutton took the white ribbon in fourth for Susie Sutton.
Mary Gaylord McClean was at the lines of the Amateur Harness Pony World’s Champion of Champions for the second year in a row. Heartland Demonstrator was the long-necked bay roan star to wear the red carnations once again. Tom Lowry and Jeff McClean headed up the victory pass, one that Mary has taken an innumerable amount of times. This is the fourth time since 2003 for Mary to reign supreme in these ranks for Golden Creek Farms. This was the exact order of finish a year ago as well, as CH Crystal Creek’s Commander was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. Linda Fischer was at the lines this year for Majestic Oaks and owner Sandra Surber. The curvy son of Dun-Haven Center Attraction is out of HCH Commander’s Supreme. Commander barely touches the ground, just springing down the rail. Backstage Pass and Elizabeth James Lipscomb finished third for Hollow Haven, while Sweetheart Of Success was fourth for Karen Waldron and Bent Tree Farm.
There’s not much left to say that Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes didn’t say with her ride tonight in the 14-17 Five-Gaited World’s Championship. She simply threw down the gauntlet and made an historic ride into glory aboard CH The Daily Lottery. Never before has a horse gone three consecutive years as the Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions, Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion, and then Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions. We didn’t look it up; it’s just that incredible. What a surreal job that Mark Turner has done for the entry of Rainbow Princess Farms. The Daily Lottery was an absolute sensation tonight to the great delight of the Freedom Hall faithful. He made a pass at the rack first way that looked like his hind end was about a foot off the ground. He is one of the most spectacular performers of this millennium, and he proved it again tonight as the unanimous winner of what was an absolutely loaded class. The first time a lady rider showed this son of Sultan’s Great Day and Callaway’s Lady Lottery, it was Mandy Martin sweeping to both blues in her junior five-gaited classes. That memorable moment was an historic one as well, and it was just the beginning. Tonight was the 12th Louisville win for this superstar Saddlebred.
In a group as deep as this one was, the best riders rise to the top. Rose Marie Wheeler certainly qualifies as a top jockey, and she put on a show with Wicked In A Winning Way to be crowned Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. Winner of section two earlier this week, Wicked In A Winning Way is by Deep Blue and out of Magpie, by Santana’s Cameo. He is bay gelding that never backs an ear and always wears his bridle just right. Rose Marie has got him right where she wants him now for Chestnut Dream LLC and the Grey Ridge Farm team. Catherine Wheeler followed hot on her cousin’s heels in third with He’s Born To Royalty for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler and Mercer Springs Farm. To illustrate the depth of this group, let’s go through the rest of the winners in order: Callaway’s No More Mr. Nice Guy and Payton Lynn Walker, Callaway’s Play It Again and Cameron Kay, He’s In Style and Emma Sanchez, CH Freaky Links and Abby Kastenholz, and Fox Grape’s Blue Streak with William Nalty. Wow. Just wow.
A chiseled bay son of The MVP and Sultan’s Sweet Kiss, Blushing Bull won his fourth straight class on the green shavings to be named Western Country Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions for the second year in a row. Trained by Jim and Fay Lowry, Blushing Bull was shown tonight once again by Lindsay Sowell. They will go back to St. Louis to go for a threepeat in the Shatner finals next month. It has been nearly a decade that CH O Ain’t I Somethin’ and Luanne Kilday Malone have been teamed together. Their first show was in 2007, following the chestnut gelding’s Junior Exhibitor Shatner Finals National Championship at St. Louis 2006. Since then, they have been a formidable team all over the Southeast, scoring the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title tonight. CH I’m Goin’ Out Tonight delighted Camryn McHugh in third for Nealia McCracken, while Smoke’s Zoom Zoom and Caroline Rainbolt Forbes kept a good night going for Rainbow Princess Farms in fourth.
The kids continued to excite the crowd, as the 13-and-Under Three-Gaited World’s Championship was a rockin’ good time. It was a unanimous decision to crown CH Real Action the World’s Champion of Champions in his first year of juvenile competition. Reagan Campbell rides with a ton of feel for such a young jockey, thanks in large part to the tutelage of Bill and Lisa Waller. Winners of their qualifier earlier this week as well, Real Action and Reagan swept this division at Lexington this year as well. The fine as a deer chestnut gelding is by Desert’s Supreme Memories and out of Callaway’s Worth Waiting For. Clayton Stinnett made a marching, go-forward show with My Hail Mary, taking the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title for WoodLea Farms and Kalarama. My Hail Mary is by Revival and out of CH Crimson Blue. Clayton has been reserve in his last four classes with the athletic mare, including double reserves at Lexington as well. Prince Of Prowlin’ and Ava Stachowski weathered a thrown shoe to take third for Shawn Stachowski, while I’m Bubblicious and Ryan Visser were fourth for Singing Hills Stables.
It was a tough call for Toni Nastali, selecting a pony to show back in the Amateur Road Pony World’s Championship. Toni had won both qualifiers in this division, giving her a difficult decision. She picked right, and then picked the right catch driver as well! Her ponies came back to be the top two in this class, with Hopkins taking the top spot with Toni at the lines. Brought out by Greg Brunton to a junior win at the Royal Winter Fair in 2013, Hopkins has since been part of the Majestic Oaks team. He and Toni have not been beaten this year, winning the Amateur Road Pony 50”-and-Under World’s Championship on Monday as well. Toni’s 50-52” World’s Champion, Regal’s Prime Rate LF, was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. The patriotic silks of Danny Bugg were on display tonight, as he made a great catch drive to the reserve title. Prime Rate is by Dun-Haven Regal Attraction and out of Conqueror’s Ladybird LF, by Canterbury Conqueror. Prime Rate has also been a star this year, winning 10 times with Toni in the bike. Dun-Haven Awesome Attraction and Meredithe Steinhauer kept it going for Majestic Oaks in third. Joe Harrod drove up to fourth in this good class with Heartland River Dance for Susan Harrod.
It’s now four Louisville wins in a row for Soquili’s Curious George. Even in a new division against the ultimate competition, he reigned supreme, winning it unanimously tonight. Alex Rudder rode to the 14-17 Three-Gaited World’s Championship tonight for Wingswept Farm and owner David Rudder. Alex has stepped up from the 13-and-under ranks with no problem. The 13-and-Under Three-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions a year ago with CH The Proof Is In The Heir, Alex completed an incredible feat by winning these two classes in back to back years. This team hasn’t left the ring with any prize but blue this year. Curious George is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Callaway’s Baby Blue. It was Ceil Wheeler’s job to hold the Curious George monkey stuffed animal last night, and now she might have a permanent position. She waved that monkey over her head in celebration of a job well done. The punched up black mare, She’s Born To Sparkle, scored the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title with Alexandra Gendron. Matt Shiflet trains this team, a top contender everywhere they go. Also reserve in her qualifier, the daughter of He’s Born To Royalty and a Supreme Heir mare is simply perfect for this job, never backing an ear or putting a foot out of place. CH Platinum Moon and Courtney McGinnis were third tonight for DeLovely and Fish Creek Stables. Thunderboomer and Chloe Deeb once again made it a good show in fourth for Overtime Farm.
Misdee Wrigley Miller and Moonbeams And Dreams were the unanimous Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions for Hillcroft Farm. Headed up by Larry Hodge and Danny Lockhart, Moonbeams And Dreams is by Attache’s Royal Assets and out of Callaway’s Truest Blue. This team is 11 for 11 together, with a sweep of their division at Devon, Lexington, and now Louisville to their credit. This horse epitomizes the division, working in high style, combining beauty and presence with plenty of trot. The lilting, lofty beauty, Macadamia was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with Mary Jane Glasscock Kirkpatrick. This team also had a long winning streak coming into tonight, winning all nine classes together this year. Directed by Steve and Tiffany Wheeler, Macadamia is the reigning Three-Gaited World’s Grand Champion for one more night. He is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Sass With Class. Here is another perfect example of a ladies horse, exemplifying the fineness and magnificence of a walk-trot horse. Kite N Doll and Cherie Ort took third for Saddleorts Inc. Say Yes To The Dress and Betts Coup were fourth from Fairview Farm for Elizabeth Ann Blankenship.
Ali DeGray has been untouchable with Heartland High Tech in the past year. She was the Amateur Hackney Pony World’s Champion tonight with High Tech. Sweeping their division at Blue Ridge and Asheville this year, High Tech and Ali are all sorts of folded up and tight in the bridle. They gave it a great go for Helen Rich tonight, earning the tricolor for Majestic Oaks. Ali was a vision in white tonight, with her red hair in a sideswept pony tail-ish look. Heartland Road Show moved in from the Amateur Gentlemen’s World’s Championship to secure a spot as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions in this one. Jeff McClean made the drive here for Golden Creek Farms. Road Show is by Heartland Blackhawk and out of Heartland Just A Princess, by Dun-Haven Bandolier. Kathleen Ververeli closed out her Louisville driving debut week in third with Heartland Rough And Ready for Toni Nastali. CH Heartland Globe-Trotter and John Wrather placed fourth for Charlotte Wrather, giving Majestic Oaks three of the top four. Five of the eight in the field carried the Heartland prefix of breeders Darrel and Sandra Kolkman.
Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes didn’t have much time to come down from the highest high of her life. She was back at it again to collect her fourth, fifth and sixth first-place votes of the evening. This time it was the Three-Gaited Pony World’s Champion of Champions Nuttin’ But Style as her teammate for Rainbow Princess Farms. Trained by Mark Turner, Nuttin’ But Style might as well have her picture in the rulebook for the standard of this division. She is everything that a walk-trot pony should be, and she proved it again with a second straight win in this class. By Undulata’s Nutcracker, she is out of World’s Champion Heir Style. Maelee Dudan jumped up from her qualifier spot to snag the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title with Thunder Gone Wild. The entry of Triple D Holdings is trained by Paul and Betsy Boone. These two had won 13 in a row coming into Louisville, leaving here with their best ever finish on the green shavings. Thunder Gone Wild is by Attache’s Thunderbolt and out of a Supreme Heir mare. Sallie Mason Wheeler and My Minnie Mouse were up next in third for Silver Brook Stables. Xuxa’s Heir and Kara Hachigian finished fourth for Edmund Perwien.
Everyone is happy when they win at Louisville. That goes without saying. Some of the most curmudgeonly old school horse trainers will even smile when their number is called out atop a great group. Tonight, one of the most wonderful horse show families got their first World’s Championship, and nobody has been happier all week long. Alexis Taylor Pearson won her first world title tonight in one of the traditionally deepest classes of the week. It was Cherished King topping the Amateur Three-Gaited Park World’s Championship tonight for David, Lexie, and Lisa Pearson. Trained by Devore Stables, Cherished King has long been a Louisville star. It was now 10 years ago that he debuted to a blue on these green shavings as a Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited World’s Champions. Tonight, he came blasting down the chute and never let up. Dave and Lisa stood up above the winner’s circle, looking down on their daughter, pointing, hugging, cheering, and, in Dave’s case, even doing a little dance. He would go around the rest of the night telling people, “I own that horse! That’s my horse!” That’s the level of excitement that only Louisville can bring. Alexandra Percoco made her last ride on Cloverleaf Freedom Writer a good one. She repeated her placings from a year ago, winning her qualifier on Wednesday and taking the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title in the final round of competition. Trained by Lionel Ferreira, Freedom Writer is by The Mystery Writer and out of I Did I Did. He will head to Strickland Stables now as Faith Sturm’s newest teammate. Allie and Freedom Writer made a special team these last two seasons, never finishing lower than second in any of their classes. The 2014 winner Seven Spanish Angels made some scintillating passes for Deborah Orr, taking third for James Orr. Anna Wintour and Allie Wellington Nunley captured the white ribbon in fourth for All Well Farm.
What a week it has been for Marty Schaffel. Always accustomed to cheering on daughter Zoe on the green shavings, Marty took the lines of IAmNotACow a year ago and has not looked back. Joined in the winner’s circle by David Chretien and Steve Old, Marty locked up the Amateur Roadster to Bike World’s Championship in a hard-driving group of contenders. A multi-titled World’s Champion, this pretty bay gelding was the Reserve World’s Grand Champion last year. Marty has really come along fast with the celebrated speedster. They put on a show tonight to wear the tricolor and flowers. James Miller and Ring Of Fire were all hinged up in the bridle, driving hard for Hillcroft Farm as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. Trained by Kalarama, Ring Of Fire was also reserve in the Tuesday qualifier. These two are the two-time defending National Champions in this division. It was a Louisville debut for the team this week, though Ring Of Fire visited victory lane here in 2012 as the USTA Roadster to Bike Classic winner with Luman Wadhams. Mr. Bones and Charlie Jones were third, with Roller Coaster and Danny Bugg fourth.
The Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Championship was about as tightly contested as any class all week. It was similarly tight a year ago, but the results remained the same from year to year. There is something about Nancy Leigh Fisher in these money rounds on the green shavings. The crowd loves her, always giving her their support. It’s fun to watch her work the ring and put on a show. Watch the look of determination and grit on her face in the corners as she works CH My Wonder back to her, setting up her next rocket-like pass down the rail. Once she has the bay gelding pointed where she wants him, it’s time to have fun, and the smile starts to creep across her face. Nancy Leigh knows when she has it going, and she had it rockin’ tonight. Andy and Lynda Freseth know what an honor it is to get to put this grand competitor in the ring. Go back and watch their ReporTV interview from Midwest Charity this year to see the reverential tones in which they speak of their customer, neighbor, and most importantly, great friend. Sired by My Only Son and out of Callaway’s Kit & Caboodle, My Wonder had to give it everything he had tonight, and Nancy Leigh was the one to get it out of him. They took their second consecutive World’s Champion of Champions title in this division back to Hollow Haven to set off the celebration.
Winner of the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Mare World’s Championship on Monday night, CH Moonlight Memories was sensational as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions tonight for McGee Bosworth. From High Caliber Stables, Moonlight Memories is owned by Pair of Jacks Stables. She is by Desert’s Supreme Memories and out of Tanbark’s Enchanted Evening (BHF). The 14-17 Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions a year ago, McGee has made the transition to the adult division with her nice string of horses, stepping her game up against the very best of the best riders in the world. It was a special performance in a spectacular group tonight, making for a memorable moment. What an effort CH Honey Badger put forth in this one! Andrea Athanasuleas made two of her best-ever rides with the superhorse athlete. She finished third here for Matt Shiflet Stables, having taken their victory pass earlier in the week. My Rosalita and Barbara Goodman Manilow were up next in fourth for Skyline Stables to close out another incredible night of horse show.
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