Louisville - Saturday Matinee
Saturday, August 29, 2015
The pattern for the Junior Saddle Seat Equitation Championship seemed even more intricate than that of the senior riders. That was no problem for the World’s Champion of Champions, as Isabella Privitera nailed it down aboard CH Heir’s Halo. Missy Hughes Smith and Christie Milbury followed close at Bella’s heels as they all headed to the far end of the ring. The 12-13 Saddle Seat Equitation World’s Champion on Sunday night, they opened the session this morning with a tricolor round of honor. Bella now has two Reserve World’s Championships and two World’s Championships in her young career, spanning the transition from walk-and-trot to today’s moment of glory. Ainsley Budzinski gave Knollwood a big reason to cheer as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. She and CH-EQ Oh What A Feeling got a big salute on their trot back from a great pattern. “Cartman” has long been a Knollwood resident, having been a mount of several of their great riders, including Nick Maupin who finished his career with all three Finals to his credit. Ainsley has always seemed to rise to every challenge. When the chips are down, she rocks it out. She has multiple national titles to her credit, including every UPHA Challenge Cup she has been eligible to show in so far! Emily Candelaria completed her equitation cameo in third, while Sophie Patterson finished fourth. Also making the pattern were Abigail Tate, Gabbie Gardiner, Finn Cooper, Alayna Applegate, Michael Arquilla, and Gabriella Snyder.
It was another second second-way trot leading to the Open Three-Gaited Park World’s Championship for CH Let’s Talk and Mary Marcum Orr. Mary pointed the entry of Pair of Jacks Stables down the middle on that final trot and blasted into history as the World’s Champion of Champions. By Sir William Robert and out of Soft Spoken, Let’s Talk cuts an imposing picture as he stomps down the green shavings. He made a game show today to give Mary a thrilling ride down victory lane. The High Caliber team screamed, while Mary rode to the winner’s circle with mouth wide open in stunned excitement and joy. Melissa Moore took the Three-Gaited Park Mare World’s Champion, Callaway’s Aperitif, to another world title today. The Reserve World’s Champion of Champions in this one, Aperitif is owned by SGF Winning Ways Farm. An exquisitely beautiful bay mare, she is by CH Caramac and out of Callaway’s Sweet Clover. This horse loves to play horse show, never backing an ear as she strutted her stuff. Another bay mare, Tefnut was third here with Betsy Boone for ECL Family Investments. Andy Freseth and Kalarama’s Out Of The Ordinary finished fourth for Amanda Dellinger.
The two groups of juvenile pleasure are set back to back on the Saturday matinee schedule. The 14-17 Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Championship was first, with Mystery Magic taking the tricolor for DeLovely with volleyball star Macey Miles aboard. Macey is a pretty good rider too, showing her chops once again in this good group. An entry of Ashlyn Farms, Mystery Magic is by The Mystery Writer and out of Magic Talk. Cameron Kay finished out the qualifying run for this horse at Midwest Charity, winning both classes there. Macey climbed back aboard here, continuing her great work with the chestnut gelding as the World’s Champion of Champions today. The top two from Section Two of the qualifiers were the top two in this one, as qualifier winner CH Redesigned was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with Rose Marie Wheeler. The entry of Chestnut Dream LLC is by Designed and out of CH Harlem’s Town Scandal. Rose Marie has had one of her best ever Louisville weeks, adding another reserve title to her resume here for Grey Ridge Farm. This special team now has three wins and one reserve to their credit here in Freedom Hall. HS First Day and Scotty Brooks Bruggeworth gave DeLovely two of the top three in this section, while Annie’s Perfect Design and Chloe Deeb finished fourth for Luman Wadhams Stable.
The 13-and-under riders handled the traffic of a big class even better than the 14-17 division, with nary a problem during the rail work. Ava Stachowski kept the good week going for Stachowski Farms. She and Callaway’s Nachelle were a picture perfect pleasure pair as the 13-and-Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions. Owned by Shawn Stachowski, Nachelle is by Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Callaway’s Return Engagement. Leave it to the Stachowskis to have a show star and World’s Champion for their daughter that can eventually join their broodmare band with her incredibly rich bloodlines. Twice a World’s Champion this year, Nachelle was twice a Reserve World’s Champion last year in the older age group. Cuttin’ Up and Nicole Jackson claimed their second reserve win of the week for grandmother Sally Jackson and Autumn Hills Farm. This is just the first year for Nicole to join the cantering ranks, and here she is as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions in a really nice group of horses. By Undulata’s Heir Apparent and out of Charlotte Russe, by Undulata’s Man Of The Hour, Cuttin’ Up swept this division at Lexington last month. CH De La Hoya and Alex Jeppesen kept the Morgan invasion going in third, while Warranty Connection and Ryan Visser grabbed fourth for James Orr.
During a timeout to replace a shoe in the 14-17 Country Pleasure World’s Championship, the third straight juvenile class on the schedule, Gretchen Halloran stopped along the rail to consult with trainer Matthew Shiflet. Whatever Matt said must have gotten through to his young jockey, as she really got cranking with CH Jessie Cole, taking the round of honor under the direction of Matthew and Whitney Shiflet. This was a sixth Louisville win for the gray son of The Gallant Confederate and a Silver Lining mare. Owned by Gaited Inc., he has teamed with Gretchen now for the last two years with great results. The Hollow Haven crew gets louder for Mia Clementi than they do for just about anyone else. The sweet young lady was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions today aboard The Code Cracker for WoodLeigh Farm. Also reserve in their qualifier, Code Cracker and Mia were champions in their first three shows together at Midwest Charity, Oshkosh Charity, and Blue Ridge Classic. This was Mia’s best ever Louisville prize, having been top three on three different occasions and now reserve twice. Coventry’s Too Fast Too Furious and Gianna DeSimone were a great third for SGF Winning Ways Farm, while CH Peanut Butter and Ellie Kangur took fourth for Tom and Mickey Kangur.
What a week it has been for the stallion Tango’s Parting Kiss. His son, Rango Tango, was the unanimous winner of the Junior Park Pleasure World’s Championship this morning with Jim Stachowski up for Hagan Saddlebreds. Parting Kiss is by the wild-going South African stallion, Arborlane Tangos Wee Pee. He is out of One Parting Kiss (BHF), the dam of World’s Champion Balenciaga. He has been stamping horses like this one with all sorts of bridle and presence, carrying that big South African motor through from his sire. Rango Tango is out of Supremacy’s Melody, a Supremacy’s High Time mare. This is a special kind of horse, with all sorts of charisma. The winner of the first split of this division on Wednesday, Stonecroft Royal Reflection was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with Jennifer Dixon. The entry of Pleasants Valley Stable is by I’m First and out of the Longview’s Paladin mare, Majestic Jane. This one is an incredibly high-headed chestnut gelding, a big money winner last year in the futurities and sweepstakes. Evan Orr and It’s Sam I Am were third here for Gamine LLC, while Cash Out and Tina Sutter were fourth.
Kirstie Buerkley was “about three feet tall” according to Peter Fenton when she won her first world title, a win that sent the Louisville crowd into a state of delirium with Dun-Haven Grandiose. Now at least four feet tall, she closed out her juvenile career on the green shavings the way she began it, driving down victory lane. Today it was Stat-Tistic taking Kirstie to the tricolor for Doug Mesker. The Majestic Oaks team celebrated their winner today. This win marked six World’s Championships and six Reserve World’s Championships in Kirstie’s wonderful juvenile career. By Dun-Haven Regal Attraction, Stat-Tistic is out of Perfection’s Love Song LF. Danny Hicks stepped his game up in a big way at the lines of Jackie O, really getting rolling second way for mom Janet Crawford Hicks and dad/trainer Rodney Hicks. By Late Nite’s Blank Check, Jackie O is out of Late Nite’s Restless Heart. She took Danny is to his best ever Louisville prize as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. A Promise Honored and Rose Marie Wheeler were up for third for Ashlyn Farms and Majestic Oaks. Kharbon Steel and Morgan Billig kept those same green and red curtains decorated with a white ribbon in fourth for Alex Ververeli.
Ginger Magnolia is a gorgeous dark chestnut mare. She and Mary Gaylord McClean were judged to be the best in the Adult Country Pleasure World’s Championship today for Carol Hillenbrand. Trained by Autumn Hills Farm, Ginger Magnolia was headed up by Steve and Tiffany Wheeler and Whitney Hill. Sired by Bobese and out of Ginger Blossom, by CF First Night Out, Ginger Magnolia hasn’t been lower than second in the last two seasons, including a Junior Park Pleasure World’s Championship here last year with Steve Wheeler. The spectacular blonde son of CH Callaway’s Born To Win and Abacus Claudia, CH Callaway’s Winning Number added to his legend as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. Marjorie Townsend scored another great prize for Ever Glades Farm this morning. These two topped their split of the qualifier on Tuesday morning to win for the gorgeous horse’s 22nd straight time. Juliette Dell kept her good step-up season going in third with CH Reedann’s Rare Mystery for 6D Ranch Ltd. CH Fine By Me and Alicia Sacotte took fourth back to Lance Hayes Stables.
A Reserve World’s Champion as a two-year-old, Amelie has enjoyed an undefeated three-year-old campaign, adding the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare World’s Championship to her list today with Kim Cowart at the lines. Owned and bred by Kaitlin Heisey Krogh, Amelie is by Gypsy Santana and out of Phancy Jamas, also the dam of World’s Champion Special Dark. Bret Day has had a great group of harness horses this week, adding Money Penny to the roster as the Reserve World’s Champion for Julia Sampsel. This was the first show of the season for the daughter of County Treasure and a Reedann’s Top Gun mare. She remembered the show ring well, stepping up strong for Grey Ridge Farm. Our Northern Belle and Heather Linzmeier finished third here, while Forever Marilyn MHF and Stan Bodnar were fourth for Merriehill Farm and Redwood Partners Ltd.
Unless she decides to catch ride something in the gaited stake (which you wouldn’t want to put past her), Alex Rudder’s epic Louisville concluded with another unanimous win, this time with a whole different animal, Cocked N Ready. The Road Pony Under Saddle World’s Champion of Champions was all that and more today to win the tricolor for Dr. Chip Pugh. Trained by Gerhardt Roos, Cocked N Ready was reserve in the qualifier split on Monday. Just seven years old, this son of LLF Top Of The Mark and Miss Kallie was the 2012 Junior Road Pony World’s Champion of Champions. He took Alex for a great ride today for the win. Good friend Sallie Mason Wheeler swapped spots with Alex from their qualifier, she was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with A Dazzling Diva for Maureen Campbell. This one is a fine and pretty little pony by Dun-Haven Celebrity and out of Image’s Ballerina. “Ballerina” is a fitting descriptive for this mare, as she is a dainty-looking ball of speed. This is the third year in a row for Dazzling Diva to earn this title with Sallie Mason aboard. They have never finished lower than second in Freedom Hall. Remi Adams and the pony who might as well be renamed “Jake from State Farm,” Drum Beat, finished third for Cedarwood Farm. Heartland Party Time and road pony under saddle veteran Madison Pope were fourth for Melvin Jennings and Carol Lawson.
One of the most meaningful blankets of flowers came in the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Park World’s Championship, as CH Swing An Singin’ finally got her decoration and World’s Champion of Champions title. It was a unanimous win in one of the deepest fields of the week. Catherine Wheeler has been teamed to perfection with this daughter of Designed and the Supreme Heir mare, Reedann’s Supreme Glow. She lets the mare settle the first way of the ring, not moving her too far off of the rail. Once they call that reverse, it is time to rock, and this sister gets to cranking. To say she has a lot of motion would be a colossal understatement. She is incredible off both ends, and Catherine can put her into any spot she chooses in the ring. The jumbotron captured mom Ceil Wheeler and trainer Smith Lilly standing in front of Catherine in the lineup, as they both beamed with pride. It didn’t take much of a lip reader to see the double thumbs up and, “Beautiful… Beautiful,” coming from mom. The entry of Ceil and Kenny Wheeler had Ceil in tears at the in gate, not just because of the sensational ride of her eldest daughter, but because “that mare deserved to wear the roses.” A great sendoff was in order for the sensational black gelding, It’s Aerosmith. It’s easy to forget that the son of VHF The Licorice Drop Kid and Steal The Day is just a four-year-old, who had very limited experience in under saddle classes before this year. Betsy Webb and Jenn Holdren are to be commended for the job they have done, but they have a superb jockey to count on. Skylar Rueff has been with this crew since she was about six years old, and this week was her crowning moment. If you didn’t know her name before, you know it now. Rueff was on fire this week to win her qualifier and now take the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title for mom Katy Rueff. This kid took a four-year-old into the deep end of the pool, all across the show circuit, and has never finished lower than second. Awesome. CH High Heat and Blake Crim gave it their all in a title defense, finishing third this time for Steven Myers. Milan Kordestani’s first Louisville had to have been a great experience. He was fourth in this epic tilt for Omid and Milan Kordestani and trainer Jennifer Dixon.
It’s a good thing Stevie Bagdasarian is a workout warrior, because she never moved in the saddle when she cut Thunderbolt loose today. The Roadster Under Saddle World’s Champion of Champions loved every second of it as Stevie just hovered in the irons all the way around the ring on her way to a unanimous victory and a second win on the week. However, this was Thunderbolt’s third victory pass, as he also took a bike win on Wednesday as the Ladies Amateur Roadster to Bike World’s Champion with Judy McNeish! The entry of Shane Mullens and Diamond View Farm turned in a week that we would have to go way back in the record books to see if it had ever been duplicated. Three wins, combining saddle and bike, all in one week. Three times the World’s Champion of Champions in this class, Dr. Brian Garrett threw everything he had at a defense of his title with Show Me The Money. The valiant effort netted him a Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title under the direction of Mike Brannon. This week also marked the last Freedom Hall appearance of Brian’s 2009 and 2010 World’s Champion of Champions, Where Are We Now, who will go down as one of the greatest roadster under saddle horses of all time. Show Me The Money had taken Brian down victory lane earlier in the week as the Open Roadster Under Saddle World’s Champion. Cydni Simmons sped off with third aboard Street Legal GRS for Dr. Chip Pugh. Pick Your Poison and Mike Tunstall finished fourth here for Lisa McMackin.
Andre van Schalkwyk had a big smile for the cameras at the lines of Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion Diamond District. Diamond District is by Simbara’s Living Legend and out of none other than Callaway’s Finders Keepers, dam of one of Louisville’s all-timers, Marching Orders. Susan Olcott owns this rocked back and strutting chestnut gelding. Andre, van Schalkwyk, Susan Olcott, and Mike Hylton have been a pretty formidable team over the past few years, enjoying a lot of success on the green shavings, adding this good prize to their collection today. Welcome to the Broodmare Hall of Fame, Miss Moriarty. Not Annika Moriarty Bruggeworth, though she too has produced World’s Champions. This is the horse version, dam of Reserve World’s Champion Arrowhead’s Unlike Any Other. This colt was shown to the reserve win by Gene van der Walt for EAC Equine LLC. Sired by Wine Women And Song and out of the aforementioned Miss Moriarty, this is a full brother to Junior Fine Harness World’s Champion Futurette and a half brother to World’s Champion Extremely Fortunut. With two World’s Champions and now a Reserve World’s Champion, the daughter of For What It’s Worth and Miss Megabucks is eligible for her call to the Hall. Nutcracker Swagger and Darrell Case finished here for the Willowbank banner.
The Rowdy Lowries were out in full force for their unanimous Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions, Take It From The Top. With the barn name of “Ricky Bobby,” from the hit comedy “Talladega Nights,” the rowdiest fans in all the land all had little checkered flags that they waved at one of the newest members of Lowry Stables, Madeleine Wood. She took the entry of Three Sisters Stables LLC to a phenomenal show for the tricolor and blanket of flowers. Talk about a horse that was born to wear roses, Take It From The Top must have been sick of mom and dad telling him about their glory days. By Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions Top Spool, he is out of Ladies Three-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions My Front Page Lady. Clayton Stinnett racked away with his third reserve win of the week, matching his Reserve World’s Champion of Champions finish last night in 14-17 walk-trot with another here. He rode Agent Cool Blue this time for owner and mom Amy Stinnett. Trained by Kalarama, Agent Cool Blue is by Desert’s Supreme Memories and out of a Santana’s Charm mare. That’s a pretty good set of bloodlines for a gaited horse, and he lives up to their legacy. These two were champions at Lexington last month. Madison Morgan and Undulata’s Sweet Sister finished third for the second time this week, taking on an even better field in this one but remaining in their same spot. Lauren Osborne’s first Louisville finished out with her holding her spot from the qualifier in fourth with Finding Treasure for Glitter Farms. She will spend plenty of time in Louisville however, as she is the newest member of the Cardinal faithful at the University of Louisville.
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