Louisville - Wednesday Evening
Thursday, August 25, 2016
A good battle ensued to start the evening in the Ladies Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Championship, with Misdee Wrigley Miller the best of the girls tonight. Five times a world’s champion now, HS Baby Steps took the over two blue for Hillcroft Farm and the Kalarama team. The top two in this one were the top two last year, swapping places from qualifier to championship, with Baby Steps being crowned world’s champion of champions. This exceptionally beautiful mare is by Sir William Robert and out of I Am The Dream. Winner of this class a year ago, Nutorious took Peggy Alderman to the reserve win tonight for Phil and Peggy Alderman. Another one that fits the mold for this division, Nutorious is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Heir Spray. Famously bought as a baby by Peggy, Nutorious has more than lived up to his promise, going in such a free and open way. Balenciaga and Tayler Walters enjoyed another good trip together to take third back to DeLovely. Our Lady Godiva and Sandra Currier were fourth for Bluebonnet.
Twin Willow’s McDreamy moves just the way you would want an open road pony to move, showing good speed with not an ounce of hesitation in his stride. He just rolls down the rail with Ali DeGray for owner Helen Rich. The Majestic Oaks team is still undefeated in their career together, featuring three straight wins here. By Twin Willow’s McMillan and out of Twin Willow’s Katrina, McDreamy is the three-time defending world’s grand champion in this division. Tom Lowry and the speedy The Lone Ranger were reserve for Golden Creek Farms in this Road Pony 50”-and-Under World’s Championship. By Dun-Haven Regal Attraction and out of Stargazer’s Glitter LF, Lone Ranger was the county fair champion last year and the 2014 UPHA Road Pony Classic National Champion. Moment Of Excellence and Larry Ella finished third for Bent Tree Farm, ending the run of daughters beating their dads today. Shannon Ella finished fourth with No Doubt.
When you are a celebrity, you don’t have to come out more than once a year. That’s the status Nutcracker’s Nirvana has achieved. With his offspring having good success this week for Stachowski Farm, Nirvana himself made his first appearance in two years to win the Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Championship for the second time. Winner also in 2014, the jet black stallion was once again shown by Jim Stachowski. Winner of this class a year ago, We Must Be Nuts gave Undulata’s Nutcracker the top two in this group. He and Smith Lilly took the reserve honors tonight for Grace Arnold. Out of Evangelique, We Must Be Nuts has an exceptional turn at the poll to go along with phenomenal athletic talent. He has been a star here almost since birth, winning twice as a weanling on the green shavings. Jim Taylor and Real Steel finished third here for Mendonhall Inc.
Rex and Shirley Parkinson were inducted to the American Hackney Horse Society Hall of Fame tonight prior to a rock ‘em sock ‘em Ladies Five-Gaited Gelding class. Turning almost all the way around in the saddle and riding with one hand on the reins, Jessica Moctezuma gave a point and a shout to one of her many cheering sections as she took her round of honor with Kiss My Cuervo. It’s been a stellar campaign for the son of Callaway’s Northern Kiss and Miss Cuervo, an Heir To Champagne daughter. Sweeping both blues at River Ridge, they went on to Midwest Charity to do it again. The stage was set for them to ascend this mountain, giving Jessie her first win here as a professional. What more can be said about owner and breeder Lisa Balcerak than that she is a dream owner. Jessie has been given this horse to develop and craft in the exact ways necessary along with fiancé Richmond DeHart. It all paid off tonight with tears of joy and jubilation and a world’s championship title. Twice in a row the winner of this class, CH Bravo Blue was the reserve world’s champion with Elisabeth Goth. By Northern Blues and out of Amp Leigh, Bravo Blue is directed by Neil Visser. Also twice the reserve world’s grand champion, the bright chestnut gelding just continues to impress as he moves on into his teenage years, still going strong. Ridgefield’s Dancing Soldier and Elizabeth Ghareeb dealt with a thrown shoe in third, while Noble Charm and Sena Bowling were a good fourth for Hagerman Farms.
A spring-loaded, four-cornered star, Craycroft Matador mounted his title defense with a qualifier repeat as the Hackney Pony World’s Champion with Ali DeGray. The defending World’s Grand Champion has really made an impact this week in the young pony classes, having sired multiple winners. The sensational stud pony is by Dun-Haven Crimson Glory and out of Heartland Red Rose. Abel Vega was the reserve winner with Mastercraft’s Politician LF. The son of Mastercraft and Attraction’s Treasure LF is an entry of Golden Creek Farms. Deborah Jahn has been making the drives so far this year, winning four times with a reserve win at Lexington. Politician was top three in the Hackney Pony World’s Grand Championship last year.
While Sara McDonald cried tears of joy and hugged her husband, Georgia Bulmer Ferreira came running in and did a happy dance before giving Sara a huge celebratory embrace. She really is Lionel’s biggest cheerleader. Lionel might as well be mentioned in this description, as he created the cause celebre, winning the Open Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Championship with Attache’s American Patriot. Apparently Georgia should have been competing in the Olympics for the UK, as she somehow managed to make it from the seats all the way down to the ring to head up the victory pass. American Patriot is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of the late world’s champion, The Attache Orchid. Rob Byers made it interesting in reserve with Carson Nation. From the Golden Creek Farms, Carson Nation is hard to fault, with his beautiful headset and strong step. Three times a winner here, he has never finished lower than second in Freedom Hall. He is by Leatherwood’s Starlight and out of I’m Real, by I’m The Prince. Rob really has him dialed in this week. Todd Miles showed hard for third with Harlem’s Wild And Wonderful for Annika Bruggeworth. Spanky McFarland and John Conatser showed to fourth for Elizabeth Thomas.
Ten years ago, Cydni Simmons was the Five-Gaited Pony World’s Champion of Champions with the great CH Sammyshine. Tonight, she got her first world’s title as a professional. Still going fast, she piloted the Open Roadster Under Saddle World’s Champion tonight for Dr. Robert L. Pugh LLC. Cyd rode Street Legal GRS to the blue, following his 2015 Kentucky County Fair Roadster to Bike Championship. This team took reserve in this class a year ago. Show Me The Money and Dr. Brian Garrett took a reserve win for the second time this week. Also reserve world’s champions in the amateur division, these two are directed by Mike Brannon. This is the first year in awhile for Brian to have just the one road horse to ride here, having retired Where Are We Now last season on the green shavings. Rocky and Danette Musselman finished third for Dr. John Luckey, with Coming In Hot and Sarah Mackenna in fourth for Flecia Fairey.
One nice thing about this long week of horse show is that some horses can show in multiple qualifiers. In some cases, maybe the horse missed qualifying for the championship in one division and can then try it again. In the case of Samur’s Cover Girl, it’s a chance to win yet again! The Amateur Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under World’s Champion on Monday, Cover Girl was back at it again with Deborah Orr, winning the Ladies Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under World’s Championship tonight. Trained by Kalarama, Cover Girl is a good combination of sire Samur and the Callaway’s Northern Kiss blood on her bottom line. Just a four-year-old, she is undefeated on the season. Alexis Landreth was overwhelmed as the reserve world’s champion with CH Undulata’s Susan McGee. Directed by Tammy Devore, Susan McGee is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Cherry Cherry. Twice a winner at Chattanooga/Cleveland Charity this year, they were top three in the Ladies Three-Gaited World’s Championship last year. Maya Manilow and HS Daydream’s Celebrity were third here, with Johanna Kapioltas continuing her good week in fourth with Carolina’s Inside Story.
Two good ones battled it out for the Fine Harness Mare World’s Championship. Last year’s Junior Fine Harness World’s Champion of Champions, Futurette was the winner tonight with Larry Hodge. The entry of Nancy and William Bryan is by Wine Women And Song and out of Miss Moriarity. The Fine Harness Champion at Lexington, Futurette looked ready to take on the boys in the money round on Saturday night. A.J. Bruwer had I’m A Sugar Shaker up for the reserve win for Sam and Vicki Reed. Midwest’s Fine Harness Champion, Sugar Shaker is by Undulata’s Heir Apparent and out of the great world’s champion Callaway’s Sugarplum.
Fox Grape’s The Tiger Lily is one of the most beautiful animals you will ever see. Her chiseled profile was on display as the Ladies Five-Gaited Mare World’s Champion with Elisabeth Goth. Winner of this class a year ago as well, The Tiger Lily is by Dorian Wild Temper and out of Callaway’s Carnation. Six times a winner now on the green shavings, she just makes it look effortless as she bounces down the rail. Tammy Devore got her best go yet out of Sangria, a daughter of Mr. Las Vegas and Jamaica Profit. The entry of Charles McKibben saved her best for the biggest stage. She and Tammy made a great show in this top quality class. Cary On Broadway MBA and Whitney Shiflet were third in this one for Gaited Inc., while Absolutely Sassy and Kaitlyn Grom finished fourth for the homebred entry of Robert and Kim Grom.
Always a traditional way to end an evening here, the order of go was Road Horse, Hackney, Saddlebred to finish out Wednesday night. The Roadster to Bike Mare World’s Championship went once again to Belle Starr and Janelle D’Amato. A winner of this class five times now with three different drivers, Belle Starr won this one for the second straight year. Janelle has been at the lines for the last three blue ribbon drives on the green shavings. Scott Hagan is always a fan of the road horses. His first year entry, Crazy Daisy was the red ribbon winner. Directed by Debbie Foley, Crazy Daisy was a winner at both Asheville and Blue Ridge this year. Condoleeza and Steve Crabtree picked up the yellow ribbon in third, followed by Hot Lips and Jimmy Robertson for Willow Wind Saddlebreds.
With one final tack adjustment, Mary Gaylord McClean was set to roll with the masculine black pony, Handsome Harry. With all sorts of curve and class, Handsome Harry took the Harness Pony Stallion/Gelding World’s Championship. By the Golden Creek Farms stud pony, Twin Willow’s Handsome Dan, he is out of Heartland Mary Belle. Three times a winner here, Handsome Harry has the stamp of his decorated sire all over him. A reserve winner for the fifth straight time, Michigan’s Striking Image was the reserve world’s champion with Candi Aversenti. The entry of Aversenti Equine Partners is trained by Randy and Denessa Harper. Striking Image is a park trotting machine by Kilbro’s Image and out of Thunder Struck.
It will be good to see Todd Miles back in the gaited stake for the first time since 2008. He laid his claim to a contender’s spot with a win in the Five-Gaited Gelding World’s Championship tonight aboard Sabotage. Owned by Annika Bruggeworth, Sabotage was the Kentucky County Fair Five-Gaited Champion last year with Melinda Moore. Todd’s last win in this class was 2007 with CH He’s The Man. He was reserve the previous two years with Five O’Clock. Tre Lee made a great ride with You Can Kall Me Lucky to take a much-applauded reserve world’s championship for Saddlebred Rowe LLC. This was just the second show ever for Tre and the son of Callaway’s Guy Park and Kall Me Inkredible. The big bay gelding has athleticism to burn and showed that to the Wednesday night crowd. Speak No Evil and Merrill Murray racked up a storm in third for Danny and Kathy Cummins, while Blackout and Smith Lilly were all hinged up in fourth for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler.
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