The in hand classes at Louisville have developed into a love/hate relationship as the crowds love to see the results of our best breeding programs, both large and small, but at the same time hate sitting for an hour and a half for one class of babies. Until something is changed those are the cards we are dealt with and the show goes on.
Class number one of the show set the pace with 31 ASHA Kentucky Futurity Weanlings beginning at 6:30 Sunday night and champion Line Of Thunder (Attache’s Thunderbolt x Heir Spray) making his victory pass at 8:00 p.m. Owned by Hallston Manor and presented by Joan Lurie, the show colt earned the top money after being judged a second round with 13 others.
Reserve futurity money went to High Time’s High Priority, a son of Supremacy's High Time and Callaway’s Love You. He was shown by Pam Specht and Mike Peel for owner Trisha Misko. Master handler Jim Aikman led Kosmic Kyndal to a third place finish for Brian and Beth Whitfield. This colt was sired by Santana Safari.
The judges and audience got somewhat of a break as only 24 ASHA Futurity of Kentucky Yearlings opened the Monday night session. As they have done so many times before, Blythewood Farm put on the winning show with Ramon Gonzalez and Sam Stafford leading the champion At First Sight (CF First Night Out x Fancy Bloomer). The handsome colt received many oohs and aahs for his show. Reserve to the champion was a beautiful black mare named Mountainview’s Nite Sky. A daughter of Mountainview’s Oh Heavenly Day and Mountainview’s Carbonado, this reserve world’s champion was shown by Fred Sarver for owner/breeder Jones Mountainview Saddlebreds. Sired by the junior stallion at Happy Valley Farms, former futurity star I’m The Prince, Magical Me was third among the 24 with Eddie B. Womble and J.D. Gardner showing for new owner Linda Hollett.
What would a Louisville in hand division be without Joe T. Smith making a world’s champion presentation? Pretty slick at the end of a rope, Joe T. presented C & L Stables’ Cafe Demitasse (Fascinating Rhythm SLS x Demitasse Fox) to the winner’s circle of the Open Weanling Breeders’ Stake. Also having his share of winners, Jan McGlaughlin led Reedann’s Son Of A Gun to a reserve world’s title. This Dr. Alan Raun entry was sired by Reedann’s Top Gun out of A Ravishing Phind. Besides winning trainers, Bret and Susi Day were also winning owners. Their entry, Beautiful Heir (Supreme Heir x Leslie Lee) was third on this Monday morning.
On Tuesday morning handlers were back at it with the Open Yearling Breeders’ Stake. Jones Mountainview Saddlebreds’ entry, Mountainview’s Heir To Fortune was the unanimous choice of the panel. Fred Sarver led the son of Supreme Heir and Kitchiku’s Konstellation for the world’s champion honors. J.D. Gardner had a big step and so did his entry, reserve world’s champion Veronica’s Surprise. The Richard Gerber owned entry was sired by Periaptor out of Sensation Wine. The yellow ribbon went to Ohio with Steve Demjen and Radiante (Radiant Sultan x Incredible Folly).
The amateur futurities have held strong numbers although it is a tight group that stays at the top year in and year out. Leading several winning babies over the past few years David Rudder was on the lead of Kosmic Kyndal (Santana Safari x Scream Queen) to defeat 24 other entries for the ASHA Amateur Futurity of Kentucky Weanling title. This championship combination was owned by Brian and Beth Whitfield and was followed in the ribbons by Screen Idol (Con Heir x Clover Hill’s Screen Star). This reserve world’s champion colt was prepared and shown by the proven team of George Davenport and Katy Theodorou. Owner/breeder/handler Joe Russell was represented in third by A Made Man (The Last Don x Albelarm Impulse).
Amateur Yearlings were 17 strong on Tuesday and again it was the Joe T. Smith/C& L Stables team taking the top money. With Robert Gunn on the lead, Lilly The Filly, a daughter of Basquiat and My Dear Frances, took home the top prize money for Cappy and Linda Wheeler. Owner/breeder Kathy Capsuto guided the Wendy Winstead trained Steal Your Thunder (Attache’s Thunderbolt x Travelin’) to a reserve world’s title, placing ahead of the American Replay son, Royal Crest’s Stone Reflection. This filly was shown by George Davenport for owners/breeders Bruce and Rusty Rademann.
Man have Randy and Liz Thomas been on a roll the last couple of years. They bred, raised, and showed Fianna who is now winning junior three-gaited stakes. Last year they won the ASHA Amateur Yearling Futurity with The Stradivarius and now this year come back and win the ASHA Amateur Futurity Of Kentucky Two-Year-Old title with the same colt. Randy Thomas and Kenny Wheeler again captured the top money with the son of Merchant Prince and Memorable Molly, the dam of Fianna.
Reserve among the two-year-old entries was My Elegance On Parade, a Dave Lopez entry sired by the former great harness horse Arborlane Tangos Wee Pee. Mary Jane Marcum brought home third place money to Virgil and Sandra Helm with Cherished Charm (Santana’s Charm x Cherished Jewel).