Friday Evening

As much as Dun-Haven Phenomenal rocked the crowd last night, it was Joe Friday the 13th tonight in Lexington. Joe Friday and Kenny Wheeler hit the ring on this 13th day of July and took The Red Mile over. The crowd surged with every pass that Joe and Kenny made, encouraging them both to give more and more. And they responded. It was a performance for the ages in Kenny’s first time in the ring with this incredible young horse. It’s sometimes difficult to take this chestnut son of Attaché’s Thunderbolt in completely. He is impossibly high-headed and sets his chin to his chest. It is striking and draws in the eye immediately, especially when he is on the near rail. Then he makes a pass down the opposite side of the ring, and the overall picture comes into view. He is beyond words. He is true off all four corners and drives strong off his hocks, reaching for the stars up front. Joe Friday is out of a Show N Off Too mare, Art Show, who is out of Acapulco Princess. That supremely well-bred mare was by Flight Time and out of CH Princess Julia, Suzie Teater’s old show mare. Just in case anyone was wondering, there is a yearling full sister named Pro Se.

Second in the class went to Daring Don and Melissa Moore. Daring Don made a big debut last year here at Lexington to much acclaim for Jimmy Womble. Nancy Bryan owns this son of Caramac’s Legacy.

The Lexington Mounted Police had two representatives on hand on matching gray horses to present the colors to kick-start the Friday evening session. Friday is the lone session with a 6:30 PM start time during this six-day-long show.

Caroline Cherry started the performance off right with CH In Neon ERB. This new team earned the tri-color under the instruction of Cindy Boel in the Walk-and-Trot Equitation Championship and began a stellar night for the state of California. Macey Joan Miles and Aces And Eights were the Reserve Champions, headed by “Papa Ray” Shively. Macey won the 8-and-Under qualifier, while Caroline was tops in the 9-10 age group.

Jane Mueller capped off her week with another fantastic drive behind Early Edition in the Hackney Pleasure Driving Championship, taking three more first-place votes. In their victory pass, the sporty pony got to popping his knees even higher, looking like he was ready to take on the Harness Pony Championship. Stephany Monteleone and Mastercraft’s Namesake LF continued a successful 2007, earning the reserve tri-color. They have wins at Mid-South, J.D. Massey, Tampa and Gasparilla to their credit already this year. Third in this well-stocked Championship went to Heartland Parade Time, an entry of Tamra Arndt, driven by her niece, Megan McClure. This was a repeat performance for them from last year’s Junior League.

Five riders were called to perform the workout in the Junior Saddle Seat Equitation Championship. The pattern was very similar to that of the Pleasure Equitation 14-17 Championship, working the main portion from the far end of the ring toward the judges’ stand. Instead of a two-loop serpentine, the younger riders performed two circles-and-a-half at the canter. The five that were called to work were Belle Owen with Heir’s Encore, Callie Smith and Miss Majesticness, Natalie Armstrong-Grunnan aboard Carboness PHF, Olivia Prentiss with The Princess Dianna, and Taylor Newton with A Sweet Sensation.

Newton and A Sweet Sensation put together a sweet pattern, earning yet another equitation win for trainer Shelley Fisher. Callie Smith was all smiles in reserve under the DeLovely banner. Natalie Armstrong-Grunnan, another of the California-Kentucky riders who are under the direction of Cindy Boel when they show “back east” was third. Belle Owen earned the white ribbon, while Olivia Prentiss was fifth.

Castledream and Misdee Wrigley Miller made a rousing comeback in the Amateur Fine Harness Championship. They were able to settle in well tonight and strutted up and down the long rails. At one point second way, the collar of Misdee’s dress started to flip up in front of her face. Calm and collected, she pushed it back into place with her chin without missing a beat, finished the corner, and marched down the tent-side rail, sealing the class and earning all three votes for the tri-color. Jim and Jenny Taylor had the qualifier winner, Hoof Prince, looking flashy in reserve with Jill O’Hara. This rangy gelding is by Revival and out of CH The Homecoming Queen. It would be difficult to find better breeding to be a harness horse. Lady Vol and Chris Kaplan received strong support for third place tie.

Mary Gaylord McClean had Shake Don’t Stir in perfect order tonight, driving to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Harness Pony Championship, where she was joined by Tom Lowry and Jeff McClean. This light bay pony with lots of white trim was also the Champion at last year’s Junior League and is the reigning World’s Champion of Champions in the division. Regal’s Pride LF and Karen Frickey were a strong reserve, coming off their Ladies qualifier win. This young pony won the UPHA Harness Pony Classic on The Red Mile last year with Randy Harper at the lines.

The Five-Gaited Pleasure Championship was split into an Adult and a Junior Exhibitor Championship to avoid a 30-horse class. The kids went first, and Katie Jarve put in another great performance for the state of California with a flawless ride aboard CH Callaway’s Capitol Reporter. Jarve found a great spot along the rail at the second-way slow gait and made an outstanding pass down the tent-side rail that all but wrapped up the class for her. It was another great performance for this dynamic team.

Wild Wonderful and Suzanna Crews made one of their best shows to date to take the Reserve Championship. This is their second season together and Wild Wonderful’s second year in pleasure, after taking Nic de Wet to many amateur blues. Matt Shiflet has this bay working well under the Diamond View banner.

The “big kids” were up next in the Adult section of the Five-Gaited Pleasure Championship. Lucinda Hartley and Callaway’s Jack Frost took on all comers to earn their biggest honor of their three season career together. The gray had his head up and looking through the bridle as he sailed down the long rails. Hartley, a Centre College graduate, is on her way to vet school. The Great Gazoo garnered himself a first-place vote in this big class with Alex Wille-Irmiter. They finished as the Reserve Champions for William Woods University. Lindsay Sowell had All The Moves making all the moves to earn third. This six-year-old gelding is by Supreme Heir and sports Lady Trigg back along her bottom line. One to watch for in this division would be the fourth-place finisher, Attaché’s Crown Royal. Vickie Byrd had this son of Attaché’s Thunderbolt looking very nice in spots throughout the class in his first show as a pleasure horse.

Ali DeGray wrapped up her Red Mile junior exhibitor career in style, taking the Junior Exhibitor Roadster Pony Championship with Seize The Moment, making her six-for-six on the week. They made a victory pass that looked like it was ready for the Open class in Freedom Hall. Catch Me If You Can and Lauren Mathewson were moving right along to take the reserve tie.

The Amateur Park Stake was a dream come true for Peggy Whitley Councilman. She picked the big, chestnut stallion, Tax Man, out of a field when he was just a yearling back in 2000. He is by Classic Memories and out of a Supreme King mare. Peggy’s dream has always been to get to show this gorgeous stud with the long blonde tail, and that dream has come true this year. Every Friday, Peggy flies up from Atlanta, rides at Kalarama on Saturday morning, then flies back Saturday afternoon. That dedication paid off big time on Friday night with an Amateur Park Championship. With his mane grown out over the winter, Melody Adler’s former three-gaited mount, High Heat, was high in the bridle and marching to take the Reserve Championship. High Heat is a son of Radiant Sultan and out of a Champagne Fizz mare. Mark Hulse showed him with much success in the earlier part of his career. Abby Campbell and the grand campaigner, CH Undulata’s Jimmy Hollywood garnered the third-place nod, while Lucinda Hartley made a quick turnaround from her Five-Gaited Pleasure win to jump on At The Stroke Of Midnight to take fourth.

The Ladies Three-Gaited Stake was absolutely loaded with talent for a four-horse class. They entered the ring in the order they were tied, with each one turning heads. Our Charming Lady hit the ring first and left it last with Mary Marcum Orr aboard for Jack and Donna Finch. Donna gave a double fist pump and a resounding “Yes!” when her mare’s number was called out first. This fixy, strutty mare is by Santana’s Charm and out of the show mare, My Bugatti Royale, Junior Fine Harness World’s Champion for Dena Lopez in 1996. Our Charming Lady shot to prominence as a junior horse under the Mike Roberts banner, with Kent Swalla in the irons.

Next to the ring was Madeira’s Love, with Liz Cortright up for Fox Grape Farms. The five-year-old mare garnered a first-place vote in taking the Reserve Championship. Strawberry Pie and Danette Musselman were a striking pair in third for Christy Weaver Gantley, while the grand mare, Audrey Hepburn, was fourth with Dr. Morgan Wolin. Wolin has owned this lovely mare almost all of Audrey’s 13 years of life.

Sandra Surber is living proof that good things happen to good people. She and Heartland Candidate took the Amateur Hackney Pony Championship back to California for the second year in a row. “This is the first time I’ve shown here when it wasn’t pouring down rain on me or I wasn’t dripping sweat,” Sandra had joked earlier in the day. The weather held up its end of the bargain on this absolutely gorgeous midsummer night. The very fine, very pretty pony, Heartland Elise, made a fine show of herself in reserve with Mary Gaylord McClean. Heartland Ooh! La La and Karen Waldron finished third in a very deep Amateur Hackney class.

The Junior Three-Gaited Stake had five entries, and they were all good ones. Each one gave you something to watch. Each had his own way of catching your eye has he sailed down the rail. The first three riders that hit the ring in this one were Matt Shiflet, Tre Lee, and Smith Lilly, three young, talented trainers, all of whom have a connection to West Virginia. But the West Virginia boys were not going to deny Chris Reiser his first victory pass of the week. Mind you, this victory tonight with Angel Innocence was Reiser’s second win of the week in as many times in the ring. However, his first win came in Tuesday night’s Junior Over 15.2 qualifier that was marred by the bizarre accident. The results were never announced in the ring that night for obvious reasons, and Reiser and Angel Innocence headed back to the barn as blue-ribbon winners. Tonight, they got their proper sendoff, as Reiser rode Angel Innocence right into that tri-color ribbon for owner Ramona Whipps. This big bay mare is by Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man and out of a General Steel mare, Satin On Steel. Satin On Steel’s bottom line is straight out of Reedannland. She is out of a Talk of the Town x Phi Slama Jama mare cross.

Reserve in this well-stocked class was Callaway’s Born With Style, with Smith Lilly in the irons for Robin Vuillermet and Bill Beckley. Born With Style is by CH Callaway’s Born to Win and out of a Will Shriver mare. She was second last year at Louisville in one section of Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited. Callaway’s Connotation and Tre Lee were third for Belle Reve. They were the Under 2 qualifier winners. Simbara’s Bountiful and Matt Shiflet, second to Lee and Connotation in the qualifier, were fourth for Kathy Bagdasarian.

The Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship was split into older and younger age groups. The 15-17 riders hit the ring first, with 19 entries answering the call. No workout was required tonight, as Thea Ervin and The Grand Master took charge early and won by a unanimous vote. Lisa Salomon Uhde and Chuck Herbert, the longtime Cedarwood team, joined Ervin in the winner’s circle. The Reserve Champion title was a repeat from the qualifier, and yet another Californian, as Breathe and Aliyah Asch found their way through all the traffic to impress the men in center ring. Vegas Dreams and Victoria McCune finished up in third in this big class.

Katie Jarve took her fourth victory pass of the week and the third on the night for the state of California. Jarve had CH A Magic Spell gleaming under the lights in the 14-and-Under section of the Pleasure Championship. This flaxen Catalyst mare has the sweetest look about her that was made for the Pleasure division. They continued their undefeated season under the direction of Jennifer Dixon. The flaxen horses carried the day in this division, as The Mystery Machine, a Star Material product, was reserve with Nick Neviaser aboard. They received a first-place vote from Brian Chappell.

She is not just one of the prettiest road horses you will see, she is one of the prettiest of ANY type of horse you will see. She, in this case, is All Glory. And she made one of her best shows ever in the Amateur Roadster to Bike Championship with Bill Shatner putting her through her gaits. The Red Mile is a track for trotters and pacers, and the road horses have always loved those long, long straightaways. The corners, well, maybe they don’t love those corners too much, but they sure do love opening up and going full throttle for a longer stretch than they can in any other show ring in the country. All Glory was in her glory under the lights of The Red Mile to take the tri-color. Danette Musselman and Ashley Isenhower joined them in the winner’s circle. Milward Dedman had BJ’s Hail Storm moving forward and loving the track for Edwin Freeman in reserve. They were reserve last year at Louisville in one section of the Amateur qualifier.

There were random fireworks going off in the distance beyond the box seat tents, but they did not distract from the fireworks in the ring. Gayle Lampe wore a lovely salmony-red coat that was a perfect complement to her dynamic Ladies Five-Gaited Champion, CH Callaway’s Born to Win. With a kiss on the neck for her game campaigner, Gayle walked along the tent-side rail while waiting to make her victory pass, graciously accepting congratulations from all the well-wishers along the rail. Lampe and Born to Win were hard-pressed in this class by the two-time defending World’s Champion of Champions, CH Walterway’s Remember Me. Ceil Wheeler, as always, was in the saddle of this gorgeous horse, another Star Material product. Kris Price Knight and Feel The Thunder were fighting hard in third for Sam and Vicki Reed, while Parker Road and Dr. Owen Weaver were fourth for Fox Grape Farms. Ceil Wheeler had to jump right off Remember Me, as Joe Friday and her husband, Kenny, were in the next class. She wasn’t going to miss that for anything!

Mary Gaylord McClean took the reins of Heartland Production back from Jeff McClean to win the Amateur Roadster Pony Championship. Jeff had won the qualifier earlier in the week. Heartland Production is undefeated at Lexington Junior League, hitting the ring eight times since 2002 and leaving with eight blue ribbons. Jerry Cummins showed this delight of a road pony to the Road Pony Championship in 2002. A month later, it was Mary in the bike and in the winner’s circle on Saturday night in Freedom Hall. And the rest is history. Dr. Morgan Wolin finished off a long day of showing with a drive behind The Wizard LF to take the reserve tri-color. This little dynamo has really come into his own this year, earlier winning the Amateur Roadster Pony Championship at J.D. Massey.

A unanimous win for Spirit of New York PSF and Smith Lilly in the Junior Five-Gaited Stake capped off a long night of horse show fun. An entry of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bowling, Spirit of New York is by I’m A New Yorker and out of a half-sister to tonight’s Five-Gaited Pleasure Champion, Callaway’s Jack Frost. Clark Clouse had the Reserve Champion in The Decisive Moment. This black stallion is by Supreme Heir and out of a Stonewall’s Main Event mare, Elanwood’s Diamonds N Rubies, herself out of CH Longview’s Ravishing Ruby, a grand three-gaited mare shown in the early 80s with great success.

Many will head out to Dena and Dave Lopez’s Double D Ranch on Saturday morning to “Breakfast with the Babies,” but all will be back in attendance for Stake Night at The Red Mile.