Lexington Jr. League Show Coverage – Wednesday Morning and Evening
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wednesday Morning
Rain gear made its first appearance at The Red Mile on Wednesday morning, but the morning showers let up just prior to the 9 AM start time. The in-gate area had been successfully reconstructed by the “K&D Construction” team of Kent Moeller and Dewey Huckaby, and the young riders were ready to show in a junior exhibitor-heavy slate of classes.
The young ladies from California dominated the morning’s performance. Katie Jarve especially had a morning to remember. In the third class of the morning, Katie hit the ring with CH A Magic Spell in the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure 14-and-Under, making airy passes that had the gorgeous mare’s blonde mane and tail floating through the air. This great team from NorCal was called out for the blue. Reserve in the class went to Highpoint’s Grandee with Dakota Reiser, Chris Reiser’s son. Dakota had only shown the horse three times before entering the ring on Wednesday for Shannon Hafer. He received a solid round of applause for his red-ribbon performance. Another boy rider was in there battling. Nick Neviaser had The Mystery Machine making cute and consistent trips down the rail to take third.
Three classes later, Caroline Cherry made a stunning debut aboard CH In Neon ERB in the UPHA 9-10 Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup. The daughter of Jim and Helen Cherry of Zazen Ranch in Rancho Santa Fe, California, Caroline represented SoCal well, taking a unanimous blue under the direction of Cindy Boel. Stephanie Brackett was reserve aboard CH Much More Radiant, with Cash Lovell and Mary Orr calling instructions from the rail.
Three more classes down the schedule, Katie Jarve was back, this time with CH Callaway’s Capitol Reporter in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure class. Twelve horses hit the ring in this well-stocked event, which turned into a bit of a shoeing clinic when two horses lost shoes at the same time, coming down from the second-way trot. That didn’t stop the momentum that Katie and Capitol Reporter had built. They kept rolling straight down victory lane, taking the top prize for trainer Jennifer Dixon. Callaway’s Where There’s A Will and Emily Scharpf put on a good show to take reserve. Scott Matton was making his instructions heard from his post near the out-gate.
Taylor Newton kicked the day off right with a unanimous victory in the Saddle Seat Equitation 12-13 division. Her sage green suit lit up the ring, as she showed the fine and fixy A Sweet Sensation to the win under the direction of Shelley Fisher. Callie Smith and Miss Majesticness took the red ribbon back to DeLovely.
Early Edition epitomizes the Hackney Pleasure Driving division, and proved it with yet another blue ribbon drive with Jane Mueller at the lines. Early Edition has a very easy, free-moving quality to his way of going that has “pleasure” written all over it. Gib Marcucci once again joined this longtime team in the winner’s circle. Razzle Dazzle Me made some solid passes for Kay Marschel to garner reserve.
Missy Hughes had her head on a swivel in the Saddle Seat Equitation 11-and-Under class. She and the DeLovely crew had three riders in this division, and Missy managed to give each one some solid instruction as they breezed by, one right after the other, along the tent-side rail. She joined Belle Owen and Heir’s Encore in the winner’s circle when all was said and done. Natalie Armstrong-Grunnan had Carboness PHF working nicely. They showed hard to earn the second-place tie. The UPHA 14-17 Challenge Cup went to Casey Morgan Tibolet, with Sarah Lawson rounding out the two-entry class.
The junior exhibitors put on a great display of ringmanship in their Country Pleasure class. Seventeen entries finished the class, but there were no real traffic issues to speak of. This class featured some interesting match-ups. First and foremost was last year’s two Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure World’s Champions of Champions squaring off. Kalarama’s High Roller and Ali DeGray earned the title in the older age group, while Kabu and Ashley Baird were tops in the younger division at Louisville 2006. Throw in the fact that Ashley’s older sister, Brittany, was also in this class, riding hard aboard Crimson Blue, and the class just keeps getting more and more interesting. The Baird girls rode hard, but in the end, they could not overcome the beauty and elegance of Ali and Kalarama’s High Roller. The bay son of Harlem’s Hot Dice put on yet another classy show to take the Lexington blue. Ashley and Kabu were reserve, with Brittany and Crimson Blue taking third.
Macey and Todd Miles went to the winner’s circle together in the UPHA 8-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup. Macey and Aces And Eights were the unanimous winners, as proud father Todd headed them in the lineup. Madison Hawes and Osage Lily were the red-ribbon recipients.
Wednesday Evening
Anna Johnson, of I've Arrived fame, was on hand to present the colors and kick off the Wednesday evening performance with her new endeavor, the reining horse CS Freckles Gotta Gun. She and the seven-year-old Quarter horse, known as "Taser," put on a reining demonstration that was somewhat limited by footing not designed for sliding stops.
After a 31-entry Stick Horse class, a 21-horse Three-Gaited Show Pleasure 15-17 qualifier took center stage. Neither class was split, but the 15-17 class did require additional work. Ten entries were kept in the ring after the initial rail work. Lindsey Shields was in there with Superior One, along with Callaway’s Sam Baker and Elizabeth Oseroff, Vegas Dreams and Victoria McCune, Out Go The Lights and Lauren Greenwald, CH New York Entertainer and Jessica Macleod, Breathe and Aliyah Asch, Mega Star and Ashleigh Price, Worthy’s Independent Son and Elizabeth Rhoads, and CH She-Bop with Carmen Robles. But standing out from the crowd and taking the vote of all three judges was The Grand Master.
Thea Ervin had this six-year-old son of Radiant Sultan moving freely down the rail, avoiding trouble in the first work, then shining brightly in the workout. This team won their age group qualifier at Louisville last year and took the qualifier and Junior Exhibitor Pleasure Championship at the UPHA American Royal National Championship. Chuck Herbert and Lisa Salomon Uhde joined Ervin in the winner’s circle. As Uhde eloquently put it after the class, “He was good; she was good; the combination was good!”
Breathe made his 2007 Three-Gaited Pleasure debut with Aliyah Asch aboard. The division fits him well, as they were called out for reserve in a tough class. Rounding out the ribbons were Vegas Dreams, Callaway’s Sam Baker, CH She-Bop, Out Go The Lights, CH New York Entertainer, and Superior One.
Vindicator made a fantastic show in the Amateur Harness Pony Stake with Karen Waldron at the lines. At the amazing age of 22, this little stud just continues to bring his best to the ring every night. Second went to another world's champion combination, Shake Don’t Stir and Mary Gaylord McClean
World's Grand Champion Five O’Clock and Chris Nalley hit the ring for the third time in their young show ring career together. After two wins at Indianapolis Charity earlier this year, the team was ready to rock The Red Mile for the DeLovely family. They took the Amateur Gentlemen Five-Gaited class by a unanimous vote of the judges and were joined in the ring by Todd Miles and longtime DeLovely caretaker, Karen Medicus. The master showman, Bill Marple, was highlining and showing his Hartfelt Legacy to the utmost to earn the reserve tie. Dr. Louis Johnson, Ivy’s dad, received a big cheer from the crowd, taking third with Your Eminence.
Along Came A Spider creeped and crawled her way down the rails and up and down the corners of the Junior League ring. George Knight had her at her best once again for Georgia Herpin Baker, earning another Lexington victory pass in the Fine Harness Mare qualifier. Knight also had the Stallion/Gelding winner, so it remains to be seen which horse will come back in the Championship on Saturday. Sister Sally and Kathy Capsuto were second in this nice class of mares. Sister Sally is by I’m A New Yorker and out of Travelin’, a Harlem Globemaster daughter out of the three-gaited mare, CH Gamin. Matt Shiflet was third with a big-trotting daughter of CH Rejoice, Day to Rejoice, owned by Kathy Bagdasarian. She rocked way back and park trotted to her nose. She is by Sultan’s Great Day, so she was pretty much bred to wear a harness.
For the second year in a row, Clark “Cletus” Clouse brought Lime Twisted Gin into the Open Park qualifier at Lexington Junior League for Jackie Stred and emerged with the blue. Clark and this big, light chestnut seem to love showing on The Red Mile track, as they also won the 2005 Three-Gaited Under 15.2 qualifier. Another Bay just keeps on going. Now 17, the obviously bay son of Sultan’s Santana garnered reserve with Neil Visser in the irons for McDonald LLC. Janet Crampton was in the saddle of Phi’s Phortune Teller to pick up the yellow ribbon for Ashley and Toby McKenzie.
After another fast and efficient Scott Snider ring drag, the AHHS Roadster Pony Medallion hit the track. In her last year in the junior exhibitor ranks, Ali DeGray took her second victory pass of the day, this time with Seize The Moment. Reserve in the class was Catch Me If You Can, with Lauren Mathewson in the bike. Buckwheat was up for third with J.P. Stilz.
Immediately after Misdee Wrigley Miller’s niece, Ali DeGray, took her victory pass, Mary Gaylord McClean’s niece, Christy Bennett, hit the ring aboard Misdee’s former horse, CH Callaway’s Merry-Go-Round. Bennett had her bay son of Sultan’s Collector’s Item strutting down the rail, carrying the blue ribbon off into the quickly approaching sunset. CH The Super Nova and Dr. Morgan Wolin were second. Morgan was sporting a bright yellow formal jacket and bow tie.
Where Are We Now and Melissa Moore raced down victory lane for Aurora Farms in the Roadster Under Saddle class. Despite It All and Suzanne Hubbard were reserve for Barbara Watts.
Marilyn Macfarlane had her team of Friesians, Jethro and Jacob, perfectly turned out to take the top prize in the Ladies Phaeton class. Another red-haired beauty, Misdee Wrigley Miller, had her pair of bay Hackney horses looking the epitome of class and style in reserve. The crowd had another reason to cheer when the team of Jim and Angel were called out for third. Elizabeth Lampton was at the lines, but with her in the passenger seat was the grand gentleman himself, Dinwiddie Lampton. It was great to see him going around The Red Mile track once again to an appreciative round of applause.
Veteran catch driver Kenny Wheeler was at it once again, this time taking Harlem’s Worldly Lady to the tri-color in the Country Pleasure Driving Championship for Fish N’ Fun Farm. Worldly Lady made the switch from Five-Gaited to Country Pleasure Driving this year, and her only defeats have come at the hands of CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny. It has been a successful move so far to say the least. Hitman’s Special Delivery and Eddie Lewis were the Reserve Champions.
The Five-Gaited Pleasure class was a little light on entries, with 13 answering John Franzreb’s call. In a normal year, this class pushes 20 and sometimes goes beyond that number. CH Desert’s Favorite Memories made his first performance as a pleasure horse a memorable one, taking Joan Cantrell on a thrilling ride all the way to the winner’s circle. Jack Magill joined the big, bold son of Desert’s Supreme Admiral in the winner’s circle. Cindy Hartley had her slick-moving Caramac son, Callaway’s Jack Frost, moving through the crowd to take the red ribbon. Jack Frost gets his gray coloring from his bottom line, as he is out of the Silver Lining mare, Silver Spirit SLS.
The Starwalker (SA) lived up to his name in the Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under qualifier. Tre Lee was aboard this entry of Melissa Moore. They made their debut last month at Rock Creek, taking the Jackpot Stake there. Starwalker seemed to float down the rail, at an airy, measured park trot, never backing an ear. Starwalker is relatively new to the land of the free and the home of the brave. He was bred by Jack and Bill Schoeman in South Africa and is by the South African stallion, Cloverleaf The Wildwalker. Trace that stud’s pedigree back a couple generations, and you will see Supreme Sultan, Buck and Wing, Oman’s Desdemona Denmark, and Lady Trigg. He is out of a Zovoorbij Commander In Chief mare. Ricky Cook and Angela Lane were reserve for Don Harris.
The three-entry Amateur Five-Gaited Mare class shaped up as a showdown by two of the best gaited mares of this decade. CH Amusing and Have You Ever squared off once again, making pass after pass, building momentum and rolling down the long Lexington rails like few others can. “The Goodfilly” tore up the track for Barclay de Wet, earning her a first-place vote from Brian Chappell, but CH Amusing was not to be denied. Amy Dix Rock put on another memorable performance with this beautiful mare. Once she got rocked back to that place where only she can put her head and neck, Rob Byers was headed to the winner’s circle to meet them.
For the third year in a row, Heartland Candidate and Sandra Surber emerged from the Ladies Hackney Pony class with a blue ribbon in tow. This was Sandra’s first show ring performance under the direction of Rich Campbell and Maureen Lydon, who have taken over training duties with Bruce Dixon recovering from a liver transplant back in California. Classical Dancer and Kathy Buente were reserve.
Last year’s Limit Road Pony winner here on The Red Mile, Beaulah Jean, was back this year, taking the Open Roadster Pony class with Jeff McClean. They were last year’s 50 Inches and Under World’s Champions and were up for the Reserve World’s Grand Championship. Lamborghini and Georgia Blevins were up for the red ribbon.
“I’m still shaking!” That was Barb Scharpf’s reaction about 10 minutes after daughter Emily took a unanimous trip down Lexington’s victory lane with CH Nelmar Tango 4 Ever (SA). This gorgeous chocolate brown chestnut repeated his qualifier win from last year, continuing the team’s undefeated 2007 show season. Scotty Matton joined her in the winner’s circle, having been furnished with a new bicycle helmet and training wheels after having an unfortunate meeting between his bicycle and a parked horse trailer on Wednesday morning. Milady a la Lucie and Holly Wilson were up for reserve in this well-stocked class.
Last year’s Amateur Roadster to Bike Champion here on The Red Mile, Cosmical, had Matt Shiflet in the bike tonight to take the Open Roadster to Bike qualifier. Matt Shiflet has him working high-headed and fast now in 2007 and looks ready to take on all challengers. Quill and Melinda Moore were a tough reserve in the second to the last class of the evening.
When Calif First Night Out (SA), the 2006 Bloemfontein Five-Gaited Reserve Grand Champion, was a late scratch from the Five-Gaited Stallion Stake, some of the international flavor and anticipation was taken out of the class. However, Redd Crabtree more than made up for that with Blackie’s Rising Star. Bred by Lisa Rosenberger of Germany and owned by Martin Gueldner, Rising Star certainly lives up to his name.
He has Harlem Globetrotter on his top and bottom lines. He is by Harlem Spats Waller, by Harlem Globetrotter and out of the Wing Commander x Lady Carrigan mare, Raven Wing. His second dam on his bottom line is A Dancing Star, by Starlike Sultan and out of the Stonewall Premier mare, Dancing Time. It turns out there is a very good reason this seven-year-old is still a stallion! He has been in the country for five months now. Prior to that he had never had a haircut and had most definitely never known what a tailset was. He is taking to the U.S. and especially The Red Mile quite nicely. No stranger to The Red Mile, Merrill Murray had Kalarama’s All Time High moving well for the Catron family to take reserve.
It was a great night of well-stocked classes at Lexington Junior League, where the weather has held up quite nicely. Towards the end of the night, when the breeze picked up just right, it even felt downright chilly! Thursday will bring a short slate of classes in the morning and the always highly anticipated young horse classes on the evening schedule.
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