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Lexington Jr. League - Wednesday Evening




Wednesday Evening

 

By the time Wednesday evening rolled around everyone around accepted the fact it was going to be a wet evening.  It did not start out that way but after a short time the clouds kept a steady drizzle in the air. Everyone, however, made the best of it watching the great competition from underneath the stands and their umbrellas.  

The deep 15-17 show pleasure class opened the session with 25 entries going strong.  The dynamic pair of Callaway's Torch Bearer and Tara Grom won the blue. Reserve in this competitive class went to a relatively new team, The Mystery Machine and Rachel Kelly.  With his flashy appearance this team was hard to miss in the large class.  A strong third went to Petra's Beyond Belief and Katie Salvi under the direction of Ray Krussell.  

Continuing their reign in the amateur harness pony division Vindicator and Karen Waldron turned in a top drive to win the large 12-entry class.  Reserve went to last year's winner of this class, Heartland Expectation and Karen Frickey.  

The Amateur Gentlemen Five-Gaited was stacked with top competition with names like Callaway's Blackbeard, Enzo, and It's All About Me. Wild Wonderful and Nic de Wet maneuvered the ring to perfection and left with the blue for the second consecutive year.  This bold bay mare by Show N Off Too is part of the Leatherwood Stud breeding program and trained by Redd Crabtree. Under the Biggins banner, reserve went to the 2004 Junior Five-Gaited Champion from Freedom Hall It's All About Me, now teamed with owner Chris Nalley.  

With a commanding performance, Along Came A Spider earned the blue ribbon in the Fine Harness Mare with George Knight on the lines for Georgia Baker.  Dancing Up A Storm LCC and Kathy Capsuto braved the elements to take home the red streamers.  

Tax Man and Melinda Moore commanded the judges’ attention to win the open park class for owner, Jeff Councilman.  Tax Man was bold and brilliant for Moore as they navigated the wet track in what thus far had been the largest class of the show.  Earning reserve was Our Fallen Angel and Rob Byers for Cheryl Friedman-Allison.  

In their debut together Ali DeGray took over the lines from her mom, Helen Rosburg, and exceptionally guided Seize The Moment through the 15-entry AHHS Roadster Pony Medallion.  This marks two years in a row DeGray has won this class.  Last year she made the trip to the winner's circle with Free Willy.  Under the direction of Steve Hanks, reserve honors went to Heartland Painted Creation and Jeb Boyd, who won the Limit Roadster Pony class last year at this show.

The amateurs returned to the ring for the over 15.2 three-gaited. Callaway's Merry Go Round performed at the top of his game to win the class with Misdee Wrigley in the irons for the second year in a row.  Reserve honors went to the bright mare Lady Latte with Jackie Ware up.

Seven thrilling entries made the gate call for the Roadster Under Saddle class.  With great speed and style, Where We Are Now and Melissa Moore were called to the winner's circle for Aurora Farms.  Reserve went to another master of this division, Valiant and Danette Musselman.  

In the Ladies Phaeton - Single Or Pair, four beautiful entries exhibited their turnouts including the horses, carriage and whip.  In this particular driving class carriages were required to be a George IV, Peter's Phaeton or Brewster Basket Phaeton and the horse(s) had to be shown at a park trot and not faster. Mastering all the requirements was the turnout from Walnut Way, a pair of Friesians with Marilyn Macfarlane at the whip.  Reserve went to another pair of Friesians with the turnout from Bent Tree Farm.  Karen Waldron expertly drove Iedse and Earl and graciously accepted the red ribbon.  

Theology and John Scheidt returned to the winner's circle in the country pleasure driving division to win the championship for Stonecroft Farm.  Moving up a notch from their earlier performance, Heirithmatic and Donna Smith captured the red streamers in the championship to hang on the Blue Willow banner.  

Once again management stepped in to divide up a class that, without the division, would have filled the ring with 34 entries.  Topping the first section of the Five-Gaited Show Pleasure was the team of CH Champagne Bob and Maggie Noonan with their standout performance.  Reserve in the competitive 19-entry class went to CH Will's No Doubt About It and Caroline Deshaies.  In the second section the blue ribbon went to the flashy Liquid Thunder with Tate Bennett in the irons for Cross Timbers Enterprises.  Earning reserve was the team of CH Callaway's Rockaway and Chris Nalley.

Lime Twisted Gin was outstanding to win the Open Under 15.2 Three-Gaited with Clark Clouse aboard for Robert Lilly.  He did not seem to mind the track as he marched pass after pass earning the judges' and the crowd's approval.  Reserve went to the elegant April Hi Lite with Lance Williams in the irons for Penny and Frank St. Charles.   

For the second year in a row the team of Amusing and Amy Dix Roberts earned the victory pass in the Amateur Five-Gaited Mares.  Under the direction of Premier this team was flawless for the win.  The Wings Of A Dove and Vernon Wise earned the crowd's applause as they accepted the red streamers.  Macaroon and Lori Boyd Van Gordon turned in a top ride to earn a strong third.  


In a class full of quality and quantity, horses like Callaway's Gold Reserve, Aurora Borealis, Romantic Manifesto, and CH Sportster were listed in the program.  Missing from the program was (SA) Nelmar Tango 4 Ever with Nicola Van Der Walt.  After a successful 2004 in the junior exhibitor three-gaited division, this grand horse has been competing in the fine harness division on the west coast earlier this year with Bill Blacklaw and Gene Van Der Walt.  Moving back to the junior exhibitor three-gaited division was a great decision as this team earned the blue ribbon for Singing Hills Stables.  Reserve honors went to the 2004 winner of this class, CH Sportster and Kate Bryan.  In their last year competing as a junior exhibitor team, CH Sportster and Kate Bryan rode hard, marching down the rail better than ever before under the direction of the Cash Lovell Stables team of trainers.  It was at Lexington in 2002 that this grand horse caught the attention of Cash Lovell and he was chosen to be Bryan's next horse after he won the ladies under two class with Deborah Visser.  It seems only fitting that this well decorated team competes well on The Red Mile.  

Wednesday night was the first time the new team of Free Willy and Georgia Blevins hit the ring and what better place to do it than on The Red Mile track. They made a commanding performance and at times the pony's legs were pumping so hard they were practically touching his nose.  As the cards were being tied they waited patiently to learn that in their first outing they would be crowned the unanimous champions.  Reserve honors went to the talented pony Triumphant with Gib Marcucci at the lines for Jane Mueller.

In a lightning fast Open Roadster to Bike class, Gingerbread Man earned the trip to the winner's circle with Melinda Moore in the bike sporting the Arrowhead colors.  Reserve went to one of the top teams in this division Braveheart and Marilyn Macfarlane.

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