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Lexington Junior League - Thursday Evening



 

It’s young horse night on the Red Mile, with all of the excitement and promise that comes along with Thursday night in Lexington. Lionel Ferreira got things rolling with a Two-Year-Old Fine Harness win at the lines of Riverdream’s Nuttin’ But Charm. An entry of Riverdreams LLC, Nuttin’ But Charm is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Helen’s Charm, by Santana’s Charm. Helen’s Charm was herself a Reserve World’s Champion as a walk-trot horse. Another Nutcracker product, Nuttin’ But Elegant is owned and driven by Jan Lukens. This one is out of CH Heads Will Turn, a mare owned by none other than Nutcracker’s owner, Kris Swanson.

The Pleasure Driving Championship saw Karrie Graham and CH A Cinderella Story take their eighth trip down Lexington’s victory lane. Hopalong Jim Lowry headed them up in the line, joined by Fay Lowry for the round of honor. The highly decorated mare has been a star with Karrie since 2009, producing an embryo that foaled out recently in her year off last season. Eddie Norris fit right in in Lexington with his royal blue sportcoat. He and American Art were the stylish reserve champions under the direction of Jack Magill. Also the Reserve National Champions in 2013, they took a Reserve World’s Championship turn last year as well. Jack Magill put these two together in 2011, and they have been in the top prizes ever since.

Nuttin’ But Style and Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes continued their undefeated career together with the unanimous Three-Gaited Pony Championship here on Thursday night. Now seven for seven, these two captured the tricolor for Rainbow Princess Farms and the DeLovely team. Another by Nutcracker, Nuttin’ But Style comes by her walk-trot pony skills naturally, as she is out of the World’s Champion walk-trot pony, CH Heir Style. CH Powerful Tango has long been a star of this division. It was a reserve tricolor tonight with Emilea Stinnett aboard for Woodlea Farms and Mercer Springs. Six times a winner on the season, Powerful Tango earned this exact same prize in 2006, his first year as a walk-trot pony.

So far tonight we have had Nuttin’ But Charm, Nuttin’ But Style, and now Nuttin’ More as class winners on this Nutcracker kind of night. Matt Shiflet captained this one to the win for Cameron Byford and William Masiak. Nuttin’ More is out of All That N More, by Worthy Son. Matthew had this one working in a high, lofty style for the Junior Three-Gaited Park blue. T.J. Santaferra continued his good run with Kathy Capsuto, showing Drizzle to the reserve honors. A beautiful flaxen mare, Drizzle is by I’m A New Yorker and out of Louisville winner CH Dancing Up A Storm LCC. Drizzle is cleverly named, as she is the little sister of Rain.

Heartland Sweet Caroline debuted to a blue prize in the UPHA Hackney Pony Classic. Darrel Kolkman drove for Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Kolkman. Sweet Caroline is by Heartland Rain And Fire and out of Heartland Heather, by Dun-Haven Bandolier. Crystal Creek’s Dr. Hill also made a debut show for reserve. Eduardo Lopez was the driver for Kathryn Nichols. Dr. Hill is by World’s Grand Champion Dun-Haven Phenomenal and out of Twin Oak Rufiann.

Alexa Noble rekindled her Red Mile magic with a winning ride in the 36-and-Over Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class. Baxter Black headed to the winner’s circle to be joined by trainer Jack Noble. It was 11 years ago and then once again 10 years ago that Alexa rode the breathtaking Breathe to wins on this track in amateur park. Though wildly different in coloring, these two horses have that similar high-in-the-forehand way of moving. CH Story To Tell and Susan Orton also made good passes in reserve under the Wingswept banner. These two have been teamed up since 2011, scoring good results everywhere they go. They were reserve champions at Shelby County Fair to finish out their qualifying run last month. Third in this nice class of 12 went to Warranty Connection and Deborah Orr, with Dr. Morgan Wolin and Pippin in fourth.

It was a memorable Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Championship, as Moonlight Memories was the Champion, with Our Favorite Memory as the reserve champion. McGee Bosworth made the tricolor ride here for Pair of Jacks Stables. The absolutely gorgeous mare by Desert’s Supreme Memories out of the Broodmare Hall of Fame mare Tanbark’s Enchanted Evening is trained by High Caliber Stables. Her extreme curvature of neck and ears up attitude set her apart from the crowd, earning her all three first place votes. Jessica Cloud moved up a spot in the championship with Our Favorite Memory. Jack Magill is always excited for his riders in the show ring, and he was dialed up to 11 in this one, as Jessica made perhaps her best ride yet on the son of Titleist Memory and Hometown Favorite. Kiss Goodnight and Juliette Dell scored the yellow ribbon in third for 6D Ranch, followed by Callaway’s Gabriel and Allie Poovey in fourth, the top placement for a 13-and-under rider.

A group the same size as the 36-and-Under Show Pleasure class showed up for the Friesian Walk-and-Trot division. This class featured all seats, with two Western, two Hunters, and the rest saddle seat entries. The Western horses seemed to work as a pair, making a sizeable obstacle when the faster moving horses were coming by! Judge Nancy Troutman had the job of being the lone judge in this field of a dozen black horses. An excellent feature of Peter Doubleday as the announcer is that he is incredibly comfortable with the Dutch names in this class, illustrated perfectly when he effortlessly spit out Setshe fan’t Grutslan as the winning name. Jennifer Cunningham provided a much easier name to say as the owner/trainer/rider. Jennifer has been teamed with this horse since the start of his career in 2008. Hugo represented the hunt seat entries as the reserve winner with Allison Norris riding for Nathan and Erin Miley. Brend V and Winter Bruggeworth topped mom Annika by placing third here, while Annika Bruggeworth herself got the biggest ovation with Ilus Waldman in fourth.

After an eventful drag in which the Gator got separated from the screen drag, the UPHA Road Pony Classic came to the ring, with yet another thrown pony shoe, a sight rarely seen at all, let alone twice at one show. Darrel Kolkman continued a good night with the young ponies, winning this one with Heartland Made In The Shade. By Heartland Head Of The Class and out of a Sky King mare, Made In The Shade is just a three-year-old bay colt. Sporty as can be, he is directed by Chris Gantley. Also debuting here was Showstar’s Prince Phillip LF. Juan Rios was at the lines for Elisabeth Goth and Majestic Oaks. He is by Dun-Haven Showstar and out of Regal’s Princess LF.

The 35-and-Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class was a battle of the recently aged-out junior riders, as all of the top five were junior riders within the last five years. Drew Taylor Hewitt is in her first year of adult competition, graduating with that incredible group of junior exhibitors in 2014. She was the unanimous winner here with the bold-going CH Fort Chiswell’s Prince Charming. Clark Clouse headed up the DTH Saddlebreds entry, also the champion at Chattanooga last month. Taylor Newton scored the reserve win on Standing Guard. Owned by Steve and Pam Binnie, Standing Guard shows under the direction of Shelley Fisher. Standing Guard is by Merchant Prince and out of the grand mare CH Times Mirrored ERB. Taylor is in her second year of adult competition. Gretchen Bentz is the elder statesman of this top five, graduating from junior exhibitor in 2009. She rode Callaway’s Blue Moon Rising to third for LaFleur Stables. Abby Mutrux was fourth in her first year out. She rode Forty Nights here for Dwaine Kinderknecht and Karrie Graham. Mollie Kregor rounded out this group in fifth aboard WS Knight’s Quiet Victory for Richard Baltierra. She is also in her second year as an amateur.

Grace McDonell had her best ride yet with Bubble Bath to claim the tricolor in the 13-and-Under Three-Gaited Championship. An entry of Grace and Gamine LLC, Bubble Bath is trained by High Caliber Stables. These two won the championship at Midwest Charity last month in just their first year showing together. Manipulating The Stars and Jozee Johnson moved up a notch to claim a reserve championship prize for Harold Denton Jr. and an excited Clouse Stables team. This one is by VHF The Licorice Drop Kid and out of Halle Berre. They were champions at Chattanooga last month. They wrapped up an exciting back-to-back run for Clouse Stables in these last two classes. Alex Rudder and The Proof Is In The Heir got a nice pop from the crowd in third for David Rudder and Wingswept Farm.

Smith Lilly had a bigtime horse in Futurette, winner of the UPHA Fine Harness Classic. He was the unanimous winner here for Tim and Marty Shea. Tim and Marty were also famously the owners of the grand mare Our Brilliant Belle, also a winner here as a young horse. This one is by Wine Women And Song and out of Miss Moriarty. This mare has been a good producer for Melinda Moore, also turning out World’s Champion Extremely Fortunut and a winner from the other night, Roselane’s Dancing For Dollars. The “Roselane” prefix has been prominent in the young horse classes this week, including a reserve win in this one with Roselane’s Town Topic. Matt Shiflet drove here for Dr. Hank Gendron. By Salemtown and out of a Top Spool mare, Town Topic is a chestnut filly with two hind whites.

The Dutch Harness Horses of Hillcroft Farm were the lone entry in the Coaching Four In Hand. James Miller drove the team to the blue ribbon.

CH Sprinkles’ season debut finished out well, as she swept the week with Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes for Rainbow Princess Farms and DeLovely. The Five-Gaited Pony Champion is a Saddlebred ambassador, as BreyerFest is in town this week as well, where Sprinkles is held in high esteem as a Breyer model. Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes signed a few of the collectibles earlier in the week as prizes to be given away. Charles Gassen kept right up with the girls, taking Little Lord Huntly to the reserve championship for grandma Brenda Kelly and trainer/dad Steve Gassen. The Rest Of The Story and Olivia Schumacher finished up in third.

Ivy Johnson, who won the Five-Gaited Pony Stake here in 2005 and 2008 with Miss Outta My Way, visited the winner’s circle once again tonight a few years later. With family and friends looking on and Peter Doubleday providing color commentary, Ivy’s longtime boyfriend Josh Fleming dropped to a knee in center ring and proposed. Luckily she said “Yes!” as a party had already been planned back at Grey Ridge!

Matt Shiflet topped a good group of road horses in the Novice Roadster to Bike class with Boston Strong. Another in a long line from Chappy Chapman, Boston Strong made the blue and white silks a blur as he stepped off down victory lane. Speedy Jesse and Kieran Holahan made a great show in reserve for Barbara Matthews. They were reserve champions at Devon as well.

Nut Lookin’ was a highlight of the night for Wingswept Farm, unanimously winning the UPHA Three-Gaited Classic with Stephanie Sedlacko for Maple Lane Farm. Another winner here on Nutcracker night… or so you would think! This one is a tricky name, as she gets her “Nut” name from the bottom line. Out of an Undulata’s Nutcracker mare, she is by the late gaited stallion I’m Lookin’ For You. These two were also the winners at Rock Creek last month. Jesse West rode Call Me Cabernet to a red prize for Alliance Stud. He is by CH Call Me Ringo and out of Vintage, a Bi-Mi Sultan’s Wine mare.

Raymond Shively was also unanimous in the Roadster to Wagon Championship, though he and More To Come were the lone entries here. They are unbeaten in their seven trips to the ring.

Handsome Harry lives up to his name, resembling remarkably his sire, Twin Willow’s Handsome Dan in curve and talent. Winner of this UPHA Harness Pony Classic two years in a row, he was the Three-Year-Old Harness Pony World’s Champion in 2013. Jeff McClean does the driving for Golden Creek Farms. Brumaster and Abel Vega made their debut for a reserve win. Brumaster is owned by Abel and is by Twentieth Century and out of Bruschetta.

It was a successful first trip to the ring for Mountjoy’s Extra Nice and Tré Lee, winning the UPHA Five-Gaited Classic. Owned by Tré and Emily Lee’s Prospect Lane Farm, Extra Nice is by Mountjoy’s Knight and out of Love Me Tender Sweet Sophie Rose. The chestnut gelding looked to be well beyond his rookie show ring status in winning tonight. I’m Strapless Too got a good catch ride from Mike Tunstall to take reserve for Lowry Stables and Dwaine Kinderknecht. This filly is by Santana’s Charm and out of Strapless, the wonderful walk-trot World’s Champion. The top two entries in this class were at least partially trainer-owned, a growing trend among young prospects in the show ring today.

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