Lexington Junior League - Thursday Evening
Friday, July 10, 2015
Thursday night’s opener is always the domain of the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness horses. Bred to be a great one, Sir Lancelot’s Legacy was the winner here with Melissa Moore at the lines for Golden Creek Farms. Sired by World’s Grand Champion Sir Silver Knight, Lancelot’s Legacy is out of none other than the multi-world-titled harness mare, Lady Vol. The beautiful black colt strutted down victory lane tonight. Owned and bred by MBA Equestrians, MBA’s Just About Thyme was the reserve winner with Emily Lee at the lines. Sired by their own MBA’s Manhattan’s Shooting Star, this colt is out of Callaway’s Rosemary And Thyme, a Reserve World’s Champion of Champions in juvenile walk-trot.
It was a unanimous decision that sent Bewitching Lad to the Show Pleasure Driving Championship from a field of 11 entries. Owned and bred by driver Kathy Capsuto Walker, Bewitching Lad is by Charmed And Bewitched and out of Harlem’s Irish Lass, by Harlem Globetrotter. This horse got the best of both sides of his pedigree, combining the pretty with the drive off both ends. This now makes Rock Creek, Midwest and Lexington tricolors for the Escalade team. Another out of the great Broodmare Hall of Fame mare Callaway’s Carousel, Callaway’s There’s No Stopping Us was the reserve champion with Krista Headley at the lines for Inspiration Ventures. By Callaway’s Blue Norther, No Stopping Us was also reserve in the qualifier. This was Krista’s first week showing on the Red Mile. Dr. Robert Pugh and the handsome Copper And Kings were third for Leslie LaForce, while Callaway’s Nuts To You and Carolyn Melka finished in fourth.
Making their season debut with two unanimous blues, Nuttin’ But Style and Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes made it count for the Rainbow Princess Farms and trainer Mark Turner. By Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of the World’s Champion walk-trot pony CH Heir Style, Nuttin’ But Style just keeps cranking out victory passes. Heir Style, it bears mentioning, is a full sister to World’s Grand Champion An Heir About Her. Second dam Sweet Illusion W.F. is way more than qualified for the Broodmare Hall of Fame, though it’s not overly clear how that nomination process works. Three-Gaited Pony winners at both Rock Creek and Chattanooga/Cleveland Charity, Faizah and Sydney Dunaway were the reserve champions tonight for Jim and Sara McDowell. Don Bridges trains the cross of Kalarama’s Spanish Dancer and Batteries Are Not Included.
Four showed for the Junior Three-Gaited Park blue, with Nut Too Sweet and T.J. Santaferra earning the top spot for owners and breeders Paula Schmidt and Kathy Capsuto Walker. By Undulata’s Nutcracker, Nut Too Sweet is out of the World’s Champion country pleasure mare, Tremendously Charming. Nut Too Sweet was twice a Reserve World’s Champion in harness as a two-year-old. Kalarama’s Studious Girl was the ASR Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Park Futurity World’s Champion a year ago. The big bay mare with plenty of flair is by Calif First Night Out and out of Kalarama Co-Ed, by Harlem Globetrotter. Smith Lilly handled the ride tonight for Woodlea Farms to take reserve honors.
From a field of 14, On Higher Ground was picked as the winner of the 36-and-Over Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class. Shawn Stachoswki is the owner and rider of the pretty chestnut gelding with a lighter mane and tail. By Seaforth’s Billion Heir, he is out of an Undulata’s Nutcracker mare. He put his chin on his chest and never backed an ear, going way above level for the win. The reserve champion here a year ago on the way to a Reserve National Championship, CH Kent Brockman was reserve tonight with Bridget McNeese riding for Dr. Catherine Carter McNeese. Champion at Gasparilla in his only other trip off the farm this year, Kent is by Jon Bugatti and out of Harlem’s Main Attraction. Like our winner, he is also still owned by his original breeder. Pippin and Dr. Morgan Wolin were a good third from Merriehill Farm, while Elegant Mystery and Kristen Wells took the white ribbon back to Lowry Stables.
The 13-and-Under Five-Gaited Championship tonight harkened back to 2009, when Sprinkles and Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes lit up the Red Mile. There is something about a tiny kid on a great gaited horse that just delights the crowd. Abigail Tabor gave the crowd their reason to cheer tonight, as she took CH Sunken Treasure to a unanimous victory. All three judges and the crowd agreed on the champion tonight, as the cheers followed Abigail up one rail and down the other. Owned by Allen and McGee Bosworth, Sunken Treasure has shown a ton of young jockeys how to show a gaited horse. He hooked another one for life tonight with a signature show for High Caliber Stables. The chromed out Walterway’s Pardon Me was the reserve champion in this one, as Emily Candelaria did a great job for Barbara Woods and Judd Stables. Out of the golden cross of Star Material and the Broodmare Hall of Famer Yorktown’s Forget-Me-Not, Pardon Me was the Ladies Five-Gaited National Champion in 2013. He had a reserve win with Emily here a year ago. CH Callaway’s Lil Abner continued his storied career with a top three prize for Karla Moritz and trainer Milo Jones.
It was another unanimous winner in the 14-17 Five-Gaited Championship. Emma Sanchez gave winning owner/grandmother Sharyn Lackey a great birthday present tonight under the direction of Peter and Kim Cowart. Beaten just once on the season, this team has been stellar against the toughest of competition from Raleigh to Asheville, Midwest Charity, and now Lexington. By Deep Blue and out of a Desert’s Supreme Memories mare, He’s In Style made his Red Mile debut this week. One of the top ten sires of the week, He’s Born To Royalty was the reserve champion. Catherine Wheeler made a great show tonight, working in high style for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler and trainer Smith Lilly. The 14-17 Five-Gaited Reserve National Champion a year ago, Born To Royalty is by CH Callaway’s Born To Win and out of Princess Nora B.R. Interesting piece of trivia, it was 25 years ago that Princess Nora was selected in a package from Belle Reve by Judy Shepherd. The other two in that package were World’s Champion and Broodmare Hall of Famer It’s A Beautiful Day and World’s Grand Champion Winter Day! Liquid Courage and Taylor Woods put on a racking clinic in third for La Dolce Vita Farms, while Jessi McCurry and My Dreamboat Annie were fourth for Double Doc Farms.
Beaten just once in his young career, and that by his own barnmate, the gorgeous Lauw fan E Goengamieden was the Friesian Walk-and-Trot winner tonight with Annika Bruggeworth. These two have wins at Raleigh Spring Premier, Children’s Benefit, Bonnie Blue, Rock Creek, and Shelby County Fair already this year. Wendy Bruwer and Erik H.W. were the Friesian Saddle Seat Pleasure Junior Horse World Champions last year. They came away as the reserve winners tonight. The Siren Song team continued with third and fourth-place winners Ilus Waldman with Scotty Bruggeworth and Gooitzen fan Teakesyl with Winter Bruggeworth.
Unbeaten still in his young career, Prime Time’s Choice was the outstanding winner in the UPHA Roadster Pony Classic. Tom Lowry did the driving here for Golden Creek Farms. Also the winner at Midwest Charity, this explosive pony is by Romeo’s Prime Time LF and out of a Dun-Haven Regal Attraction mare. Winner at Lawrenceburg and River Ridge, Heartland Worthy Son took reserve honors with Josh Greer as the owner and driver. Worthy Son is by Code Of Extreme and out of Heartland Glitter, by Sky King.
The youngest part of the 35-and-under age group rose to the top in the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure division. There are few riders that work this track better than Abby Mutrux, making her a primo catch rider here. Though let’s be honest, she’s going to be a lot of people’s pick regardless of locale. Tonight she took The Winter Rose to the blue for Katherine Meints and James Natoli. Abby has had this assignment all season long for the Lowry Stables team. Champion at Rock Creek last month, Winter Rose is by Bob Bobaloo and out of the Periaptor mare, Miss Hannah Jane. Gavin Gagnon got a good catch ride as well, taking Callaway’s Cohort to a reserve win for Peter Abdow and Fairfield South. By Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Smooth Talkin’, Cohort made a great show tonight for Gavin. Keeping the youth trend going, Jake Butts finished third with Undulata’s Hullabaloo, while Captain Sparrow JJS and Caroline Skinner rounded out the top four.
CH Real Action has made Reagan Campbell’s decision to give up cheerleading look like a great one. The young star rider took a unanimous tricolor ride tonight for Darby, Amy and Reagan Campbell. Trainers Bill and Lisa Waller can’t say enough about the quality of this young lady and her effort to become a top jockey. That effort and determination is paying off and then some for Reagan, as she and her trainers have Real Action working in high style. The qualifier placings held true to the championship in this one, with My Hail Mary as the reserve champion with Clayton Stinnett. The entry of Woodlea Farms is trained by Smith Lilly. My Hail Mary was the Three-Gaited Champion here last year with Smith aboard. She is by Revival and out of CH Crimson Blue, by Callaway’s Blue Norther. Ava Stachowski continued a good night for her family, finishing third with Prince Of Prowlin’. Alyssa Grace Ridings and Callaway’s Silent Partner were fourth for Helen Rich.
The UPHA Fine Harness Classic winner would be a good commercial for Jimmy and Helen Robertson’s sale. Sir Graham Cracker’s dam, Crackers In Bed, was selected by Kathy Capsuto Walker at the 2011 fall sale with this Sir William Robert son on board. Kathy had simply wanted to try a broodmare by Undulata’s Nutcracker, and the free breeding to Robert was just gravy. It worked out quite well, as Kathy drove to a repeat of her Rock Creek victory, winning in unanimous style. Also by Sir William Robert, the hinged up Enough Fluff took reserve honors with Chris Hostetter. Owned and bred by Ashlyn Farms, this one is also out of a Nutcracker mare, Fluffernutter. She was the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare World’s Champion last year. It was Nutcracker himself siring the third prize winner, Nuttin’ But Elegant. Jan Lukens drove this one for Lisa Denuzzo.
The Coaching Four In Hand class was split into horse and pony divisions, with both entries receiving blue ribbons for their grand effort and display. Misdee Wrigley Miller’s team of Dutch Harness Horses scored the blue in the horse division for Hillcroft Farm, while Charles Poppe’s team of Hackney Ponies from Cincinnati were the winners in the pony division.
By Design Only and Caroline Dolt completed a sweep of the Five-Gaited Pony division, taking the tricolor tonight for Cedarcrest Farm. Winners at Rock Creek and Shelby County Fair as well, Caroline and By Design Only are trained by Don Bridges. The high-headed bay is by Designed and out of a Sultan’s Warhawk mare. This is the sixth season that this team has been together. The 2012 Five-Gaited Pony World’s Champion of Champions, The Rest Of The Story was the reserve winner tonight with Olivia Schumacher. A big fundraiser for Ribbons of Service, Olivia rides with Kierson Farm. Lorraine Schumacher is the registered owner of the cross of CH Caramac and CH That’s My Story (BHF).
Trainers Jennifer Hazen and Kyle Peel were thrilled with the drive of Ron Skover and Lima Cajun. The entry of Ron and Lori Skover took it to the track to win the Novice Roadster to Bike blue. This was the first win for this new team, coming on the storied Red Mile. Lawrenceburg winners Lear Jet and Melinda Moore were up for reserve. They flew around the ring for the red prize.
Another Thursday night winner by Designed, Expensively Designed was all punched up and strutting for Piper Bordegon to win the UPHA Three-Gaited Classic as the lone amateur in the group. Owned by Maribelle Granger, this cross of Designed and CH Harlem’s Santa Fe is trained by Shelley Fisher. Just a year ago, this was a Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited Reserve World’s Champion, making another great show tonight for a Lexington blue. The stretchy bay Sedgefield’s Mirror Image took reserve honors with Rob Byers. Owned by Golden Creek Farms, he couldn’t be much more royally bred. By Undulata’s Nutcracker, he is out of the World’s Grand Champion Three-Gaited mare, CH Our Charming Lady.
Ice Man and James Nichols rocked out a solo in the Roadster to Wagon Championship. Grabbing the tricolor for Betty Tucker and Cascade Stables. This was a repeat victory from 2011 for Ice Man.
It was a great season debut for last year’s Two-Year-Old Five-Gaited World’s Champion. Vegas Moon kept pouring it on with Tre Lee, coming away with a unanimous win in the UPHA Five-Gaited Classic. Owned by Golden Creek Farms, Vegas Moon is by Northern Vegas and out of Winsdown It’s About Time, by CH The Talk Of The Town. Emily Lee is the breeder of record for this young star. Rock Creek winner Undeniably Undulata ERB was up for reserve with Jim Lowry. Owned by Faydelle Schott, this one is Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Callaway’s Fannie Caulfield, by Callaway’s Blue Norther. Fannie Caulfield is a full sister to World’s Grand Champion Callaway’s Forecaster. Karoo Kat and T.J. Santaferra closed out a great night for Escalade Stables in third, while Andrea Harry and Rosabella finished fourth for Alliance Stud.
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