Lexington Junior League - Thursday Morning
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Any story about the Thursday morning session would be remiss if it did not start with a description of the incredible weather. Anyone who has been to a daytime session here will understand the next line well: It was so nice, you could sit on the sunny side of the track and be perfectly comfortable! There was a legitimate cool breeze blowing all morning long. While Dr. Brian Garrett won the other night with Where Are We Now, that might have been the question on a lot of minds this morning.
Emily Chapman worked the intricate pattern to perfection to start off the short Thursday morning session with a blue ribbon ride in Saddle & Bridle’s Pleasure Equitation Medallion. Riding My One Night Stand under the direction of Cindy Boel, Emily shows on the West Coast out of her Arizona home base, Bridleway Stables. She has finished in the top three of every class she has entered so far this season, taking championship honors at River Ridge and Indianapolis Charity. Cailin Bridges was reserve aboard Wicked Whispers. A Cater Stables product, just two years ago she was in the Academy ranks! She has had good success this week, winning the 13-and-Under Pleasure Equitation class on Tuesday.
It was a unanimous victory for Charmed Masterpiece in the UPHA Hackney Pleasure Driving Classic. Chip Wise was the winning driver under the direction of Brian Yount. This liver chestnut youngster is fine as can be and cute as a button. Sired by Truly A Masterpiece, he is out of Extremely Charmed. He is undefeated so far on the season with four blue ribbon drives. Back In A Flash and Beth Jones were reserve with Connie Smith directing. He is by The Chosen One and out of My Ebony Rose.
With what has become a bit of a trend here this week, the Adult Country Pleasure Championship kicked off with farrier Travis Herlocker tacking a shoe back on. On Twitter it might have its own hashtag by now, #shoeoff. Priscilla Marconi had CH Teuschers even higher in the bridle to collect first place votes four through six on the week, winning the tri-color in unanimous fashion in this field of 18 good ones. Fay Lowry joined the winner’s for the victory pass today. This team looks to be an absolutely perfect fit, with the long-necked gelding fitting the always elegant Mrs. Marconi to a tee. Moving up a spot from the qualifier to take the biggest prize of their adult career, Callaway’s Summer Solstice and Carissa Marshall were the Reserve Champions for Tannehill Farms. Todd Graham trains this son of Callaway’s Blue Norther, a full brother to CH Callaway’s Sugarplum. Now in their third season together, Ally Ehle and CH Sir Winston C finished up in third her for Bob and Nancy Ehle and Kierson Farm. Reserve in the qualifier, Murphy McSemek came fourth aboard The Straight Guy for William Woods University.
The top two spots in the Road Pony Under Saddle Championship held the same from the qualifier, with Pure Country once again taking a unanimous stroll down victory lane. Lexie Flint looked like a pro in her black silks with the aqua and pink trim, showing under the direction of Majestic Oaks. Holli Hayes and her baby to be headed up the victory pass once again today. McGee Bosworth and Wait & See’s Postmaster now have three Lexington reserves to their credit. Evan Orr headed them up in the line for Allen and McGee Bosworth and High Caliber Stables. They made an even better show today to take the reserve tri-color. Tanner Parham moved up a spot to finish third with Island Fevers Getaway for Stephanie Senter and Georgianna Moss.
It was a Lowry Stables sweep of the Country Pleasure Championships today, as Erin Rae Beever captained Star Sighting to the biggest win of their career. Champions at River Ridge earlier this season, Star Sighting and Erin Rae were in top form again today for a tri-color turn of the Red Mile. Jim Lowry headed up the bay with the wide white stripe. By Con Heir, Star Sighting is out of Beat The Odds, the dam of CH His Supreme Reflection. Qualifier winners Kabu and Ashley Baird were the Reserve Champions for MBA Equestrians, working under the tutelage of Scott and Carol Matton. This was Kabu and Ashley’s most successful week yet on the Red Mile in this their sixth year showing together. The Kierson Farm crew was vocal in support of Valerie Nuno and Mojito in third place. In just their second show together, this team stormed up the ladder to grab the yellow streamers for Kathleen and Elizabeth Ververeli. Junior Exhibitor National Champion a year ago, The Petite Princess was fourth today with Ellie Kangur riding for Corbin Bumgarner and Annette Greene.
The final event here on Thursday morning was the NHS Good Hands Event, with the top two riders qualifying for the National Finals as per the rule change implemented this year. The Finals for the Good Hands are held at the Mid-America Mane Event in Springfield, Illinois. Sydney Budzinski will be at those Finals, showing to the orange and black traditional ribbon with Carol Matton joining in the winner’s circle. This is Sydney’s ninth victory pass of the year aboard Oh What A Feeling. Ally McHugh came away with the red ribbon aboard Rosewood’s Potpourri for Team Kierson. Ally is in her first year out of Academy, and has shown all up and down the East Coast in Equitation this year, winning at Syracuse International, Jersey Classic, Bonnie Blue, Spring Kick Off Event, and Raleigh.
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