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Lexington Junior League - Thursday Morning



Kaeley Arterburn and La Zingara kept the storm at bay to start the day, winning the Saddle & Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion while remaining dry under ominous skies. Cindy Zubrod Boel joined the winning team for the victory pass. Kaeley was the Saddle Seat Equitation Reserve Champion at Rock Creek last month. You always know when a Fiesta Farm entry gets their prize, as the section halfway down on the lefthand side of the ring goes wild. Bailie Deer had them cheering in reserve aboard Soquili’s Sir Galahad. Bailie has reserve championships at both River Ridge and Mountain State Charity on her resume this season. Cecelia Hoffman was third, with Kristina Mauro in fourth.

The UPHA Hackney Pleasure Driving Classic blue went back to Debonaire Stables, as Heartland Barnstorm was the winner with David Estis as the lines. The entry of Terri Thomas was the unanimous choice of the judges in this one. Barnstorm is by Heartland Code Of Honor and out of Heartland Rhapsody In Blue, the dam of Heartland News Leader. Sired by the spectacular Craycroft Matador, Craycroft Maid Of The Mist was reserve here with owner and driver Roger Sims. This chestnut mare is out of Extremely A Secret, by The Extremist.

The awards held true from qualifier to championship in 12-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Pleasure. CH Stonecroft I’m Radiant was once again the winner, taking a tricolor round of honor with Anne Ellis Bohannon. Mary Orr headed up this victory pass for High Caliber Stables. This was a second sweep of top spots on this track for the grand chestnut son of I’m A New Yorker and the Broodmare Hall of Famer Sultan’s Radiance. He swept the junior exhibitor pleasure classes here in 2010 as well. Magic Legacy repeated the same qualifier placing as well, finishing as the reserve champion with Courtney Kramlick. Courtney has become a superstar for Kierson Farm. She is a product of the Kierson Farm academy program. This entry of Jill and Mia Stagner is by Caramac’s Legacy and out of a Yorktown Magic mare. Callaway’s Another Winner and Addison Cooper finished third for Cascade Stables, while Daybreak’s Silver Mine and a happy Madeline Mayor were fourth.

With 19 entries, the Adult Country Pleasure Championship served as the biggest class of the week. So big in fact that it required a second workout. They put 10 back to the rail today, with Roberta Hirshon taking the tricolor with Undulata’s Snowflake. Second in their qualifier, Snowflake and Roberta stepped it up to take down the championship under the direction of Burt Honaker. Snowflake is by Designed and out of Christmas In New York ERB, by The New York Times. Snowflake is owned by Roberta and Miriam Hirshon. Qualifier winner and Asheville champion Reedann’s Rare Mystery was a star again today to be the reserve champion with Juliette Dell. Owned by the 6D Ranch and trained by DeLovely, Rare Mystery is by The Mystery Writer and out of Rare Connection. This is Juliette’s first year out of junior exhibitor. They were the 14-17 Country Pleasure National Champions just last year. Also making the workout were Nightly In New York and Sara Haynes, Sir Fabulous and Jenn Katko, Nutta You Business and Genevieve Hess, We’re All Nuts and Erin Obenauf, Wheira Teeheira and Jane Fickling Skinner, Kalarama’s Personality Plus and Gavin Gagnon, Juicy Fruit and Karen Thompson, and Our Red Ruby with Patricia Reed.

The Road Pony Under Saddle Championship was eight deep, with Drum Beat and Remi Adams emerging as the champions. Trainer Chuck Herbert gave Remi a big high five when her number was called. This was Remi’s biggest win to date with the cute speedster that they call “Jake.” Now with the popularity of the “Jake from State Farm” commercials, the entire team wears lime green polo shirts with pink writing that says “Jake from State Farm,” perfectly matching Remi’s silks. They even go through the entire script of the commercial every time Remi comes into the barn! And that’s the reason Chuck wears khakis with his lime green polo. Qualifier winner Cocked-N-Ready was the reserve champion today with Alex Rudder aboard for Dr. Chip Pugh. Trained by Gerhardt Roos, Cocked-N-Ready is by LLF Top Of The Mark and out of a Dun-Haven Classic Contender mare.

The Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship was up next with a group of 13 vying for the tricolor. Gretchen Halloran and CH Jessie Cole exactly repeated their prizes from the Red Mile last year, coming back from a qualifier reserve to step one spot in the championship round. Matt Shiflet headed up the victory pass in animated style for Gaited Inc. This is the eighth win of the year for this team. Jessie Cole is by The Gallant Confederate and out of Make Believe SLS. It was a very happy birthday indeed for Sierra Madison Comer, as she claimed the reserve tricolor with TMF Troubadour. The entry of Taylor Made Farm is by Cohutta and out of a Sultan’s Royalty mare. These two were champions at Twin Rivers Benefit in their most recent show together. Jennifer Moritz and Callaway’s Essential were up for third for owner and trainer Milo Jones. Ellie Kangur claimed fourth with Peanut Butter for Tom and Mickey Kangur.

Finnagan Winnagan was the lone contender in the AHHS Pleasure Pony Under Saddle Medallion. By Regal’s Rascal LF and out of a Marked By Distinction mare, Finnagan won this class for the second year in a row with Cecelia Hoffman up for Christine Johnson.

It was one for the boys in the 10-and-Under Walk-and-Trot class. Quintin Roberts was the best in this one aboard Cinderella Blues. Trained by Pam Roush and Sarah Taylor Russell, Quintin was making his first equitation show since Kansas City last year, where he was the UPHA Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup Reserve National Champion. This was Sarah’s first Lexington win as a trainer, doing it with a horse that she bred. The top two in this group have a couple similarities. Quintin was the 2012 9-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Classic Equitation Reserve National Champion at the Morgan Grand National, while reserve winner Reagan Webb was the 2014 National Champion in that very same class. Then we add in their two mounts. Reagan’s horse, Our Fleur De Lis, showed right alongside Cinderella Blues in the Three-Gaited Pony class here at Lexington last year! Reagan has been a star all season for trainer Shelley Fisher. She was also the 11-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Classic Equitation Reserve World Champion last year at Oklahoma.

Reserve Champions here in 2012 and 2014, Perazzi and Sarah Keil stepped up to the winner’s circle today for Jane Keil and trainer Michael Buchanan. One of the best in this division, Perazzi was the Saddle and Bridle Hunt Seat Classic National Champion in 2011, 2012, and 2013. They were Reserve National Champions last year. Who Dat Deuce and Jennifer McGowan were reserve winners for Sunrise Stables. By It’s Double O Deuce and out of Chase The Wind, Who Dat Deuce has done well in this division, including a sweep of the hunter classes at Rock Creek. Vamoose and Amy Haller finished third for Lauren Burin, while Joshua Sam was fourth with Kaitlin Zimmerly riding.

Two riders squared off with their respective figure eights in The Good Hands to finish out the morning. Rayann Schaffer kept her good record on the Red Mile going, matching her win total from last year with a second victory pass this year as well. She and New York City Kitty have become a formidable team under the direction of Jennifer and Louis Louw. Maisie Benfield continues to shine in her first year of 14-17. The 12-13 Saddle Seat Equitation World’s Champion from a year ago, Maisie is trained by Zubrod Stables with her teammate, Size Me Up. She was the Junior Equitation Champion here last year.

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