Lexington Junior League - Thursday Night
Friday, July 12, 2013
Cool and breezy. Exactly what we’ve come to expect from Lexington Junior League… Only the exact opposite. Thursday night was a pure delight on The Red Mile, opening with the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness class. Dena Lopez was the driver of the winner, Rose Arbor Heartbreaker, for owner and breeder Rose Arbor Farm. Sired by Sir William Robert, Heartbreaker is out of a harness mare who has fast become a good producer, Tornaado’s Tidal Wave. It was a good debut for the bay filly, carrying on the coloring of her dam. George Knight had Rock Creek winner Ridin’ High up for reserve for Carolyn Garrett. Also by Sir William Robert, Ridin’ High is out of the gaited mare, Rock This Town, a daughter of CH Man On The Town.
Enjoying a tremendous first season in the division, Anna Wintour carried off the Show Pleasure Driving tri-color with Anna Marie Knipp at the lines for High Spirits Farm. Sired by A Superb Manhattan and out of a CF First Night Out mare, Anna Wintour is named after the editor-in-chief of Vogue. No doubt this is where Anna Marie takes her style ideas for her well put together driving attire. Holding the placings from the qualifier, Finest Material was the reserve champion with Ali DeGray driving for Helen Rosburg and Ruth Gimpel Stables. The big chestnut gelding is a star both under saddle and in harness, rotating divisions here at Lexington every other year with great success regardless of tack. American Art and Eddie Norris finished in third, followed by CH My Stiletto and Debbie Marcum in fourth.
The Three-Gaited Pony class also featured a repeat of the qualifying placement, as Faizah took the final round of honor with Sydney Dunaway up for Jim and Sara McDowell. Trained by Don Bridges, Sydney looked strong in the saddle in her white formal coat aboard the bay daughter of Kalarama’s Spanish Dancer. Emilea Stinnett and CH Powerful Tango earned the reserve tri-color for Woodlea Farms LLC and High Caliber Stables. The curvy, marchy chestnut gelding is by Arborlane Tangos Wee Pee and out of a Kourageous Kalu mare.
Nelson Green got the crowd excited with a unanimous victory aboard HS Daydream’s Celebrity. From the Sir William Robert x A Daydream Believer (BHF) cross, Celebrity became that tonight, as he put all of his curves on display to make an expressive and stunning show for Hagan Saddlebreds. Also the Junior Three-Gaited Park winner at Asheville, he has that show horse look about him that can’t be taught. Long-necked and rangy, Buenas Noches BHM was the reserve winner with Jannie Giles riding for Lynn Schweikert. Carter Cox drove this horse to a win here a year ago as well as the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Championship. Sold over the off season, he has now returned to Black Horse Manor to be prepared for Louisville by Jannie Giles.
With just one loss in his career, and that coming as a three-year-old in the Hackney Pony World’s Grand Championship, Heartland Road Show ran unopposed in the UPHA Hackney Pony Classic. The Three-Year-Old Hackney Pony World’s Champion also won this class at Midwest Charity. He is by Heartland Blackhawk and out of Heartland Just A Princess, also the dam of World’s Champion Heartland Queen Of The Road.
With a field of 13 entries, it helps to have a ring general like Ceil Wheeler. Larry Hartsock knows that well, as he picked his good friend to make a winning ride aboard Walterway’s Sing-Along in the 36-and-Over Three-Gaited Show Pleasure qualifier. Sing-Along is by Dorian Warriors Song (SA) and out of Callaway’s Fine As Silk, by Callaway’s Born To Win. Sing-Along goes with a consistent, big, square step, moving right along but never looking hurried. Looking happy and bright, In Bold Print was reserve here for Vicki Gillenwater and Scenic View Farm. Sired by The New York Times and out of World’s Champion Lady Galyda, In Bold Print was the winner of this one just last year. Thunder Gone Wild finished third in this big, competitive class, followed by Mighty Thor and Carol Hillenbrand in fourth.
While the opus that will forever be known as “Funk’s article” continues to gain steam and support from all over the horse show industry, the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Championship was split into classes of five and nine. First up was the 13-and-Under split with five entries, featuring a unanimous victory by the gray mare, CH Callaway’s Born For This. Sassy Sallie Mason Wheeler was the winning rider in a beautiful purple coat, headed up for the victory pass by trainer Smith Lilly for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. These two are still undefeated together, and Born For This is undefeated on the season, including the Five-Gaited Special at Devon, where she was ridden to victory by Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward. That class has done wonders to bridge the gap between the Hunter/Jumper world and us “shaky tails.” He’s Here For The Party hit some good licks with Layton Sydenstricker to finish reserve for trainer Todd Graham. Todd looked like he was riding every step of the way with the River Ridge champion. A 2010 Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion, He’s Here For The Party is by Designed To Win and out of a Northern Blues mare.
It was a Born To Win bonanza, as the top gelded sire in the country sired both champions in this division. Callaway’s Born To Ride took the 14-17 tri-color back to West Wind with Camille Cowart aboard. Camille continues to be a force to be reckoned with on The Red Mile, as she is having a great show here for the second straight year. CH I’m Something Wicked repeated his qualifier placing with McGee Bosworth for Pair Of Jacks Stables. The High Caliber-trained entry was on point tonight for the Reserve Championship. They were Reserve World’s Champion of Champions a year ago. Ashlyn’s Voodoo Charm and Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes were third for Niji Farm LLC, and He’s Full Throttle finished fourth with Drew Taylor Hewitt for Michael Schanke.
One of a slew of winners on the night for Golden Creek Farms, Regal’s Night Shadow LF took the UPHA Roadster Pony Classic with Jeff McClean at the lines. He was followed up by a reserve winner from Golden Creek, Zephyr, driven by Abel Vega. Night Shadow was also the winner in his debut performance at Midwest Charity. Night Shadow is by Dun-Haven Regal Attraction and out of a Romeo LF mare. Zephyr is by Romeo LF and out of Sussudion, by Rhythm’s Spirit.
A reserve winner in this division at Kansas City last year, Ryan’s Wish was pleasure perfect tonight to top the 35-and-Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure qualifier. This beautiful bay mare is by Designed and out of Miss Tainted Love. She is trained by Kierson Farm for Bob and Nancy Ehle. Kristen Stonecipher Wells earned the red prize with Elegant Mystery. This Lowry Stables-trained entry is by The Mystery Writer and out of Completely Elegant, by Attache’s Liquid Asset. Kalarama’s Much Superior and Mollie Kregor picked up the yellow ribbon for Karen Frickey. Rondo and Kelsey Olson were fourth for Barbara Woods.
The Rudder swagger was on full display in the 13-and-Under Three-Gaited Championship, as Alex Rudder rode to the tri-color for the second straight year. Directed by Stephanie Sedlacko and Chris Brannan, The Proof Is In The Heir is by Supreme Heir and out of Callaway’s Blue Topaz. Bright and cheery and looking just right for a kid’s horse, the sporty chestnut gelding marched down the track, leaving to the acclaim of the crowd. The reigning 13-and-Under World’s Champion of Champions Bubble Bath made a good show as the reserve champion, with Laura Plant up for Tom and Patsy Plant and High Caliber Stables. These two were 13-and-Under champions at both Asheville and Raleigh Spring Premier earlier this year. Size Me Up and Maisie Benfield were third in their first season together for Michael and Maisie Benfield.
Curvy bays were the order of the day in several classes tonight, and the UPHA Fine Harness Classic was one of them. Leatherwood’s Aha Moment was the winning entry with Lisa Strickland driving for TDV Inc. Sired by Mountainview’s Heir To Fortune, the beautiful bay mare is out of Hint Of Scandal. Winner of this class at River Ridge, Las Vegas First Edition was reserve here for Melissa Moore and owner Sandra Corney Stables. First Edition is by Mr. Las Vegas and out of Jamaica Profit, by I’m A New Yorker. Master Blue and Smith Lilly finished third for Anita Simpson.
James Miller drove the beautiful carriage to win the Coaching Four-In-Hand, with niece Ali DeGray riding in the passenger area waving to the crowd. Todd Draheim directs the Hillcroft teams.
Two grand World’s Champions duked it out for the Five-Gaited Pony Championship. CH Sprinkles added the tri-color to her brown and white colors, winning in unanimous style with Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes for Rainbow Princess Farms. Undefeated in the pony ranks, Sprinkles and Eleanor were Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Champions here in 2011, showing as a 13-and-Under combination in the 17-and-Under Championship and bringing the house down as they competed against the older age group. Winner of six classes so far this season, CH Sunken Treasure was reserve for the second time this week. McGee Bosworth put on yet another consistently brilliant ride for Allen and McGee Bosworth and High Caliber Stables. This team earned a Five-Gaited Pleasure blue here last year.
Raymond Shively might just have his next great one in a thrilling Novice Roadster to Bike winner, Warhorse. Debuting to a blue ribbon tonight on The Red Mile, Warhorse had the crowd rolling as he rocketed down the rail to a unanimous victory. Debbie Foley and Spellbound were reserve here for Jeff Purcell. Spellbound was twice a winner at Lawrenceburg last month.
Another curvy bay was up for the UPHA Three-Gaited Classic win in a tremendous group of four. Tefnut was the winner here with Neil Visser up for Diane Sembler-Kamins. Also a winner at Asheville this year, Tefnut is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Beat The Odds. This makes him a full brother to the gorgeous Country Pleasure Driving Champion Double Or Nuttin’. A World’s Champion as a yearling, Heartbreak Warfare was reserve here in this one with Matt Shiflet riding for Maple Lane Farm. Sired by Matt’s stallion, Tango’s Parting Kiss, this pretty chestnut is out of a Supremacy’s High Time mare.
After Joel Brown repeated his solo performance with Gold Standard to claim the Hackney Horse Championship, it was time for the Roadster to Wagon Championship. This too went to DeLovely, as Mark Turner drove The Last Call to the tri-color for Judy McNeish. Wagon Champion at Midwest and Asheville as well, The Last Call was the Amateur Roadster to Wagon World’s Champion last year with Judy McNeish going for the doctor. Matt T Tup and Shelby Young were reserve winners, also finishing as Reserve World’s Champions a year ago in the Open division.
A full brother to Limit winner Mr. Naples, Handsome Harry was the UPHA Harness Pony Classic winner with Jeff McClean driving for Golden Creek Farms. Looking at this dark bay stallion son of Twin Willow’s Handsome Dan, you would easily be caused to think, “Wow! What a beautiful pony!” He has curves in all the right places and made his performance debut tonight to win the top prize. Heartland Private Eye was reserve here with Darrel Kolkman driving for Heartland Hackney Farm. This one is by Heartland Top Gun and out of Heartland Summer Song. Rounding out a top three of all home-bred products, Crystal Creek’s Hot To Trot was third with Eduardo Lopez at the lines for Carl and Kathryn Nichols.
The UPHA Five-Gaited Classic went to the beautiful black gelding, Lucky You Lucky Me. A Two-Year-Old Five-Gaited World’s Champion last year with Darell Cruse, the son of Worthy’s Lucky Son rode to the blue tonight with Clark Clouse for Harold Denton Jr. He is out of Riddles And Roses, by Rifles And Roses. Prince Of Prowlin’ was up for reserve with Todd Graham riding for Royal Winds Farm. He is by a favorite of Royal Winds, Callaway’s Guy Park and out of a Night Prowler mare. Just Browsing and Christ Brannan picked up third in this group of seven.
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