Lexington Junior League - Tuesday Morning
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Red Mile awoke to a bright, sunshiny morning with an extremely competitive 16 and 17-year-old group of riders making the gate call for their equitation qualifier. Today, Kristen Cater joined the judging panel as the call for the division. Leading the pack in the class was Jessica Moctezuma who has had a spectacular season thus far, with recent wins at Midwest and Syracuse. Directed by her proud mother, Moctezuma had another strong performance garnering the blue streamers. Under the direction of Carol and Scott Matton, Angela Darrow has also had a great season in both performance and equitation. Today she had a confident ride aboard Tango Till Dawn picking up the reserve title.
Bursting through the gate next was the Five-Gaited Pony with five nice entries. From the start, Billy Jewel and Allison Combs commanded the ring with pass after pass. Under the Mercer Springs banner, Combs expertly piloted the magnificent pony to the unanimous win. Miss Outta My Way and Ivy Johnson are at ease on this track. Having been here before, they know how to work the ring. Today was no exception as the Bret Day trained team solidly captured the reserve title.
Four high-stepping Hackney ponies followed the gaited pony class for their UPHA Junior Harness Pony Classic and for the second year in a row a Majestic Oaks trained team topped the class. This year Juan Rios was behind the talented Nobu for the unanimous win. The full brother to Nabucco, Nobu is owned by Stonecroft Farm. Reserve honors went to Misty Hills Farm’s Twin Willow’s Triumphant with Ryan Fornango on the lines.
The spotlight returned to the equitation division, with the 14 and 15-year-old riders gracing the ring next. Having a flawless performance, Ellen Medley Wright captured the title unanimously aboard Kalu’s Can’t Stop The Magic. Stablemate, Callie Smith earned the reserve title with a solid performance aboard Heir’s Encore.
The popular Show Pleasure Driving was in next with twelve teams making the gate call. Just a little over a month ago Melinda Moore asked Charlotte Kurtz if she would catch drive Last Cat Standing for her at Rock Creek. Having driven in the fine harness division, Kurtz decided to take her up on it. Following successes at Rock Creek and Lawrenceburg, the team confidently paraded around ring and into the winner’s circle for owners Fritz and Candace Meili. Never dropping an ear, Supreme Spotlight captured the reserve along with a first place vote with owner/breeder Kay Marschel on the lines.
The three-gaited ponies marched through the gate next with five teams on the schedule. Under the direction of Tré Lee, Lindsey Shields expertly piloted the high-stepping Manhattan’s Irish Cream to the win for Kathy and Ruby Bagdasarian. The striking Cloudsplitter and Olivia Weber garnered the reds streamers under the direction of Chris Reiser.
Also from Reiser Stables, Harlem’s Odyssey and Ali Layman were victorious in the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Driving with a great performance. Mollie Kregor was on the lines for the reserve title with Barbara Gaynor’s young star Spooling Up.
Representing Zubrod Stables, Jordyn Broten won the UPHA Junior Challenge Cup aboard Crimson Flower. Reserve honors went back to Fairfield South with Gavin Gagnon.
Majestic Oaks added another blue to their banner with the winning performance of Heartland Globe-Trotter. Maureen Lydon was on the line for the unanimous victory for Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Kolkman. Capturing the reserve was Heartland Storyteller and Matt Schuckert for Rick McQuown.
A field of thirteen competitive adult country pleasure teams made the gate call next. Fresh off a sweep at Midwest, League Of Nations and Carol Hillenbrand commanded the spotlight once again. Hillenbrand flawless piloted the talented, bright and well-mannered chestnut to the victory. Graduating from the junior exhibitor ranks this season, Emma Nichols has been successfully campaigning CH Worth A Scene in the country pleasure division. Confidently working the ring, the Liz McBride-Jones trained team earned the reserve. Last year’s winner of this class, CH Riva Diva with Donna Finch garnered a strong third along with a first place vote.
Pleasure equitation continues to grow as thirteen strong 14-17 year-old riders entered the ring next. Topping the competitive class was the multi-titled Brittany McGinnis riding Soli Deo Glori. Fresh off sweeping the division at Midwest, Deanna Lanigan had a solid performance for the reserve title with Sarah Lawson under the direction Shelly Fischer rounding out the top three.
The rain held off for almost the entire schedule but as the 13-and-Under Pleasure Equitation was called to the ring it held center stage for a moment. However it did not stop either young rider, as they rode hard for the blue. From DeLovely, Abigail Mutrux topped the class aboard Blackboard as Jonelle Gardiner directed Hannah Fuller to the reserve.
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