Lexington Junior League - Tuesday Morning
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Weather Coordinator Dewey Bass was successful overnight and again this morning, as the rain held off and temperatures could not have been more perfect on this overcast and breezy day.
Courtney McGinnis started things off for DeLovely with a winning ride aboard CH-EQ Kiss Of The Zodiac in the Saddle Seat Equitation 16-17 qualifier. This was Courtney’s tenth equitation win on the Red Mile, with her first victory pass coming in 2005 in walk-and-trot. She somehow is still just a 16-year-old rider, thought it feels like she has been showing here forever. A relative newcomer to the Saddlebred scene, Juliette Dell was reserve with CH-EQ Imagine My Surprise. Juliette first showed here in 2012, earning a Reserve World’s Championship last year as well as Top Tens in all three National Finals.
The timeless CH Sprinkles kept things going for the DeLovely banner, as Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes rode her to the Five-Gaited Pony win. This was the first show of the season for the spotted 18-year-old mare, and she picked up right where she left off in Freedom Hall last year. The reigning Five-Gaited Pony World’s Champion of Champions also swept the division here in 2013. Olivia Schumacher always looks like she is having an awesome time aboard The Rest Of The Story. The 2012 World’s Champion of Champions worked in good form today for reserve for Lorraine and Olivia Schumacher. Winners of the Five-Gaited Pony Championship at the Royal last year, this team has struggled to find gaited pony classes in the Northeast, showing mostly against the bigger horses in Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited with great success.
Another reigning World’s Champion of Champions won the AHHS Hackney Pleasure Driving Medallion, as Seamair Dear Sir was the winner in this one for driver Dylan Kirk and owner Gail Lane. Heather Boodey headed up the victory pass for the veteran campaigner, now 16 years old. This is the first year for Dylan to be teamed with the longtime winner. Heartland Walk The Line was reserve here with Taylor Russell. Another driver making a first campaign with a pony, Taylor was showing Walk The Line for just the third time. This pony is trained by Connie Smith.
It was a DeLovely Invitational in the two-entry 14-15 Saddle Seat Equitation class, with Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes making the quick change to jump aboard CH-EQ Chanti’s Prayer, taking a second victory pass on the morning. Eleanor’s equitation career has taken off in the last few years, beginning with a 13-Year-Old Equitation World’s Championship in 2012. She followed that up with the 14-Year-Old world title last year. Malika Keglowitsch comes to the Red Mile via Canada, showing under the DeLovely banner with Certain Style. Winner of her qualifier at Asheville this year, Malika was the winner at the Alberta Classic in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada too!
Jim Lowry showed off his fancy new walking boot by hopping the rail to make a check adjustment first direction of the ring. That adjustment paid off well, as CH A Cinderella Story was named the winner with Karrie Graham driving for Dwaine Kinderknecht and Karrie Graham. It has been a great qualifying run for the grand chestnut mare, winning five and taking reserve once in six classes. The 2012 Triple Crown winner looks in top form for the Lowry Stables team. Fay Lowry headed up the victory pass. The always turned-out Eddie Norris made a great drive with his teammate of four years, American Art, to place second under the direction of Jack Magill. This was a fifth reserve finish for this team on the Red Mile in their four years showing here. They are always in the running for the top prizes wherever they go.
The Three-Gaited Ponies came out of the woodwork this morning to fill the ring with nine, one of the biggest walk-trot pony classes we will see all year. Eleanor Rainbolt-Forbes completed her trifecta on the Red Mile this morning, though it did not appear as a potential bet in the simulcast betting room here at the track. She rode Nuttin’ But Style this time, a unanimous winner that looks tailor made for this division. They remain undefeated together, having swept the division at the Royal last year, then Pro-Am and Midwest in 2014. DeLovely trains this product of Undulata’s Nutcracker and CH Heir Style. Second in the class went to Cinderella Blues, shown by Maison Boyle for owner Lisa Ulliman and Cape Cod Farm. Cinderella Blues showed for the first time in this division today. Just a four-year-old, she is by Northern Blues and out of Absolute Sensation, by Attache’s Absolute.
It was a showdown of Walk-and-Trot World’s Champions in the UPHA Junior Challenge Cup, as winner Cara DeForge took the 2012 9-10 Walk-and-Trot World’s Champion of Champions title, while reserve winner Sofia Rashid was the winner of the 9-Year-Old World’s Championship in 2012. Cara teamed today with Pinnacle’s So Lovely, putting together an awesome pattern to win the blue in her first year out of walk-and-trot for Kierson Farm. Sofia Rashid also stepped up this year from walk-and-trot to take on the cantering ranks. She teamed with CF Tonight’s All About Her under the direction of Jimmy and Georgia Morrison.
A superstar of this division since its inception, Pure Country seems made for this division, winning the AHHS Road Pony Under Saddle Medallion today with Lexie Flint with the unanimous acclaim of the judges. No other pony has won this class here in this decade, as Pure Country won for the fifth straight year for the Majestic Oaks team. Dr. Robert and Melissa Flint own the cute-as-a-button fireball. Majestic Oaks swept the top two prizes, as Sarah Madison Hecht and Aragorn were the reserve winners here, following up their Bonnie Blue Championship go. These two were champions of this division here in 2013.
The USEF makes it easy on the adult riders, putting a USEF Adult Saddle Seat Medal qualifier in the same horse show as the National Finals. Robert Gardiner trained the winner here, as Katie Moeller took the top prize aboard Virtual Volcano. Katie was the Reserve National Champion in this class in 2012. Caitlin Bevins took reserve honors here aboard the highly decorated Morgan, The Wizard. The Wizard won the Morgan Equitation Triple Crown in 2010 with Michaela Gillispie, then directed by Suzanne Haberek. Jaisen von Ballmoos directs Caitlin Bevins aboard the chestnut gelding.
The Adult Country Pleasure horses stayed pleasure perfect through a rash of sirens running up and down Red Mile Road, with CH Teuschers and Gretchen Bentz remaining a formidable team for owner Teresa Atkin and LaFleur Stables. While Teresa rode to the Country Pleasure National Championship last year at the Royal, it was Gretchen aboard for the catch rides at Louisville, sweeping the division.CH Talkin’ To You and Vickie Byrd picked up the red ribbon in second. Trained by High Caliber Stables, Talkin’ To You was the Reserve Champion at Midwest last month, taking the top tri-color at both J.D. Massey and Raleigh Spring Premier earlier this season. This was the exact same order of finish at the Royal, as Talkin’ To You was the Reserve National Champion there. CH Callaway’s Summer Solstice and Carissa Marshall finished in third under the direction of Todd Graham.
Cameron Kay has continued her decorated equitation career with great success this year, switching breeds after her fairytale season a year ago at the Morgan Grand National. Cameron won the Senior Saddle Seat Equitation World Championship, the AMHA Saddle Seat Gold Medal National Championship, and the UPHA Senior Challenge Cup Reserve National Championship in her one week stay in Oklahoma. Undefeated so far this year with CH Reedann’s Heir To Glory, she was the 14-17 Pleasure Equitation winner today. Caroline Rainbolt Forbes and Pleasure Equitation Triple Crown winning mount CH-EQ Heirronic were reserve here, also from DeLovely. They were reserve champions in this division at Midwest last month.
Ali DeGray’s strong week continued with a winning ride aboard Starlight Voyager, claiming the Western Country Pleasure blue for Helen Rich and trainer Ruth Gimpel. A Reserve World’s Champion in Show Pleasure a year ago, Starlight Voyager has made the change to his new division well, with good prizes coming everywhere he goes. Six for six since winning Saddle & Bridle’s Shatner Western Pleasure Finals last year, Blushing Bull settled for the red prize today in second with Lindsay Sowell. Owned by Suzanne Bradshaw, Blushing Bull is trained by Lowry Stables.
Lauren White put her polish on display to win the 13-and-Under Pleasure Equitation class. Lauren and Gypsy Miracle are trained by Verrill Stables. They earned wins at UPHA 14 Spring Premiere, Greater Boston, and Twin State already this year. Gabriella Snyder and Oh Night Divine were reserve for trainer Kent Swalla. This is Gabby’s first equitation season out of walk-and-trot. She claimed the 13-and-Under Pleasure Equitation Championship at Midwest Charity last month.
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