Lexington Junior League - Tuesday Night
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday night was a good one for Phyllis Brookshire, as she was twice a winner on The Red Mile, opening the night with a Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 victory with Hi On Heir. The unanimous winner is owned by Don and Phyllis Brookshire and trained by Matt Shiflet. It has been a great transition to the walk-trot division for this big, bright chestnut with lots of chrome. He and Matthew won the Open Over 15.2 Stake here a year ago, going on to win the Over 2 Stake at Louisville. Phyllis now has four wins and two reserves with the gelding. K Sue Rah and Carla Ritzie earned the reserve prize for their third straight outing, coming off twin reserves at Rock Creek last month. Trained by Autumn Hills Farm, he is by I’m The Prince and out of Runaround Town, a daughter of Denmark’s Runaround Sue (BHF).
Nick Maupin was in the right place at the right time when he was out visiting Visser Stables. Neil Visser and Jacqueline Beck had him climb aboard Kalarama’s Blue Mac, just for fun. It went so well that a plan was hatched, culminating tonight with a smashing success as Amateur Gentlemen’s Three-Gaited winners. Nick’s first trip aboard the son of Blue O’Shea and Callaway’s Lady Mac was at Midwest Charity as the Three-Gaited Jackpot Stake Reserve Champions. Owned by Golden Lantern Farms, Blue Mac was the Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 Reserve World’s Champion a year ago with Jacqueline Beck. The reserve winner here was Callaway’s Another Saturday Night. Sired by Callaway’s The Gipper and out of Callaway’s I’m A Lady Too, Another Saturday Night was teamed up with David Rudder, which at this point is almost unfair in Amateur Gentlemen’s classes! That guy can flat ride the hair off a horse.
Gold Standard and Joel Brown were the Hackney Horse winners as the lone entry, a bit of a theme here on Tuesday night. Joel would return two classes later to win the Hackney Pony Pair class with Spiff And Polish and Wait & See’s Reality, an entry of Lanny Judd. Lanny was at the lines of the reserve pair, Gifted Love and Ink Spot.
Moonlight Memories was a big-time highlight tonight, as she continued her march toward Louisville with yet another terrific show. This time, she took the Junior Five-Gaited Mare class with Virgil Helm up for Roberta Rassieur. Sired by Rassieur’s Desert’s Supreme Memories, she is out of a Phi Slama Jama mare. The UPHA Five-Gaited Classic Reserve National Champion last year, she has yet to be beaten in 2013, winning at UPHA Chapter 5, Midwest Charity, and now here. Robert Gardiner rode his own Nicki Minaj to reserve. Sired by VHF The Licorice Drop Kid, she is out of Broome Street, the dam of his World’s Champion and Reserve World’s Grand Champion VHF Belle Epoque.
Anna Marie Knipp received much acclaim for her drive with Magical Promises tonight, putting on a true-trotting show for a unanimous win in the Amateur Fine Harness class. Anna Marie passed along the praise to trainer Robert Gardiner, who had the mare spot on and ready to fire tonight. Undefeated so far together, they swept their divisions at UPHA Chapter 5 and Midwest Charity. This mare was the 2011 Fine Harness Mare World’s Champion, judged that week by Robert, who took note and brought the idea to Anna Marie Knipp, getting the sale done this spring. The beautiful black mare, Kalarama’s New York Lady, was up for reserve with Vicki Reed at the lines. Qualifier winner at Midwest, New York Lady was the Open Fine Harness Mare Reserve World’s Champion last season with trainer A.J. Bruwer. She is by I’m A New Yorker and out of Lady Whitney.
Winner of this class a year ago and the two-time defending World’s Champion of Champions, Mr. Center Stage took the victory pass in unanimous style in the Ladies Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under class. Sarah Byers was aboard, as she was in both Louisville victories, for Golden Creek Farms. Mary Gaylord McClean rode the beautiful chestnut gelding to the Lexington win a year ago. Stacey Kipper and Promised Love made a great show to repeat their finish from a year ago as well. Promised Love is by Promise Keeper and out of a Champagne Fizz mare.
It was the Heartland Hackney Farm Invitational in the Open Harness Pony qualifier, as all three of the entries were bred by that esteemed facility of Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Kolkman. The winner was the unanimous choice of the judges, as Randy Harper drove Heartland Expecation to the top spot for Tamra Arndt. The three-time Harness Pony World’s Grand Champion was in top form tonight to win the blue. Heartland Pursuit and Ronnie Graham made a rocked back and floating performance in reserve for Helen Rosburg. Champions at Gasparilla, Pro-Am, and Asheville already this year, they were Reserve World’s Grand Champions just last year.
The other half of Phyllis Brookshire’s winning combination tonight was Callaway’s No More Mr. Nice Guy, winner of the Amateur Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding class for Don and Phyllis Brookshire and Matt Shiflet Stables. It was not too bad of a debut performance for these two, as this is the most recent addition to their string. No More Mr. Nice Guy is by Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Sweet Sachet (BHF). Also from the Callaway Hills program and by Blue Norther, Callaway’s I’ll Stand By You was reserve here for Misdee Wrigley Miller and Hillcroft Farm. The Kalarama-trained entry is out of a Callaway’s Ghost Writer mare.
In a rematch of their Louisville tilt a year ago, the reigning World’s Champion of Champions held his ground as the Amateur Roadster to Bike winner tonight. It was Thunderbolt taking the winning drive with William Shatner at the lines, directed by DeLovely Farm. This was a reversal of placings from a year ago, as it was Mr. Bones and Charlie Jones driving to the blue last year in this one.
When was the last time we had back to back one-horse classes at Lexington that didn’t involve Hackney Horses or Pairs? We had two in a row tonight, as Virgil Helm rode Talk About Luck to the Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 blue for Leanne Adams and Mary Gaylord McClean drove Regal’s Trademark LF to the Open Hackney Pony win for Golden Creek Farms.
The Kierson Farm team was beside themselves with joy, especially mom Nancy Ehle, as Ally Ehle and Ava Gardner made their best show together to claim the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Mare class. An entry of Bob and Nancy Ehle, Ava Gardner was also twice a winner at Devon last month. Returning to the track where she shot to stardom, Ava Gardner was rock solid and exciting to watch. Cavalia and Misdee Wrigley Miller made a good show in reserve for Hillcroft Farm and Kalarama. Last year’s Amateur Five-Gaited Mare World’s Champion is by CF First Night Out and out of Viola Madden.
Three times a World’s Champion, Alde Mar’s Crystal Pistol was the Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding winner with Johanna Kapioltas. Owned and bred by Janet Kellett, he is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of CH Crystal Illusion, a World’s Champion herself in harness with Janet. Cosmic Charm and Merrill Murray got a good crowd response in reserve for Grand Vin Stables. He is by Powerful Charm LCC and out of a Tornaado mare. This is her first full season as a harness horse, having shown walk-trot up until now in his career.
CH Stravinsky was the unanimous winner of a 15-horse Amateur Three-Gaited Park qualifier with Brittany McGinnis up for Fish Creek Stables. Trained by DeLovely, Stravinsky was the Amateur Champion at Midwest Charity as well as at last year’s American Royal. Amateur Champion here a year ago, he would go on to be named the Amateur Park Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion. Kalarama’s Delightful and Megan McClure made one of their best shows together to claim the reserve win for Karen McClure and trainers Peter and Kim Cowart. This is Megan’s second win in as many nights. She has a real knack for this track, with many big wins and reserves to her credit over the last decade. CH Brookhill’s Periday and James Sigmon finished third, followed by Nuttin’ Doing and Ellyn Dorsey in fourth.
Abel Vega and the lightly shown Mr. Naples were the best ones in the Limit Harness Pony class, winning that one for Golden Creek Farms. He is by the Golden Creek stallion, Twin Willow’s Handsome Dan and out of Heartland Mary Belle. Mr. Brightside earned the reserve prize with Ruth Gimpel looking elegant in white at the lines for Helen Rosburg. This one is by Mark Of Excellence and out of Keep The Spirit.
Last year’s Kentucky County Fair Five-Gaited Grand Champion Pass With Care was the Ladies Five-Gaited Gelding winner tonight, once again shown by Kristen Bagdasarian for Kathleen Bagdasarian. A Junior Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion the year before that, Pass With Care is by Desert’s Supreme Memories and out of a Harlem Globetrotter mare. This team earned the Ladies Five-Gaited Championship at River Ridge earlier this year. Kris Knight and Totally Kool made their season debut to take reserve. Totally Kool is owned by Pleasantview Farm. He is out of Pretty Ribbons, making him a half brother to Marc Of Charm. Leatherwood Lift Off and Ali Judah were third for Judah Saddlebreds, while It’s Saturday Night Live and Maria Gilman finished fourth.
It will be a lonely affair in the Junior Three-Gaited Championship, with just two horses qualified to show. The Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 winner was a lone entry, Callaway’s Busy Boy, with Todd Graham up for Nichols Family Farm. Busy Boy is by Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Simply Manila, a full sister to World’s Grand Champion Manila Thrilla.
While the Junior Three-Gaited numbers have been down at seemingly every show in the country, the Amateur Road Pony division is thriving! A group of 12 entries answered the call for that qualifier here tonight, with Donna Whatley making a tremendous performance at the lines of Heartland Smooth Operator. Rocked way back and reaching out with speed and form, Smooth Operator ate up the long straightaways to take the blue back to Majestic Oaks. The reigning Amateur World’s Champion of Champions and 2011 World’s Grand Champion Regal’s Lightning Strike LF was the reserve winner in this great class. Mary Gaylord McClean made that drive for Golden Creek Farms. Candi Aversenti picked up the yellow ribbon with Regal’s Promoter LF, followed by Romeo’s Kristy Lee LF and Ali DeGray in fourth for Helen Rosburg. The top seven entries in this class were produced by either Heartland Hackney Farm or Light Farms.
Three bay mares topped the Five-Gaited Mare Stake to finish off Tuesday night, with Lynn Williams taking the top honors with Rob Byers up for Golden Creek Farms. This is a mare made for this track with a rider who certainly has had plenty of success on The Red Mile as well. Lynn Williams actually made her debut on this track, winning her first ever class in 2007 as the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited winner here. She has won here every year she has shown, from 2009 all the way up through this season. The remarkable mare is by Top Spool and out of Carol Lynn (BHF). Voulez Vous is the same age as Lynn Williams. She was the UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Champion in 2007. She has had a long journey as a harness and gaited horse, winning a couple of big Louisville titles over the years, including last year’s Five-Gaited Mare Reserve World’s Championship. She received good crowd support in reserve tonight with Brian Chappell riding for Nalley Champions LCC. Clark Clouse rode Freshman Cheerleader to third for John Herbst to round out the bay brigade.
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