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Lexington - Thursday Morning



Zubrod Stables got off to a good start on Thursday morning with a win in Saddle & Bridle’s Pleasure Equitation Medallion. Kaitlin Kelly made this winning ride aboard La Zingara. A winner at every show she has been to so far this year, she also took victory passes at River Ridge and Shelby County Fair. Caroline Moeller earned the reserve prize with He’s My Beau for the DeLovely banner. The pattern in this class was a slightly difficult one, eerily reminiscent of the UPHA Morgan Challenge Cup National Finals pattern a few years back.

Undefeated in a three-class career, Night Voyager was the solo winner in the UPHA Hackney Pleasure Driving Classic. Meredithe Steinhauer did the driving, just as she did at River Ridge, winning for Denise Steinhauer. Night Voyager is by Mr. Hawkeye.

The top four in the Adult Country Pleasure Championship all carry their “CH” prefix denoting their Saddlebred Record Champion status. First among these was CH Uncut Jewel, by Unlisted and out of Blue Sapphire, hence the “Jewel.” Bay with a ton of white, Uncut Jewel worked high and tight and in perfect pleasure form with Jenn Katko putting on just the right ride. She had to ride right in this big field of 19 to get seen and stay out of trouble and traffic. She did just that under the guidance of Don Judd and Maria Gilman to take her biggest victory pass to date. The two qualifier winners went one-two in this championship round, as CH Callaway’s Summer Solstice was the reserve champion for Carissa Marshall and Tannehill Farms. Summer Solstice has spent his entire show career under the direction of Todd Graham. CH Pierre Cardin and Beth Bidon finished in third with a smooth, consistent ride for Barbara Hendrickson. CH Talkin’ To You and Donna Finch earned a good fourth for Jack and Donna Finch and the High Caliber crew.

The qualifier placings were reversed in the Road Pony Under Saddle Championship, as Tachycardia won the top prize with Ariella Silber. An entry of Kourt Jester Morgans, Tachycardia is trained by Cater Stables. This team is not even a year old at this point and keep getting better as they go. Champions a year ago, Pure Country and Lexie Flint were reserve champions today for Dr. Robert and Melissa Flint and the Majestic Oaks team.

Hannah Houske is fast becoming a master of the Red Mile. In three classes this week, she has won twice and earned one reserve. That lone reserve was avenged today, as De La Hoya scored a knockout in the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Championship. Trained by Milo Jones and owned by Shelby Farm and Stable LLC, De La Hoya has made an extensive campaign already this season, with great results. He is by Harlem’s Friendly Conversation and out of Dream About Me, by Merchant Prince. Winner in the qualifier, Extremely Fortunut picked up the reserve tri-color today, a day after his qualifier win, as the junior riders showed back to back mornings on this six-day show schedule. By Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Miss Moriarty, Extremely Fortunut was once again ridden by Brittany Cloutier for Roland and Laura Cloutier and the Cater Stables group. Part of the Madison duo at Cape Cod, Madison Enderson was third with Brianna Fox, while Star Sighting and Erin Rae Beever took the white prize back to Lowry Stables.

Sloane Fleig took an unconventional victory pass in the AHHS Pleasure Pony Under Saddle Medallion with Silver Oak’s Sinner And Saint. By X-Treme and out of Heartland Dawn, Sinner And Saint is owned and trained by Lisa McMackin. Miss Fuente and Aine O’Rourke were reserve for Mike Tunstall. Mitchell Tunstall was aboard for an AHHS Pleasure Pony Under Saddle Medallion National Championship win the last full season this pony showed.

The first ever Hunter Country Pleasure winner on the Red Mile comes from the hunter battlefields of Ohio. This is Top Shelf Jenn N Tonic with owner/trainer/rider Katie Hafer Young. By Reedann’s Top Gun and out of a Supreme Heir mare, Jenn N Tonic will be forever known as the first hunt horse to wear a Lexington blue. Saddle & Bridle’s Hunt Seat Classic National Champion a year ago, Perazzi earned the reserve honor here with Sarah Keil up for Dr. Jane Keil. Tom Thorpe has been at the forefront of the Saddlebred hunt division and trains this one. The giant chestnut gelding is by Santana’s Charm and out of a Sultan’s Royalty mare.

The pattern work capped both ends of Thursday morning, with the NHS Good Hands Event qualifying the top two riders for the National Finals. Cassie Bell received the top prize and the traditional orange and black ribbon. Cassie has been first or second in all of her equitation classes this season, earning a red ribbon in the 14-15 qualifier on Tuesday. She rides for Judd Stables. It was Bell and Dell qualifying for the Finals, as Juliette Dell was the reserve winner from DeLovely. Juliette is teamed with Reedann’s Rare Mystery. This is the first year that Juliette has appeared in our results, but she has already qualified for two of the three National Finals and looks to be another top rider in the division. 

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