Friday morning came with predictions of record-high temperatures outdoors and great young horses and riders highlighting the matinee performance inside Freedom Hall. First to the ring to demonstrate this was Top This, a 10-year-old Top Spool mare who won an Amateur Park Mare World’s Championship in 2002 and served as Barbara Goodman Manilow’s Country Pleasure mount last year. Daughter Maya Manilow has now taken over the reins, and she rode the mare to the Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure 13-and-Under World’s Championship. Longtime trainer Dick Obenauf greeted the unanimous choice of the judges in the winner’s circle. Callaway’s Fox Jackson and Andra Trakalo were reserve. Fox Jackson is normally Trakalo’s Pleasure Equitation mount and previously served as Joel Dorignac’s Equitation mount. A qualifier winner earlier in the week, Storm’s A Brewing and Natalie Haugen finished third in the Championship.

Maya Manilow and Top This

The importance of pedigree shone through in the 8-and-Under Walk-and- Trot Equitation Championship, not as much in the horses as in the riders. The winner and Champion was Rose Marie Wheeler, daughter of Cappy Wheeler and Linda Fischer Wheeler. She was aboard May Issue under the direction of Kim and Fran Crumpler. Second in the class was Macey Joan Miles, a DeLovely product in the truest sense, as she is the daughter of Todd and Lesley Miles. Macey was a qualifier winner earlier in the week aboard Aces And Eights. Kaitlyn Creekmore was third in this one aboard Imagination Station. Kaitlyn shows for Lynda Freseth and is the daughter of Susan Creekmore, a Three-Gaited Show Pleasure qualifier winner with CH Ninety-Eight Degrees. The fourth- place finisher may have the best Equitation “dam.” This was Molly Codeanne, the daughter of Kate Harvey Codeanne, one of the best Equitation riders of the ‘80s.

The Junior Exhibitor Hackney Pleasure Driving Championship was the first of many trips to the far end of the ring that Rich Campbell had to make today. Match Maker made it two-for-two this week with Mollie Kregor at the lines. They picked up their two tri-colors and the yellow carnations for Rick and Carolyn Daigle. Reserve went to the pony with the black-and-white tail, Cherry Royale. The future partner of Caroline Rainbolt-Forbes, this pleasure-perfect pony was there every step of the way with Katie Cunningham.

The Adult Show Pleasure Driving Championship turned into a battle between two great former Fine Harness horses. Both horses made the transition to Pleasure Driving in 2006, and both have found great success in their new division. CH Candle Dan, last year’s Champion and qualifier winner, also visited the winner’s circle here twice in Fine Harness. Once was in Amateur Gentlemen, and the other was as a Junior horse in the Stallion/Gelding class. Carl tipped his hat to his cheering section near the in-gate as he started his victory pass, marking the sixth trip down Louisville’s victory lane for Candle Dan, the fifth with Carl Nichols in the driving cart. I’m An Early Riser was the longtime Fine Harness partner of Joan Adler. Now teamed with Mary Lynn McMains, the eight-year-old Uhlen Branch gelding is coming into his own fully, taking the Reserve World’s Championship. He was third in this class last year. Third this year was CH Shot With Glory, an entry of Elizabeth James-Lipscomb. He made his transition to Pleasure Driving at the very end of 2005 but made noise in the Midwest as a young horse in Fine Harness.

Pedigree was front and center again in the 9-10 Walk-and-Trot Equitation Championship. Caroline Cherry and In Neon ERB took the tri- color and flowers under the direction of Cindy Boel and Anne Speck. Caroline is the daughter of Jim and Helen Cherry, once again proving the importance of the bottom line. Jim got a high five over the rail from Cindy Boel and then came into the ring to complete the trio of trainers in the winner’s circle. Second in the class was Aleia Brown. This was no small feat for Aleia, as she climbed aboard Callaway’s Viscount for the first time about 10 minutes before the class in the warm-up ring. Cagle James was third in this tough class under the direction of Lewis Eckard.

Aliyah Asch and CH Advantage Me made it two straight tri-colors for California, as they took the Junior Exhibitor Pleasure Driving Championship, with Joy Lazarus joining them in the winner’s circle. This was Advantage Me’s fifth time taking the tri-color in this division. Peter Palmer escorted My Silver Sea and Rachel Shoemaker out of the ring as the Reserve World’s Champions for Sarah Coxe Lange. Silver Sea was the ASHAF Youth Fine Harness Challenge Finals winner here in 2004 with Tate Bennett driving.

Tre Lee brought out yet another nice young horse in a long line of them, this time to win the Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited Section One with Paranormal. He is by Deep Blue, the Callaway’s Blue Norther stallion. He is an unusual color, with a golden tinge to his rose gray color. His dam is a red roan by Town Square, a Yorktown/Valley View Supreme cross. He marched into Freedom Hall and left with the blue for Belle Reve. Redesigned and Bret Day were reserve for Keith and Sally Kurz. This fixy bay is by Designed and out of Kelly Mount’s great three-gaited mare, CH Harlem’s Town Scandal, by CH Harlem Town. Callaway’s Azurean and Eric Antman made a high-headed performance in third for Callaway Hills Stable.

Section Two brought Carter Cox down victory lane with the bay gelding, Sir Yes Sir, for Jamie Wise Lanier. He is by Master Class, by Oak Hill’s Dear Sir and out of CH Reedann’s Nighty Nite, Jean McLean Davis’ grand Ladies Three-Gaited World’s Champion. Nighty Nite was by CH Night Prowler. Sir Yes Sir is out of Pure Radium, a Penny’s Superior Stonewall/Supreme Sultan cross. Second in this one went to the Tri Color Ventures entry, Catalyst’s Blonde Ambition and Jim Lowry. The mare is obviously by Catalyst. She is out of Art Work, making her a full sister to Catalyst’s Work Of Art, shown to a 3-Year-Old Five-Gaited win by Jim Lowry in 2006 and going for a possible Junior Five-Gaited World’s Championship tonight with Andy Freseth. They finished reserve in the Mare qualifier. Sandy Currier was third with the homebred Shoobop Shoobop filly, Bebop Lady, another fine product of the Perwiens’ breeding program.

A total of 16 entries hit the ring in the Junior Exhibitor Five- Gaited Pleasure Championship. Taking the two tri-colors and the yellow carnations were Callie Smith and She’s Gone Blonde. In just her second show with the mare, Smith turned up the intensity from the qualifier and rolled to victory with this charismatic daughter of Callaway’s Blue Norther and CH Stonewall’s Crimson And Clover. The Reserve World’s Champions were The Champagne Tiger and Claire Talley. They won their split of the qualifier on Monday. Katie Jarve really turned it on second way with CH Callaway’s Capitol Reporter to take third.

Callie Smith and She’s Gone Blonde

The unset tail section of Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited featured 10 entries showing for $21,000 in additional prize money. It was donated in a show of support for this unset tail section by Barbara Molland, Kalarama Farm, Fair Island Farm, Hillcroft Farm, Cross Timber Saddlebreds, horsestudbook,com, Roger and Mary Ann Pardieck, Kalarama Stud, Redwing Saddlebdred Farm, Bill Marple, Dr. Alan Raun, and Green Street Stables. This is the second year for this new class. Zach Duffy was aboard this year’s winner, Lovely Addition, for Chris Kaplan. Dena Lopez picked up the Breeders’ Award prize money as the breeder of this Sir William Robert filly. Lovely Addition is out of Lovely Heirloom, a Supreme Heir mare. An extraordinarily well-bred filly, Pola Negri, was reserve. She is by Exalted Effect and out of CH An Heir About Her. She is owned by Elisabeth Goth Chelberg. Third was another Kalarama entry, Brookhill’s The Lady Divine. Danny Lockhart was riding for Luci Nouwens. Nouwens is the South African owner of War Image, who was presented back to Nouwens and South Africa itself by

Steve Demjen  had the top colt in Section One of Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding. Curtis Lowe was the unanimous winner, as his teary-eyed cheering section stood and screamed and hugged and laughed and cried. This chestnut colt is by Wild-Eyed Warrior, an I’m A New Yorker stud. He was bought through the UPHA Yearling Sale at the American Royal last year and only started jogging in June. Lisa May co-owns him with Steve Demjen. Todd Graham had a Northern Blues colt, Mr. Hayworth, trotting square and true in reserve.

Steve Demjen surrounded by his fans.

In Section Two, Peter Cowart made it two-for-two on the week for the DeLovely/Cowart collaboration. He showed the DeLovely-owned entry, The Chick Magnet, to the blue. Chick Magnet is by Deep Blue, his second winner of the morning, and out of Dixie Chicken, a cross of Gallant Guy O’Goshen and Courageous Admiral blood. Sir Raymond Ross and Jim Lowry were reserve for Tri Color Ventures. Raymond Ross is by Sir William Robert and out of a mare by The Caveat, a full brother to Periaptor. Third was a Stonecroft entry, Stonecroft Our Treat (Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man x CH A Sweet Treat). Nelson Green was at the lines of this one.

The Junior Exhibitor Roadster Pony 13-and-Under World’s Championship title went to the cute little crowd favorite, Kirstie Buerkley with Dun-Haven Grandiose. What seemed like half of the Majestic Oaks staff was on hand for her victory pass, as Rich Campbell and Maureen Lydon were joined by two of their grooms in center ring. Albert Kaponey and Kevin Berman were reserve for grandmother Ada Perwien. This team shows under the direction of Sandy Currier.

Melissa Moore carried her blue ribbon clenched hard between her teeth as she tore around the ring one last time with Melody Adler’s Roadster Under Saddle World’s Champion, Where Are We Now. This was a step up from their second-place finish in 2006. Despite It All and Suzanne Hubbard raced to the Reserve World’s Championship for Barbara Watts.

A big, pretty filly with a big harness trot got the crowd going in the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare class. Rob Tanner had his homebred Big Girl’s Toy looking spectacular to park trot down victory lane. This chestnut is by Dorian Warriors Song (SA), the wild-going fine harness horse shown here in the U.S. by Gene van der Walt. Her third dam is I Do I Do, the dam of CH Sergeant Royalty and CH Miss Poise ‘N Ivy, out of Lady Trigg. It will be interesting to see if she comes back with or without a mane at this time next year. Last Class and Bret Day were reserve for Fischer Sisters LLC. The Sky King is the sire of this bay filly. Sky King is by CH Sky Watch and out of a Santana’s Charm mare. Last Class is out of a mare by The Manipulator.

Jeff McClean repeated his qualifier victory in the Junior Hackney Pony Championship with Regal’s Lucifer LF for Golden Creek Farms. Mike Barlow was reserve with Heartland Moonglow, driving for Kay Marschel. This was the same order of finish in the qualifier.

Two sections of Junior Exhibitor Roadster Pony Under Saddle hit the green shavings next. Section One was the property of Pure Country and Samantha Johnson, showing for Lisa McMackin and Holli McDowell. She was joined in the winner’s circle by an entire entourage as she prepared for her victory pass. Perfect Offering and Jake Butts gave the Cash Lovell crew another reason to cheer, taking the Reserve World’s Championship in Jake’s first trip to Freedom Hall. They won the AHHS Under Saddle Medallion at Lexington in July. Perfect Offering was the winner in this class last year with Drew Taylor Hewitt.

Section Two went to a girl in black silks with the lime green and hot pink trim, Sarah Bushell. She had Power Of Attorney working high and fast in a great performance to take the top prize. Cowboy Magic, longtime partner of Gabriella Flynn, was reserve with Nathan Stein aboard.

Maureen Lydon made Rich Campbell take another run down to the winner’s circle, which he was only too happy to do. Maureen got the fast trip down to the far end with Mr. Lucky Man, the Junior Road Pony World’s Champion of Champions for Gene Gallmeier. Lucky Man is by Mr. Hawkeye and out of Spirit’s Lucky Luci. He is a product of Rudy and Sharon Lewis’ breeding program. Velvet King and Dr. Alan Raun were reserve. This one was bred by Doc Raun and is by Dun-Haven Little King and out of Heartland Velvet Rose.

Darrell Cruse capped off the afternoon with a slick-racking bay colt owned by Elizabeth Deknatel’s High Hickory Farm. The First Fling is by CF First Night Out and out of a Harlem Globetrotter mare. He was crowned Two-Year-Old Five-Gaited World’s Champion. Darrell was able to use him and move him around the ring as he pleased, making it a lot easier to show the colt to best advantage. Sam Stafford had Jury’s Out working well in reserve for Blythewood, capping a sweep for CF First Night Out. Jury’s Out is out of a Mountain Highland Memories mare.

A slightly shorter performance today will give the crowd a brief rest before things really start to heat up tonight, as junior Exhibitors and amateurs take center stage.