Louisville - Monday Daytime
Monday, August 18, 2008
An almost brisk (both outside and inside) day greeted the first of the Louisville daytime sessions. Monday’s first class was the first division of Country Pleasure Driving. At one time, Enzo was the amateur gaited mount of Bill Marple. Now, Sally Grieme has him teamed to perfection in a brand new division. Fresh off two wins at Illinois State Fair, Enzo and Grieme topped this class as well, trotting down victory lane as Sally Grieme let out an ecstatic cheer as she left the ring. Second in the class went to “Baby Ringo,” CH Hard Day’s Night TS. Lucinda Rea drove for Tillman Stables LLC.
In the 15 Year Old Equitation class, it was a DeLovely trifecta, as Ellen Medley Wright put in a solid and smooth ride to garner the blue. Brittany McGinnis picked up the red aboard her handsome mount, Soli Deo Glori, and Faye Wuesthofen rounded out the top three with the former three-gaited superstar, Callaway’s Mandate. As Ellen left the ring on her victory pass, Lillian Shively gave a Tiger-esque fist pump, full of pride and excitement with her three young stars.
The first split of Three-Gaited Show Pleasure witnessed another masterful performance by Thundersnow and Erin Obenauf. Obenauf showed with her usual fantastic ring savvy, finding great spot after great spot, showing “Pogo” off to the best of his seemingly limitless abilities. After two wins at Lexington and two wins at Shelbyville, Thundersnow was on top of his game once again today. A rather international entry took the red ribbon. Canadian World Cup team member Margaret E. Biggs had her new entry, Sultan’s Zorba, a South African bred horse, making a high-headed and animated performance in reserve. Biggs used some of her World Cup skills first way of the ring. She is suffering from a sprained ankle and showed without her rail stirrup the entire first trot.
Anne Speck and Cindy Boel cheerfully ran to the winner’s circle to greet their 17 Year Old Equitation World’s Champion, Jacqueline Beck. This team took the 16 Year Old age group last year and the red ribbon in 15 and 14 Year Old Equitation the two years prior to that. Reserve honors went to Cape Cod’s Sarah Jane Smith, while Jessica Moctezuma picked up the yellow ribbon aboard Top Beat.
Travis Van Zetten used a strong second second-way trot to take home the blue ribbon with CH Teuschers in the second section of Three-Gaited Show Pleasure. It was another great performance after double wins at Midwest Charity and Blue Ridge. In a deep class, Travis and the big, bold and beautiful Teuschers stood out. No stranger to the Louisville winner’s circle, CH French Silk Stockings was reserve with Debbie Tomin aboard. Having a great season again this year, French Silk Stockings was last year’s World’s Champion of Champions. Brooke Jacobs and My Southern Charm rounded out the top three.
Callie Smith continued DeLovely’s winning morning, earning top honors in the 14 Year Old Equitation class. Olivia Prentiss made a great show aboard her gorgeous bay mare, The Princess Dianna, to earn the red streamers under the Fairfield South banner. Caitlin Donohue rounded out the top three under the guidance of Tom Thorpe and Bob Griffin.
The third split of Three-Gaited Show Pleasure had a winner that was the choice of all three judges. CH Lightnin’ Lil and Nicolle Beltz Tolliver earned a qualifier blue at Louisville for the fourth consecutive year, making a strong, go-forward show under the direction of John Biggins. CH Undulata’s Jimmy Hollywood, an Attache’s Liquid Asset son out of a The New York Times mare, earned the red ribbon in his first Louisville in the pleasure division. Careen Dubuc was up for the reserve ride. CH Knock Knock Who’s Heir and Kristen Olson were third in this deep class, taking their first non-blue ribbon of the season.
Deanna Lanigan apparently has a lucky new suit, as she showed for the first time in a brand new light gray suit to win the 16 Year Old Equitation World’s Championship aboard Oh! What A Feeling. Reserve honors went to the Hollow Haven-trained Rachel Machamer, while Eleanor Watkins put in a strong ride in third.
The second section of Country Pleasure Driving was a unanimous choice of the judges. It was none other than seven-time winner, CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny. You read that right. This was the seventh year in a row that Nancy Anderson and Pretty Penny have earned a qualifier blue in Freedom Hall. Just 11 years old, Pretty Penny was most definitely ready for the green shavings, as she made a fantastic show. John Scheidt had Stonecroft Tanqueray working well to finish second in this very solid class. Tanqueray is by Unlisted and out of a Boola Boola mare. Third in the class went to Tantara’s Battle Of Kings and the stylish Samantha Conlin, showing under the West Wood banner. CH Dr. Deker, a qualifier winner last year, was fourth with Debbie Marcum.
The Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure division has become extremely popular, and that popularity led to their qualifier being split. The first division went to another repeat winner, as Claire Talley guided CH The Champagne Tiger to a qualifier blue for the second year in a row. Randy Cates directs this team. Callie Smith had the aptly named She’s Gone Blonde working hard in reserve. This very blonde team took the World’s Championship in this division last year. Allie Wellington and MMMBop, fresh off wins at Blue Ridge, finished in third with a great performance.
Emily Wallingford Marshall showed exceptional cool and calm in averting a near disaster in the Roadster to Wagon class. Coming around the in-gate turn, first way of the ring, her right rear wheel tilted at a 45-degree angle and then fell off completely as she hit the straightaway with Jill’s Flash. Marshall was able to get her horse stopped, and the other drivers behind her did well to slow down and move around her as she came to a stop on the rail. Once the ring cleared, Mark Turner turned on the jets with Power Ranger to take the blue ribbon in this class for the second year in a row, earning the unanimous tie for DeLovely. Many times the World’s Grand Champions in this division, Ashland and Mike Barlow were reserve for Howard Six.
Tyler Miles took a second straight unanimous blue for DeLovely, as he piloted Moon Charmer to the 13 and Under Five-Gaited Pony blue, continuing their undefeated season. Tyler and Moon Charmer took the tri-color in this division last year. Tanner Myers Parham was second with Jewels For A Lady in their first year together. It was Tanner’s first trip across the green shavings, and he put on a nice show, earning a round of applause from the crowd.
Yet another unanimous decision of the judges graced the winner’s circle in the Four Year Old Road Pony class. Andy Freseth drove Romeo’s Kristy Lee LF to the top spot for Priscilla Gise. This speedy little mare is by Romeo LF and out of a Dun-Haven Regal Attraction mare. Sha Boom and Lewis Eckard were reserve for Karl Bridgeman.
A fifth straight unanimous decision in this morning’s performance went to Believe Her, with Tyler DeVore riding for Mallory Greaves. Greaves won her section of this qualifier in 2005 with the Attache’s Born Believer mare. Kristen Siess was overwhelmingly excited with her second place tie, hugging her horse, Cloverleaf Taho Taho, over and over again as she went to get her ribbon, and then even more as she went out the gate.
After the lunch break, the Park Mares hit the ring for their Open qualifier. For the second year in a row, it was Ya-Ya taking the last pass with Dena Lopez showing for Elizabeth Shatner and Dorothy Anderson. Smith Lilly made a nice show with Cape Grace, last year’s UPHA Park Pleasure Classic National Champion, to take reserve for Roger and Stephanie McMahon. Cape Grace is by Dorian Warriors Song (SA) and out of a Red Oak’s Sensation mare. Princess Mara was third with Zach Duffy aboard for Tom Galbreath.
Billy Jewel and Allison Combs won a two-horse shootout with Miss Outta My Way and Ivy Johnson in the Five-Gaited Pony 14-17 class. Billy Jewel won the 13 and Under qualifier last year with Shelby Floyd aboard. Ivy and Miss Outta My Way have been teamed up since 2004, winning it all in 2005.
Meadow Demon and Lana Gilpin put on a speedy show to earn the Roadster to Bike Mares blue. They won this class in 2005 as well. Joanna’s Lost and Rae Lee Mills were reserve today.
Tyler Miles through a fist in the air as his number was called for the second time today, winning the 13 and Under Three-Gaited class with Harley Rally for James W. Orr. Neil Visser joined them in the winner’s circle, while Larry Hodge and Chantel Coetzee coached the victory pass from the in-gate. Devote was second in this one. Kaelin Baechle was aboard, making her Freedom Hall debut under the direction of Kent Swalla. Show Baby Show and Christina Collis finished in third.
While 9-9-9 may be the number to call in an emergency in the United Kingdom, in Freedom Hall it is the number of Three-Gaited Pony 14-17 World’s Champion Manhattan’s Irish Cream. Lindsey Shields was once again in the irons for Kathleen Bagdasarian, as this defending Three-Gaited Pony World’s Champion of Champions visited the Louisville winner’s circle once again. Alyssa Lopez guided Callaway’s Kiss & Tell to the reserve tie for parents Dave and Dena Lopez.
It was another one-two finish for the mother-daughter team of Helen Rosburg and Ali DeGray. At Lexington, it was Helen Rosburg taking the blue in the UPHA Hackney Pleasure Driving Classic, with Ali finishing in second. Today, Ali stepped it up with Heartland Elegant Touch, a Mike Barlow-trained daughter of Heartland Head Of The Class, to take the Hackney Pleasure Driving qualifier for Gwen Stablefod. Helen Rosburg finished in reserve this time, driving Heartland Stepaside. Kelsey Herbert and Heartland Showboat completed the Heartland Hackney Farm-bred sweep in third.
Abigail Mutrux made an outstanding catch-ride in the second section of 13 and Under Three-Gaited, taking a unanimous trip down victory lane with High Time’s Northern Son for Sarah Wood. Mark Turner greeted the winning team at the far end of the ring. No stranger to Freedom Hall, CH The Showstopper was reserve, with Margaret Morrison showing under the Cash Lovell Stables banner.
Another unanimous decision sent Regal’s Trademark LF and Mary Gaylord McClean to the winner’s circle in the Amateur Roadster Pony 50-52”. The Midwest Road Pony Grand Champion and Lexington’s Limit Road Pony Champion, Regal’s Trademark is by Dun-Haven Regal Attraction. This is just his first year as a road pony, as he was the Hackney Pony Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion last year with Jeff McClean. Last year’s World’s Champion of Champions, Calvin Hobbs, was reserve today with Kevin Ingram driving under the Hollow Haven banner for James Dellinger.
The judges were definitely on the same page today, as all three once again selected one horse for the top spot. In this case, it was The Attache Orchid, ridden by Hunter Chancellor to the Louisville blue in the 13 and Under Three-Gaited Pony ranks, continuing their undefeated season and repeating their win from last year. Also a repeat finisher from last year, Amelia Heir Cat and Jessie Wuesthofen finished reserve.
The smaller section (height wise) of Amateur Road Ponies was actually the bigger section (number wise), as the 50” and Under class was split. In the first section, Quintus Vander Spuy ran down to the winner’s circle to greet his father-in-law, Jeoff Bodenhorst, who was at the lines of Regal’s Star Attraction to take the top spot. St. Patrick and Chris Long-Shubert were second, after winning this qualifier a year ago.
Section two capped off the daytime session. Patrice Watson O’Brien was the happy winner with Mr. Lucky Man, driving under the Majestic Oaks banner. Lucky Man was the Junior Road Pony World’s Champion of Champions last year with Maureen Lydon. Second to Mr. Lucky Man was Surprise Surprise, owned and shown by Donna Whatley.
In between the two splits of 50” and under ponies were two sections of the USTA Roadster Classic preliminaries as well as a fantastic Park Stallion/Gelding class. With 13 entries gunning for the blue, it looked like it could be anybody’s class. While a lot of Park entries make a wide-open, take-no-prisoners approach to the division, making big, flashy, fast passes off the rail, there was one horse that stood out from the rest with his beauty, presence, and animated, piston-like performance, not to mention his “Tanner canter.” It was none other than The Woodsider, winner of this class two years ago and second last year. Once again, Jackie Tanner was in the irons for Bob Facciola. Second in the class went to the Blue Ridge Champion, Master And Commander. Maria Gilman rode for Barbara Woods. This is a new entry for Judd Stables, as Blue Ridge was their first show with him. He is by Belle Reve’s Renaissance man and out of a Sultan’s Great Day mare. Another Great Day mare produced the third-place finisher, Brookhill’s Periday, with Jim Cherry showing for Zazen Ranch. Periday is by Periaptor, as is The Woodsider. Great Day sired the fourth-place horse, Day’s Grecian Gray. Michelle Krentz picked up the white ribbon for the Grey Ridge banner. So all in all, it was a very successful class for both Sultan’s Great Day and Periaptor!
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