Louisville - Monday Evening
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday evening’s opened with a nice group competing for the World’s Champion Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 title. Marching to the winner’s circle with the nod from all three judges was the animated Ro & Me’s Kiss And Tell with Neil Visser presenting for James W. Orr. This was the second trip to the winner’s circle for Visser and the daughter of Trust Fund and Shut Up And Kiss Me as they debuteed a month ago winning at the Red Mile. Todd Miles expertly directed Lynda Norman’s More Than Enough to the reserve title with the flashy Stonecroft Nightlight and Jim Lowry rounding out the top three for Karrie Graham and Dwaine Kinderknecht.
Seven harness ponies made the gate call for the open mare class next. Trainers Rich Campbell and Maureen Lydon had Heartland Flirtation in tune for Mia Blevins Morris. Morris kept the elegant pony in great spots park trotting her way to the winner’s circle. Renee Lavery was on the lines for Kathy Mulvaney Buente claiming the reserve title with Romeo’s Best Girl LF. Kim Crumpler presented Image Of Sophistication garnering the yellow streamers for Sally and Perry Grieme.
The Junior Five-Gaited Mares were in the spotlight with 12 scheduled to compete. Callaway’s Cassis never put an ear back as she boldly moved from gait to gait for trainer, John Conatser unanimously capturing the World’s Champion title. It was here last year that Conatser and Carol Hillenbrand selected the CH Caramac and Gin Blossom daughter after she won the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Mare with Rob Tanner. Since then she has matured into a solid performer for Conatser with Hillenbrand readying to show her in the future. Jenny Taylor was aboard Dream Castle for the reserve. Tim Shea owns the athletic chestnut, by Castle Bravo and out of A Daydream Believer. Racking out with the yellow streamers was With A Dream and Melinda Moore for Schones/Jampsa/Bigos partnership.
Parading through the gate next were the amateur ladies for their Fine Harness World’s Championship. For the second year in a row Castledream and Misdee Wrigley Miller were a picture of elegance as they made their way to the winner’s circle. This grand horse is a full brother to the Dream Castle that captured the reserve in the previous class with both horses bred by the Wheeler Family. Susan Bartlett had CH Harlem’s Santa Fe marching down the rail with her lofty harness trot for the reserve title. The trimmed in chrome Gothic Revival captured the top third spot with Joan Adler on the lines.
The show took a break for a minute to honor Terry McKenzie the 2008 inductee for the AHHS Hall of Fame.
The pace picked up as 20 stallions and geldings burst through the gate for the Junior Five-Gaited World’s Championship. After the completion of all the gates the judges wanted to see more and the crowd agreed. Ten awesome teams were called back working both ways at the trot, slow gait and rack. When all was said and done it was The Daily Lottery called to the victory. Mandy Martin, who is one of the youngest riders to win this class at the age of 20, masterfully piloted the sporty son of Sultan’s Great Day with huge crowd applause. Afterwards Martin was so thrilled with her win she exclaimed, “I could die right now and it would be alright!” Picking up the red streamers and their share of the crowd was Busting Out and Anne Stafford. Stafford presented the 2007 Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion for Creekridge LLC. Todd Graham received a hard fought top third spot with Stravinsky for Pinekrest Farm Inc. with A Whole Different Story and Debbie Foley carrying out the white ribbon.
Seven Hackneys made the next gate call for the Open Road Pony Over 50 to 52 Inches World’s Championship. Tonight the victory pass belonged to Seize The Moment and Ruth Gimpel. With her red and black silks flying, Gimpel presented the toppy speedster for Helen and James Rosburg. Pushing hard the whole class, CH Free Willy and Georgia Blevins drove hard earning the reserve honors after an amazing run of 29 blue and tricolors. Mary Gaylord McClean rounded out the top three with Heartland Production.
Marching down the chute into Freedom Hall next was the Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under. Nineteen teams vied for the title and with the abundance of talent once again the judges called for a workout with ten asked to return to the rail working only at the trot both ways of the ring. Heavenly Thunder and Nancy Leigh Fisher defined the class with the 2007 Junior World’s Champion of Champions’ classic park trot. Under the direction of Willowbank, the elegant team earned the unanimous victory. Only a four-year-old Size Me Up performed grandly for Deborah Visser pumping her legs to the reserve title. CH Callaway’s Halley’s Comet and Christine Broder picked up the yellow streamers with Enough About You and Lynda Norman garnering the fourth place.
Freedom Hall once again belonged to the fine harness division as the junior stallion/gelding class entered next. Melissa Moore expertly piloted the handsome Lexington winner Hi On Heir to the top spot for Sally McClure Jackson. Ruth Gimpel had Pi’ece De R’esistance in top form taking home the reserve title for Patricia Bonati with Father McKenzie and Zach Duffy rounding out the top three for Middendorf Farms.
Eight lady amateurs were back this time with their five-gaited mares. CH Amusing and Amy Dix Rock were picture perfect for the win, as the impressive mare easily moved from gait to gait never laying an ear back. CH Have You Ever has always showcased her athletic ability and presence and tonight gave it her for Barclay de Wet. Under the direction of Redd Crabtree the bold moving little mare and de Wet racked to the reserve concluding a magnificent career. Last years’ winner CH Whimsicality and Kaitlyn Grom had a great show garnering the yellow streamers.
Fine harness numbers have been strong all season and the amateur gentlemen’s class tonight was no exception with ten entries entering Freedom Hall. Trainer Nelson Green had Nurse Goodbody fine-tuned for John Scheidt tonight as they unanimously captured the victory. Carson Kressley had a fabulous catch-drive behind Kiri receiving the red streamers for Sheri Wechsler. Jeff McClean also showed off his skills driving Open Arms to the yellow ribbon for new owner Jane Mueller.
The Junior Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under was an amazing class. When the work was completed all three judges agreed that A Travelin’ Man earned the top spot. Todd Miles was aboard the handsome chestnut whom is not stranger to Freedom Hall’s winner’s circle with two World’s Champion titles already to his credit with previous trainer Dena Lopez. Miles selected the talented young star earlier this year for Ellen Medley Wright debuting him under saddle winning Asheville Lions Club and following up this summer with the win at Mercer County. The impressive I’m McDreamy returned to Freedom Hall also with a 2007 World’s Champion title on his resume. Kim Cowart had him in top form garnering the reserve title with the crowd’s approval for Jackie Ware. A star on the Midwest circuit, Cataclysmic earned the yellow ribbon with Terri Anne Ullman for Kenneth and Susan Halverson. Matt Shiflet presented I’m Southern for Susan Harris to a strong fourth place ribbon.
With 30 Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Geldings on the schedule management made the decision to split it into two sections. Section one burst through the gate next with 16 competitive teams working hard for the title. Tonight was a night Mandy Martin probably will never forget. Earlier in the schedule she won with the junior stallion/gelding out of field of twenty. Now she returned to the green shavings proving her catch-riding skills expertly piloting Arrowhead’s Dreamcatcher to the win for Deborah Butler. CH Tigerlee and Ali DeGray always seem to shine in Freedom Hall. Last year they completed their junior exhibitor campaign wearing the roses and tonight in their first amateur appearance together in Louisville they once again turned up the heat earning the reserve title. Barbara Goodman Manilow was aboard her newest partner Red Flame Thrower rounding out the top three with CH Callaway’s Kit Carson and Susan Shepherd riding hard for the white ribbon.
The numbers continued to arrive as 13 made their way down the chute for the Junior Fine Harness Mare. Unanimously winning the title was Elegant Dreamcatcher. Lynda Freseth was on the lines of this AttachÈ’s Royal Assets and Entirely Elegant daughter for Tom Brock. Reserve honors went to Buck Be A Lady in her debut drive for new owners Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chelberg. Neil Visser presented the CF First Night Out X Lady Skybuck daughter. Jim Koller returned to Freedom Hall behind Barbara Goodman Manilow’s Lady Bravada for yellow ribbon with Voulez Vous and Tiffany Wheeler picking up the top fourth spot for Chris and Jean Nalley.
Everywhere you looked in the Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 there was a big star. The class was like a page in the who’s who but when all the work was completed it was Manila Thrilla and Theresa Vonderschmitt returning to the winner’s circle just as they did in 2007. Manila Thrilla was amazing for Vonderschmitt never putting a foot or ear out of place. Barbara Goodman Manilow and Glenview’s Excelalante! had a great show for the reserve title. CH New York’s Perfect Gift, CH Callaway’s Merry-Go-Round, CH Sue-She, CH Pas De Deux, CH Steel In Love and Lady O’Lydia earned the balance of the awards in the star-studded class.
In the Amateur Gentlemen Five-Gaited CH Colonel Hoss and Justin Cowley continued their winning streak adding a unanimous World’s Champion title to their list. Always a true sportsman Todd Miles congratulated Cowley telling him “you made that look easy!” Miles had directed CH Five O’Clock and Chris Nalley to a great ride for the reserve title. CH Roseridge’s Gold and Doug Lindstrom rounded out the top three.
Chris Kaplan looked magnificent in her peach gown behind Lady Vol for the unanimous win in the Ladies Fine Harness. Trainers Mike Roberts and Zach Duffy made the run meeting her in the winner’s circle. Melinda Moore was on the lines for Poser Farm presenting Legend Of Troy to the reserve with Patty Milligan directing Gone Platinum to the third spot for Mary Sally Aylward.
Marking the fourth year in a row it was Big Red and Raymond Shively commanding the spotlight in the Open Roadster To Bike Stallion/Gelding for the unanimous win. Capturing the reserve title was Martell and Rick Adams for Ed and Ann Moore.
The remaining 14 teams from the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Geldings had their time to shine for section II. CH Title Bound turned in a bold performance with Misdee Wrigley Miller for the unanimous win in their first appearance this season. Fresh off wins at Blue Ridge and Midwest Charity CH Carolina Cat and Amanda Dellinger garnered the reserve title with a solid show. Claiming the third spot was The Echo Of Thunder and Traci Massaro with At The Stroke Of Midnight and Emily Abbott riding hard for the white ribbon.
The lengthy evening session closed out with the CH Will Shriver Five-Gaited Stallion Stake. With all three nods from the judges, Neil Visser piloted the South African bred Calif First Night Out through a bold moving performance and down victory lane for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chelberg. Reserve honors also had South African ties as South African native Bill Schoeman presented Red Hawk Red Hawk for the Schmidt/Schoeman partnership. Foreign ties seemed to be a trend as Martin Gueldner, from Germany, rounded out the top three with Blackie Rising Star.
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