Monday evening’s session promised to be a spectacular night with many junior and amateur classes on the schedule. But what was the most spectacular were not the numbers of the classes but the numbers in the classes with 41 totaling for the junior five-gaited classes and 12 in the Five-Gaited Stallion not to mention 10 in the Amateur Ladies Fine Harness and 29 of the best amateur ladies five-gaited and 33 in the amateur ladies three-gaited.
Starting off the star studded evening was the over two junior three-gaited with 18 making the gate call. For the second year in a row it was a Trust Fund progeny called to the winner’s circle as Todd Miles guided Ro & Me’s Lady Godiva to the title. With the crowd’s applause, the beautiful Soquili’s Georgia Kracker garnered the reserve title with Bob Brison in the irons for B & T Vonderschmitt. Matt Shiflet piloted The Norseman to the third place for Don and Phyllis Brookshire.
Marching down the chute for the next call were the beautiful harness pony mares for their open qualifier. Christy Gantley was thrilled after her number was called to the winner’s circle unanimously behind Nacho Mama. Sally Grieme, who had the driving duties for her husband Perry who was not able to make the trip tonight because of obligations at work, had Image Of Sophistication in top order for the reserve title.
The Junior Five-Gaited Mares stormed through the gate next with 22 of the best in the country riding hard for a spot down the rail. With this many in the class you knew more work would be called for and it was as 10 were called back to the rail. Debbie Foley had the Callaway’s Blue Norther daughter Callaway’s Don’t Sass me pushing the entire time to triumph for Dr. Bill Walsh. In for the reserve was another Callaway’s Hills bred mare, this time by Callaway’s The Gipper. A.J. Bruwer was in the irons aboard the expressive Callaway’s Heather Ann for Shirley Rinehart. In for third with a first place vote was Turning The Page with Rob Byers for owner and breeder Amy Dix Rock. The bright chestnut is out of Rock’s famed mare CH My Front Page Lady and by Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man. Carrying out the white ribbon was Pie Crust and Peter Palmer for Rick and Susan Archer.
Ten paraded down the chute for one of the most competitive fine harness classes with the amateur lady drivers. It was truly a Who’s Who event. Priscilla Marconi and Lace’s Last Tango were magnificent as Marconi had Last Tango marching down the rail with his trademark lofty fine harness trot and to the winner’s circle with approval from all three judges for trainers Jim and Fay Lowry. Anita Simpson is living her dream. Who could forget her jubilance when Mother Mary carried out the roses in 2008, but tonight was even more of a thrill as she directed Mother Mary on the green shavings tonight for the reserve title. The eye-catching team of Gothic Revival trimmed in chrome and Joan Adler dressed in flowing orange dress received the yellow ribbon with the exceptional CH Harlem’s Santa Fe and Susan Bartlett rounding out the top four.
The numbers continued to make their way into Freedom Hall with 19 in the Junior Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding. Between the mare division and this one, the future of the gaited division looks very strong for the near future. And once again it took a second look for the judges as they called 10 back to the rail for more work. Taking command of the ring was the flashy Walterway’s Pardon Me with Merrill Murray at the helm to win the title for owner and breeder Larry Hartsock. Reserve honors went to the black machine, last year’s Triple Crown winner Our First Class Day TS with Melinda Moore for Donna Moore. With a confident performance Break On Through did just that as Bret Day masterfully presented him to a strong third for Michelle and Mary Krentz.
Back in the spring the decision was made by owner Dr. Robert Pugh to campaign Stat in the open division with Maureen Lydon taking over the driving duties. It was a great move as the team built up momentum all season with wins from J.D. Massey to Blue Ridge and tonight they were on the money as they took home the World’s Champion Open Road Pony 50-52 Inches. Battling all the way and earning the reserve title with a first place vote was Lexington’s grand champion Seize The Moment with his refined headset and quick step. Ruth Gimpel was on the lines for Helen and James Rosburg. In their first appearance of the season, Larry Bacon was behind the dark pony of the group, Heartland Most Wanted, garnering the yellow streamers.
The beauty of the three-gaited horses graced Freedom Hall next with the amateur ladies aboard their under two horses. With a flawless catchride, Ashley Wilson commanded the spotlight with CH Enough About You earning the blue ribbon for Lynda Norman and DeLovely. For the second year in a row the powerful Size Me Up, with Deborah Visser in the irons, carried out the red ribbon. Rounding out the top three along with a first place vote was Thunder Cloud Nine and Erin Obenauf with The Proof Is In The Heir and Jan Small-Beth riding strong for the white streamers.
The harness horses were back this time for the Junior Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding. The talk of the show every where he has been, It’s Dan The Man did not disappoint again as he marched down the rail with a headset that never seemed to waver. Dr. Alan Raun masterfully presented the handsome bay son of It’s Hammertime to the unanimous win for High Spirits Farm, LLC, with Glenn T. Werry heading him in the winner’s circle. Jim Lowry took over the driving duties for Kenny Smith behind The Black Horse for the reserve title for Barbara Goodman Manilow while Larry Hodge drove Mighty Thor to the yellow ribbon for Elizabeth Goth LLC. The high-headed Platinum’s Moon Over Pluto carried out the white ribbon with a bold performance under Smith Lilly’s direction for Platinum Stock Farm.
Next on the schedule was the Amateur Ladies Five-Gaited Mare class with 10 top competitors hitting Freedom Hall. Fresh off wins on The Red Mile, Kate Codeanne put A Dream In Color in all the right places as she racked and trotted up a storm for the unanimous win. It has been quite a journey for this flashy mare as she burst on the scene in 2008. This season under Rob Turner’s direction they have been on fire and tonight all the waiting and work was worth it as Codeanne beamed as they made their way to the winner’s circle. Debbie Foley was thrilled with Jo Ann Griffin’s performance aboard First Chapter. Fresh off wins at Blue Ridge in only their second show together this team has come together quick for their reserve finish tonight. Another new team this season, CH Callaway’s Born For This and Allison Combs carried out the yellow ribbon with Suddenly Single and Kelly Hill rounding out the top four for Crabtree Farms, Inc.
Just earlier today CH Sweet Virginia graced the winner’s circle in the adult show pleasure and tonight her full brother Heir’s Treasure (Supreme Heir X D.S. Sweet Summer Sunshine) carried on the winning ways as David Rudder unanimously piloted the bold moving chestnut to the winner’s circle for owner and breeder Tony Ricker. Reserve honors went to last years champion CH Nurse Goodbody and John Scheidt with a confident performance. The striking grey CH Revolver and Dr. Robert Pugh had one of their best performances on the season for the yellow ribbon while the crowd cheered on the incomparable CH Call Me Ringo and Bill Shatner to the white ribbon finish.
The under two division of the junior three-gaited hit the ring. Besting the field of 13, Hilheiry Duff was a star again with Lisa Strickland in the irons for Mimi Bahcall. The Supreme Heir daughter rose to the occasion just as she had recently done at Midwest and Lexington winning the title unanimously. The toppy Kalarama’s Blue Mac with Neil Visser garnered the reserve title for owners and breeders Joan Hamilton and Larry Hodge while Darrell Case presented A Storm Star to the top third spot for Judith Swartz.
With 19 entries in the Amateur Ladies Five-Gaited you better make sure your skills are in check since working the ring is what can make or break you in this kind of class. Deborah Butler did just that as she expertly maneuvered around the traffic with the handiest of horses. She not only piloted Arrowhead’s Dreamcatcher through the crowd but she did so while keeping him in top form, never missing a beat to win the class. Randy Cates has done a great job of putting together Maguire Hall and CH Callaway’s Kit Carson in a short amount of time and after two great performances on The Red Mile they were primed and ready for tonight’s feat earning the reserve title. Always a crowd pleaser I’m Something Wicked with Theresa Vonderschmitt carried out the yellow streamers along with a first place vote. It just doesn’t get much better than this top group of horses and riders.
Fresh off the Junior Fine Harness Mare title on The Red Mile, With Style And Grace came to the green shavings ready to show. The Sir William Robert daughter loves the show ring and marched from start to finish with Michael Richardson and into the winner’s circle for Bob, Kim and Tara Grom. The beautiful Hillcroft Crown Jewel was made for this class with Sir William Robert as her sire and CH Our Canary Diamond as her dam. With owner and breeder Misdee Wrigley Miller on the lines Crown Jewel captured the reserve title along with a first place vote.
The numbers kept being the story of the night as 18 were announced for the Amateur Ladies Three-Gaited Over 15.2. It was a dream come true for Andrea Athanasuleas when she heard her number called to the winner’s circle aboard CH Juliette’s Deja Blue. The exquisite mare who has topped classes from Asheville to Lexington commanded the spotlight under the watchful eye of Matt Shiflet. Laura Michelle Dozer also had the ride of a lifetime as she carried out the red streamers aboard Angel Innocence. Glenview’s Excelalante! and Barbara Goodman Manilow were a strong third with a first place vote.
Twelve made the gate call as the amateur gentlemen took center stage with their five-gaited horses. With a solid, ground covering performance the bright Enchanting Memories racked to the winner’s circle with the ever popular Carson Kressley in the irons. With a powerful show, Here I Am Again earned the reserve title and a first place vote with Bruce Williams. Lexington’s amateur gentlemen champions Twilight Maxamillion carried out the yellow streamers with a first place vote too with Josh Wall.
The Ladies Fine Harness class was a who’s who as five made their way into Freedom Hall. Once again it was the striking black Lady Vol who was called to the winner’s circle with her lofty trot. A joyous Chris Kaplan was again on the lines from the Mike Roberts Stable. Joe Friday was a sight with Helen Rosburg elegantly paired in her midnight blue gown for the reserve title along with a first place vote. CH Cary’s Moonraker and Toni Nastali marched a big trot to the third place spot for MBA Equestrians.
The speed demons of the ring were back and burst down the chute for their Open Roadster To Bike Stallion/Gelding with the best in the business going head to head. Debbie Foley pushed Trio Bolero to the brink never letting him go over as they sped down the straightaways and held the turns for the win for Tom Caisse and Steven DeBolt. Big Red, previous winner of the class, carried out the red streamers with Raymond Shively.
The evening closed out with a bang with 12 stallions making their way into Freedom Hall for their stake. From start to finish Steve Wheeler had I’m First in top order racking and trotting with ease for the top prize for owner and breeder Stonecroft Farm. This was another world title for the CF First Night Out son. Fresh off the stallion win at Lexington, the expressive Joe Fabulous and Melinda Moore captured the reserve title for new owners Annika and Scott Bruggeworth. With huge applause from the crowd, the extremely athletic and expressive I’m Looking For You received the yellow streamers with Ed Cockriel in the irons for Kaye Bowles-Durnell to finish a good night of horse show.