Louisville - Monday Evening
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Monday evening began with 14 over two junior three-gaited horses making the gate call. My Hail Mary is no stranger to the winner's enclosure in Freedom Hall with a win as a two-year-old. Tonight she was once again was stunning as Todd Miles directed her to the unanimous win for Annika and Scott Bruggeworth. With only three classes in his career, Callaway's Reality Show, sired by Callaway's The Gipper, rose to the occasion capturing the reserve title with Mark Hulse aboard for James Orr. The 2011 UPHA Classic Grand Champion Callaway's Thrills & Chills, by Callaway's Blue Norther, scored the yellow ribbon. Bret Day was aboard the talented liver chestnut for Carroll Robertson Ray. Callaway's Most Wanted, a second ribbon winner sired by Callaway's The Gipper, took the white ribbon with Michael Aponte for Linda Brittan.
There were only three to show in the Harness Pony Mare Stake. For the second year in a row Giselle was called to the winner's circle. Larry Ella was once again on the lines for Bent Tree Farm LTD. The chestnut pony Heartland Queen Of The Road marched out with the red ribbon with Susan Olcott at the whip. Heartland Elegant Touch and Kathy Barlow claimed the yellow ribbon for Gwen Stableford.
In the Junior Five-Gaited Mare class you couldn't go wrong as all six worked hard for the title. Top honors went back to Tennessee with the leg-waving Undulata's High Society. This the second career world's title for this mare with Anne Neil presenting for Pidgeon Roost Farm. Matt Shiflet had Jackleberry in top order. The flashy chestnut scored the reserve title. My Rosalita never dropped an ear with Kenny Smith in the irons rounding out the top three for Barbara Goodman Manilow.
Besting a field of nine of nine top entires in the Ladies Amateur Fine Harness class was Military Secret with Grace Arnold. Dressed in a beautiful yellow lace gown Arnold expertly presented the magnificent gelding to his third career world's title. Linda Beltz had Steel The Moment marching down rail earning the reserve world's title. Last year's winner My Gypsy Moon with Donna Beck accepted the yellow ribbon with Kalarama's New York Lady and Vicki Reed rounding out the top four.
Since the Junior Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding class had a total of 25 set to show, management made the decision to make two splits for the second consecutive year. It was the Chris and Andrea Athanasuleas entry earning the first blue ribbon with Matt Shiflet aboard. The grand liver chestnut covers so much ground at every gait he dominated the ring . After the class Shiflet called it his "ride of a lifetime" and if Honey Badger could say anything about this class it would probably be that it was his first time on the green shavings but "Honey Badger don't care!" Fresh off a win on the Red Mile Memories Of Cabo racked out with the reserve title with Peter Cowart aboard for Caitlin Leith. Neil Visser presented Guy Ormsby to the third place for Elisabeth Goth LLC while Robert Gardiner was aboard I'm All Dressed Up for Kathie Constable for the white ribbon.
Todd Miles made his second trip of the night to the winner's circle in the second split of the stallion/gelding class. This time he was aboard Kim and Robert Grom's All About Him. With a great season to his credit, One Class Act added the reserve world's champion title to his resume. Nelson Green was aboard the owned and bred entry of Hagan Saddlebreds. Now under the direction of A.J. Bruwer, Simbara's Cup Of Sugar claimed the yellow ribbon with the trimmed in chrome Charming Dreamer and Rob Byers racking out with the white ribbon for Ashlyn Farms.
The open 50-52 inch road pony class was power packed. A couple of these ponies have duked it out plenty of times and the top ribbon has gone back and forth. Tonight it was CH Calvin Hobbs in overdrive withLynda Freseth behind the sporty pony for James Dellinger. CH Stat didn't make it easy for the Hollow Haven team as Maureen Campbell had him driving hard the whole class. Owned by Dr. Chip Pugh the multi-titled pony carried out the red ribbon. Regal's Wild Card LF and Abel Vega carried out the yellow ribbon for Golden Creek Farms while Twin Willow's McDreamy and Dr. Alan Raun were fourth for Deborah Jahn.
Next up were the lady amateur riders with their under two walk-trots. Once again it was Todd Miles making his way to the winner's circle but this time he was sprinting through the green shavings meeting the unanimous team of CH A Travelin' Man and Ashley Wilson. This marked the second year in a row for this team to take home the blue. A new team this season Mesmerizing and Vicki Reed marched out the red ribbon in the well filled class. In their walk-trot debut Twice The Dice and Ashley Alden carried out the yellow ribbon with approval from the crowd.
A nice class of Junior Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding horses were into Freedom Hall next. As the class worked it became the battle of the black horses. The night had already been a great one for Matt Shiflet and it got that much better as Costra Nostra lit up under the lights. Shiflet had the striking black gelding marching to victory for the Dabareiner's Fish N Fun Farm. James Stachowski debuted Nutcracker's Nirvana to the reserve title for his wife Shawn. Ruth Gimpel was on the lines earning the yellow ribbon with Night Tide, the third talented black horse, for Helen and James Rosburg.
Horses of a different color continued to grab attention of the judges even in the next class the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Mare. This time it was the grey Divine Asset making her way to the winner's circle with Jacqueline Beck. Lauren Pope got the catch ride aboard the five-year-old Cary On Broadway earning the reserve title for Susan Hanna. Ali DeGray and Most Definitely Diamonds always rise to the occasion and with a nice performance they rounded out the top three with Cavalia and Misdee Miller carrying out the white ribbon.
The harness horses returned this time with their amateur gentlemen drivers. Kenny Wheeler had Caraway's New York Minute headlining the entire class winning the blue for the second year in a row. Heir's Treasure and James Miller had a solid performance for the reserve title. Carson Kressley got the call for the catch drive behind Sir Silver Knight scoring the yellow ribbon for the Nunley/Cook partnership.
It was a sweet night Andre van Schalkwyk as he directed She's My Sugarland to her second career world's title. A winner a year ago in the Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited, tonight she marched away with the under two junior title. Both wins were for owner Susan Olcott. The sporty Callaway's Count Your Blessings with Gene LaCroix carried out the reserve title for the Jarvis/Williams partnership. Nicki Immonen presented I'm In Heaven to the third place for Lisa Austin. The white ribbon along with huge applause went to Nut A Chance and Don Harris.
The lady amateurs were back this time bursting through the gated on their five-gaited geldings. Nineteen teams worked hard for the title but when the work was done it was Belle Reve's So Photogenic being just that so photogenic. In their third class together, Elizabeth Shatner and So Photogenic topped the incredible class. Another appropriately named horse The Mighty Moe put on a mighty performance for Ceil Wheeler racking into the reserve title. Misdee Miller put a ride on Callaway's I'll Stand By You for the yellow ribbon while Break On Through and Laura Dozer Elliott, winner for the previous two years, garnered the white ribbon along with huge applause from the crowd.
Trust My Imagination put on a star studded performance in the Junior Fine Harness Mare class with Beth Harris. Harris brought this talented mare out at Rock Creek and the buzz began. Shortly after, Theresa Vonderschmitt purchased her and left her at Walnut Way. Just a few weeks ago she topped the junior class at Blue Ridge and tonight she added a world's champion title to her resume. Neil Visser brought Roselane's Brenda Leigh Johnson out at Blue Ridge with the reserve title for Elisabeth Goth LLC. Tonight she would finish reserve again to the same horse. These two top mares will surely see a lot of each other during the remainder of the season. Twilight Vigil and Jimmy Womble garnered the yellow ribbon for Nancy Bryan.
CH His Supreme Reflection has had an incredible season. With Jacqueline Manzo aboard for Kimberly Jones they have amassed wins at River Ridge, Asheville Lions Club and Lexington Junior League. Tonight with a flawless performance they topped the Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited 15.2 and Over class under the direction of Nelson Green. No stranger to success Glenview's Excelalante! and Barbara Goodman Manilow had a strong ride earning the reserve title. Megan Dragich was thrilled when her number was called to the third place spot. She was aboard Trust In Love under the direction of Mark Utoft.
The amateur gentlemen’s gaited class was large in quantity and quality but no matter the number or the stock, CH The Daily Lottery and Gabe Deknatel would not be denied. Deknatel piloted the mighty horse through the traffic making great passes earning the win for the third year in a row. Hanlo Smith got the call again after a catch ridge at Shelbyville to show New York's Real Magic for Rudi Beneke. It was a good call as they garnered the reserve title. Third place honors went to Epic Hero and Martin Gueldner while Heir Comes The Man and Glenn T. Werry scored the white ribbon.
The Ladies Fine Harness was the next to vie for a world's champion title. It was an unbelievable class filled from start to finish with name after name. But tonight the top honor belonged to the 2011 Junior World's Champion of Champions Our Brilliant Belle. Lynda Freseth had this exquisite mare stroking pass after pass for owner Priscilla Gise. Follow The Sun and Annika Bruggeworth came into Louisville with a slue of wins to their credit, the most recent on the Red Mile. Tonight they had another great performance earning the reserve title. Alde Mar's Crystal Pistol, Lady Vol, CH Lace's Last Tango, Catalytic, Harlem's Divine and Arc's I Can Teach You To Tango finished out the ribbons.
Once again it was the master of faster that dominated the ring. Raymond Shively drove Emerson to the Open Roadster To Bike Stallion/Gelding title for the third year in a row. Reserve honors were picked up by Alcazar and Colby Herron for Mike Herron. Merrill Murray was behind Chanteur PV for the yellow ribbon for his late friend Rob Tanner.
The Will Shriver Five-Gaited Stallion Stake closed out Monday evening and if you looked at the schedule it set up to be a great class. Just as every class tonight was a good one, the stallion stake did not disappoint. The four that made the gate call battled out pass after pass for the judges' approval while the crowd got behind their favorites. Tonight the blue would return to the Monnington stalls with an exceptional unanimous performance from Marc Of Charm. Lionel Ferreira was aboard the stallion for River Dreams LLC. A winner a year ago from this class, Kalarama's Ultimate Choice and Larry Hodge gave them a run for the money but tonight had to settle for the reserve title for Joan Hamilton. A.J. Bruwer presented My Royale Charm to the yellow ribbon for Bridgett Mills Parker while Dan Flowers picked up the white ribbon aboard It's Paladin.
Monday night might be behind us but the memories will last a lifetime whether they were from winning the blue or having a great ride.
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