Louisville - Monday Evening
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Carson Nation kept his undefeated run at Louisville going, opening Monday night with the Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Championship. Neil Visser once again made the show for Elisabeth Goth. The bay gelding has all kinds of curve and beauty to him. He is by Leatherwood’s Starlight and out of I’m Real, by I’m The Prince. He has been a World’s Champion in harness the past two years here. Mitch Clark had his entry cranked up beautifully in the bridle. Soquili’s Harvest Moon worked with his chin on his chest to take the Reserve World’s Championship for MLS Equestrian LLC. Harvest Moon is by Simbara’s Living Legend and out of Mandala Remembered, also the dam of Soquili’s Manolito. Robert Gardiner and Peter Griffin finished third for Bob and Tonya Brison, representing sire Designed. Peter Cowart and It’s All About Grace were fourth for Ellen Susman.
Giselle made it nine wins in a row on the green shavings, as she pursues an incredible fifth consecutive Harness Pony World’s Grand Championship. She started that pursuit tonight with a fifth straight Harness Pony Mare World’s Championship. Larry Ella was once again at the lines, headed up by Adam Bovaird and Shannon Ella. She is by Mark Of Excellence and out of My Sweet Georgia Brown, making her near and dear to the heart of owner and breeder Karen Waldron of Bent Tree Farm. The blonde bombshell Heartland Queen Of The Road was the Reserve World’s Champion in this class for the fourth time. The 2013 Amateur Harness Pony World’s Champion of Champions was driven as usual by owner Susan Olcott under the direction of Mike Hylton. She is by Heartland Head Of The Class and out of Heartland Just A Princess.
Bret Day’s shoulders relaxed and the smile started to spread across his face as Peter Fenton announced There’s Something About Mary as the Junior Five-Gaited Mare World’s Champion. The unanimous winner is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Heirudite. The Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Mare World’s Champion a year ago, she would go on to be named the UPHA Five-Gaited Classic National Champion as well. Best in Show at Midwest Charity for her phenomenal performance there, she kept it going here for owner Carroll Robertson Ray. Matt Shiflet got a loud and extended ovation for a spectacular effort as the Reserve World’s Champion aboard No Tan Lines. Owned by George Anne and Jim Nash, No Tan Lines was the Junior Five-Gaited Champion at Lexington. She is by Commander’s Stud Muffin and out of Miss Fiji LGF, by Bora Bora. She poured it on all class long to the delight of the Matt Shiflet Stables cheering section. Kenny Smith and Divergent made a good ride for third for Barbara Goodman Manilow. I’m A Sugar Shaker and A.J. Bruwer were up next in fourth for Vicki Reed.
With a “Welcome to the World’s Championship Horse Show” video shown on the scoreboard as a buffer, Matthew Shiflet made the quick turnaround to get Phyllis Brookshire and Costa Nostra cranked up and ready. They were a sight tonight to win the Amateur Ladies Fine Harness World’s Championship in unanimous style for Don and Phyllis Brookshire. Amateur champion at Lexington this year as well, Costa Nostra is by The Harlem Renaissance and out of The Golden Bough, by The Irish Connection. He was spectacularly rocked back and stroking tonight for the blue. Amateur champion at Devon, CH Caraway’s New York Minute was up for reserve here with Janet Sterba driving for Jeff and Janet Sterba and Mercer Springs Farm. Janet won this class a year ago on her way to being crowned Amateur Fine Harness World’s Champion of Champions with the son of I’m A New Yorker and Caraway. Magical Promises and Anna Marie Knipp really stepped up on the reverse to finish third for High Spirits Farm. Kalarama’s New York Lady and Vicki Reed were exquisite as always to finish fourth.
Another World’s Champion as a three-year-old, Mountjoy’s Extra Nice took the Junior Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding World’s Championship tonight, once again with Tre Lee. Owned by Tre and Emily Lee’s Prospect Lane Farm, Extra Nice was also a winner at Lexington this year. He is by Mountjoy’s Knight and out of a Callaway’s Extra Extra mare. Chase and Emily Lee headed up the victory pass tonight. Lionel Ferreira and Vanity Blue made a hard-charging show for the Reserve World’s Championship. Owned by Vanguard Holdings, Vanity Blue is by Deep Blue and out of Vanity’s Gypsy Town. He is a flashy flaxen gelding with wins at Shelby County Fair and Indianapolis Charity this year. Mike Tunstall had Phinely Charmed up for third for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler, while The Royal Socialite and Debbie Foley placed fourth for Silver Brook Stables.
Abel Vega had all the speed he needed and then some at the lines of unanimous Road Pony 50-52” World’s Champion Regal’s Night Shadow LF. Undefeated with Abel, including the Road Pony Championship at Lexington, Night Shadow is owned by Golden Creek Farms. He is by Dun-Haven Regal Attraction and out of Romeo’s Sweet Sugar LF. Also by Regal Attraction, CH Stat was the reserve winner with owner Doug Mesker at the lines. The winner of this class in 2013, Stat is out of Conqueror’s Treasure LF. He is showing in his seventh season under the Majestic Oaks banner. Cruz’n Susan and Mitch Clark were a happy third, while Sheri Lampropolous drove into fourth with Regal’s Monarch LF for Dr. Andrea Parkman. That gave Dun-Haven Regal Attraction three of the top four in this class.
Moonbeams And Dreams has been absolutely on point every time we have seen her this season. It serves to reason that she would be undefeated in this her six-year-old campaign. She and Misdee Wrigley Miller make a beautiful team for the Kalarama banner. They scored another win here, their eighth of the season, to take the Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under World’s Championship. Moonbeams And Dreams is by Attache’s Royal Assets and out of Callaway’s Truest Blue, by Callaway’s Blue Norther. Undulata’s Just Perfect and Nancy Chauvin repeated their finish from a year ago, taking the Reserve World’s Championship for Drs. Jeffrey and Nancy Chauvin. Sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of the Broodmare Hall of Fame World’s Champion Undulata’s Perfect Gift ERB, Just Perfect is trained by DesMar Stables. Dr. Merrell Magelli got plenty of support from the Monnington crew in third aboard Enchanted Kiss. Allison Boozer and PRF Southern Kiss finished fourth for Pender Ridge Farm.
It’s strange how the numbers fall sometimes. After witnessing big numbers in both the junior gaited classes, just two came to play in the Junior Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class. Rose Arbor Destiny certainly made it exciting, as he made a special performance for the blue with John Conatser. Owned and bred by Joellen Fisher Blount, Destiny is a big bay son of Undulata’s Nutcracker and the exquisite walk-trot mare, CH She’s My Desire BH. He was the ASR Three-Year-Old Fine Harness National Futurity winner here last year. Emily Abbott West was the Reserve World’s Champion with Call Me Cabernet. The entry of Alliance Stud is by CH Call Me Ringo and out of Vintage, by Bi Mi Sultan’s Wine. Emily and Cabernet won the junior harness class at Shelbyville earlier this month.
It was a unanimous round of honor to open up McGee Bosworth’s amateur career on the green shavings. She has been on top of her game these past couple months with CH Moonlight Memories, sweeping her division at Lexington and topping the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Mare World’s Championship tonight for Pair of Jacks Stables. Mary Orr and Allison Deardorff raced to the far end, a race won cleanly by Mary. McGee worked the ring well in this group of 15 good entries to claim her third straight Louisville win with the daughter of Desert’s Supreme Memories and Tanbark’s Enchanted Evening (BHF). Barbara Goodman Manilow was all smiles as the Reserve World’s Champion aboard My Rosalita. This was the third year in a row for Barbara and Rosalita to take this prize back to Skyline Stables. My Rosalita puts her chin on her chest for Barbara. She is by Northern Vegas and out of Careless Heiress. Infamous Kiss and Deborah Orr were up for third for James Orr, while Fox Grape’s Sierra Madre and Dr. Owen Weaver finished fourth for Fox Grape Farms.
The Amateur Gentlemen’s Fine Harness group was a bit fractious tonight, with the gents giving several heart-stopping moments throughout the event. Chad Graham certainly knows plenty about being a showman. He drove Renaissance Man’s Medici to a unanimous World’s Championship here for William and Elizabeth Shatner. Steve and Tiffany Wheeler headed up the victory pass, as Chad doffed his hat to the crowd for the final rail of his victory pass. This was the second time for Medici to win this prize. He is by Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man and out of a General Steel mare. Kenny Wheeler got the call to catch drive Kalarama’s Superman. He received a special prize as the Reserve World’s Champion. This special trophy is given in honor of the late Larry Gilpin by Lana and Daryl Gilpin. It will be presented to the Reserve World’s Champion in this class going forward. Superman is owned by Frank and Iris James and trained by Jimmy Robertson. He is by Harlem Superior and out of a Rare Treasure mare. Dr. Chip Pugh made a great drive in third with Copper And Kings, an entry of Leslie LaForce. Jack And Coke was fourth for Jack Pool and Oak Hill Saddlebreds LLC.
Look Of Success is always an exciting young star to watch. He and Andy Freseth took the Junior Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under World’s Championship back to Hollow Haven for Amanda Dellinger. The UPHA Three-Gaited Classic National Champion a year ago, Look Of Success is by Designed and out of Glenview’s Successful. Successful, as we’ve written before, is by Radiant Sultan and out of Tra La La, putting almost all of the same blood in Look Of Success as is in World’s Champion Glenview’s Excelalante. Merrill Murray got a rousing sendoff as the Reserve World’s Champion, debuting Razzle Dazzle Me for High Hickory Farm. This chestnut sport is by Roseridge’s All Night Long and out of Worthy Follow Me. Follow Me is a half sister to World’s Champion Platinum’s New Look. Robert Gardiner took a good third with Nightingale Princess for Katie and Caroline Moeller. Sedgefield’s Leading Lady and Evan Orr came fourth for Jack and Donna Finch.
It was a really special group of 19 that came to show for the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Gelding World’s Championship. Andrea Athanasuleas made the ride of her young life tonight. Her partner Honey Badger gave her everything he had and more, showing bright and light with all of his athleticism on full display. The great night for Matt Shiflet Stables continued here with a unanimous round of honor. CH Honey Badger is by CF First Night Out and out of a Roseridge Heir mare. He has risen to somewhat of a celebrity status, as he has so much that a crowd enjoys, plus it’s just fun to say his name! Twice reserve here last year, he rose to the top tonight. Receiving an extended ovation from the crowd was the reigning Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions, CH My Wonder. Nancy Leigh Fisher put on her usual master class in showing a horse, taking the reserve title tonight for Woodleigh Farm LLC. The Hollow Haven team had to do the quick turnaround from the junior walk-trot victory pass, but when you have Nancy Leigh as your jockey, it makes life just a touch easier. What an absolutely sensational setup this night was for the championship round of this one. You will be kicking yourself if you miss that one! Alexandria Cedrone and Retribution came next for third, with Deputy’s Heir and Deborah Orr making a good catch ride show for fourth for Ellen Susman.
It’s a change of pace for Jim Stachowski to bring out a young superstar that he and wife Shawn don’t own themselves! Tonight it was the honor of Helen Lacey Reed to own one of the brightest stars of the show so far, Lady Mandolin MS. Louisville-goers will well remember this one from a year ago, when Allison Walker rode her to the Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited World’s Championship. The scintillating dark chestnut took the Junior Fine Harness Mare World’s Championship tonight to show her versatility. She is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Suddenly Summer, by Merchant Prince. Bob Phillips thankfully wore all of his clothes even though he was driving Our Lady Godiva. The entry of Edmund Perwien is by Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man and out of Lady Madeira. She was also a reserve winner at Lexington this year. Dr. Alan R. Raun and It’s Miss America took the third place prize for Reedannland.
Scott Robinson is the go to catch rider for the amateur gentlemen classes this week for Elisabeth Goth and Neil Visser. He made them look good in his debut with The Embezzler. It was a winning ride in the Amateur Gentlemen’s Five-Gaited World’s Championship for Scott and the son of Attache’s Royal Assets and Callaway’s Anchor Woman. This was just the second under saddle class that The Embezzler has ever shown in! With another top catch ride, Don't Ask Me was the Reserve World's Champion with Gabe Deknatel, the gentleman who has had so many great rides aboard powerhouse gaited horses like CH Range Rover, Callaway's Weatherman and CH The Daily Lottery. Don’t Ask Me is the same horse Gabe's bandmate, Chad Graham, showed to a reserve title in 2013, a class that Gabe won with the aforementioned World's Grand Champion/World's Champion of Champions CH The Daily Lottery. Don’t Ask Me is owned by Pleasantview Farm. He is by Raggity James Of Ohio and out of a Finally Attached mare. Third in this group of 14 was A Lasting Legacy ridden to a good show by Andrew Slater for Pamela Slater. Also showing that he hasn’t lost a step, Tyler Miles racked a hole in the ground aboard CH Attache’s Crown Royal for fourth for Annika Bruggeworth.
UPHA Three-Gaited Classic National Champion, Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Champion, Three-Gaited World’s Grand Champion and now Ladies Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Champion. And he’s five. It is a wonderful position to be in for Mary Jane Glasscock Kirkpatrick aboard the gorgeous Macadamia. That chesspiece headset was on full display tonight under the direction of Steve and Tiffany Wheeler for a unanimous victory. The entry of Glasscock Financial Services is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Sass With Class a great harness mare in her own right. Sass With Class was the Fine Harness Mare World’s Champion and several times the Kentucky County Fair Fine Harness Grand Champion. Todd Graham has had good success with several horses bred with the “Soquili” prefix. This one is Soquili’s Georgia Kracker, long a star of the walk-trot division. Caitlin Cline has scored four reserve wins in a row now aboard the cross of Undulata’s Nutcracker and Callaway’s Baby Blue, two at Blue Ridge Classic and one in the championship at Lexington. She earned the Reserve World’s Championship in this class a year ago as well. Betts Coup was elated to be third with Say Yes To The Dress in this good group, showing for Elizabeth Ann Blankenship. Heir To A Kiss was fourth here for Sam and Vicki Reed.
The top two in this next class have been the top two in three different classes at three different horse shows this season. CH Our Brilliant Belle topped the roster tonight in the Ladies Fine Harness class. Mary Gise drove to the unanimous win here, the third time the brilliant blonde mare has won this class, the first with Mary. The two time defending World’s Champion of Champions in this division, Brilliant Belle is by Joe Fabulous and out of a Finally Attached mare. Game as the day is long, she never drops an ear under the direction of Lynda and Andy Freseth. Tammy Devore drove Happy Boy to a strong Reserve World’s Championship for Helen Rich. By Molligny Don’t Worry Be Happy and out of a Revival mare, Happy Boy was the Fine Harness Champion at River Ridge this year. He always factors into the decision no matter the company he is in. St. Nick EGF and Patrice Watson O’Brien finished third for Ashlyn Farms. Leslie Bennett stepped out from behind the camera to show what she can do with a horse. She drove True Fortune to fourth tonight for Frank and Iris James and trainer Jimmy Robertson.
Throw it back six years to this next class, and you will find an incredibly similar scenario in the Roadster to Bike Stallion/Gelding Stake. That night, it was Big Red that hadn’t been beaten at Louisville in his last nine trips. He was the four time defending World’s Grand Champion and was something of a celebrity superhorse. Then Debbie Foley came down the chute like a freight train with Trio Bolero G and snatched the blue. Tonight, it was Big Red’s full brother Emerson coming in with a green shavings streak of 10 straight wins to his name. In fact, in his last 44 classes over six seasons with Raymond Shively, Emerson has been beaten just once. Here comes Debbie. This time she came bombing into the ring with the gigantic B52, and she just wouldn’t let up. An entry of Hagan Saddlebreds, B52 was the Roadster Under Saddle Reserve World’s Champion of Champions last year with Scott Hagan. He was also a Reserve World’s Champion in the USTA Roadster Classic back in 2012. Tonight he made his first Louisville victory pass, ending an incredible streak and no doubt stoking the fire of competition that certainly still burns bright. His victory pass was a spectacular sight, with Debbie serving up almost exactly the same happy, bouncing, smiling celebration. Of course she immediately jumped out of the bike to watch the stud stake contenders in the next class.
Raymond Shively and Emerson would settle for the reserve prize tonight. The red and black silks rarely have left this ring with anything but the top prize, but let’s harken back once again to 2009. Shift it on up to Stake Night and look at the results of the Roadster to Bike World’s Grand Championship. Ol’ Big Red and Raymond had their revenge in that one. It should be another great Saturday night showdown, as Raymond tries to maintain his place as the only person to have won the Roadster to Bike World’s Grand Championship in this millennium.
If you noticed a lot of red clothing choices for the Louisville faithful on Monday night, they were not simply showing their support for Freedom Hall’s former denizens, the Louisville Cardinals. In fact, they were “Redding Out” Freedom Hall, showing their love and support for a gentleman recently lost from our Saddlebred family. Redd Crabtree was not just a UPHA Hall of Fame member, he was a member of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame as well. His legacy is felt all throughout our industry, no more so than in this Will Shriver Five-Gaited Stallion Stake, a class Redd won with the legendary stallion three times. How fitting it was that his final Louisville victory pass came in this very class aboard Will’s grandson, Callaway’s Bluesman. It’s the stuff of legend, and he was a legendary man. The first ever Redd Crabtree Memorial Trainers Trophy was presented here tonight.
Another thing that Redd did was take the first ever foreign-born horse to the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship. It was 1997 when Redd won that title with South Africa’s Zovoorbij Commander In Chief. Tonight, it was fitting that another South African stallion would take the top call, as Tammy Devore received the Redd Crabtree Memorial Trainers Trophy here aboard Kalarama’s Ultimate Choice (SA). His sire’s name is even fitting for tonight, Redwood’s General’s Choice (SA). He is out of Greyfour Captivation (SA), a daughter of Vida’s United States (SA). Also the winner of this class in 2013, Ultimate Choice was the Amateur Gentlemen’s Five-Gaited World’s Champion last year. Tammy Devore has taken some big wins with him this year, but none bigger than this one for ecstatic owner Helen Rich.
Marc Of Charm has been one of the greatest gaited horses of the last decade. He and Lionel Ferreira began their Louisville adventures again with a Reserve World’s Championship. It makes sense though, since it’s an odd year. Look at his show record. How random is it that in the odd years he is the Five-Gaited Stallion Reserve World’s Champion and the even years he is the top stud. The entry of Riverdreams LLC is by Santana’s Charm and out of Pretty Ribbons, by Mountjoy’s Incredible. He has already begun to produce top young horses, most stamped with his unmistakable look. Tre Lee was also in the running, making some spectacular passes with Top Of The Mark for Golden Creek Farms.
|