Louisville - Monday Night
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday evening was a night that saw huge classes, huge talent, numerous splits and a few thrown shoes. Almost five hours of horse show had many highlights and was a night that showcased incredible talent – both equine and human.
The Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class kicked things off and a hardworking group of eight came through the gate. The high stepping group put on a show but when the cards were turned in it was the jet-black mare and Periaptor daughter Brookhill’s Glam Slam named the winner with Jackie Tanner up for owners and breeders O’Brien Family Trust. Real Action, sired by Desert’s Supreme Memories, was a popular reserve winner with Peter Cowart up for McKenzie and Plunkett.
The Harness Pony mares were next in the ring and Chris Gantley defended his title but with a different pony this year. Gantley won the class with Nacho Mama last year for Winding Creek Farm and he won it this year with Minute Maid. Holli Hayes drove Heartland Sunshine Song for Darrel and Sandy Kolkman to the reserve world’s championship title.
The Junior Five-Gaited Mare class was a great class and 11 nice mares had the crowd cheering their favorites. Undulata’s Nutcracker has been a popular and proven stallion for the past few years now and his hardworking daughter, out of Callaway’s Goodness Gracious, carried Matthew Shiflet to the winner’s circle in her debut with a unanimous decision for Phyllis Brookshire. Lexington winner Thunder’s Fair Lady (Attache’s Thunderbolt x HMS My Fair Lady) stepped up to take second with Smith Lilly showing for owner/breeder Cross Timbers Saddlebreds Inc. A world’s champion last year, Our African Violet and Tiffany Wheeler exited with the yellow ribbon for Fox Grape Farms Inc.
The Amateur Ladies only had five entries to battle with in their fine harness class but the level of talent was excellent with a class full of proven contenders. The son of It’s Hammertime and Distinguished Miss, It’s Dan The Man brought the house down with Anna Marie Knipp showing for High Spirits Farm LLC to earn their first world’s championship together after his two junior world’s titles last year. CH Harlem’s Santa Fe (CH Harlem Town x The Lady Prefers) and Susan Bartlett have had a tremendous career together showing from Cedarwood Farm and the mare was as elegant as ever to take the reserve ribbon in the class.
There was a short break in the action as Karen Waldron headed into the ring to be inducted into the AHHS Hall Of Fame. Waldron has been a Hackney enthusiast and owner of multiple world’s grand champions in addition to a Hackney breeder.
When the next gate call came it was time for two definite evening highlights; back to back splits for the junior five-gaited stallions and geldings. Ten powerful contenders headed down the ramp in the first section and they put on a great show, but when it was over, Marc Of Charm and Lionel Ferreira could not be denied. The powerful son of Santana’s Charm and Pretty Ribbons never backed an ear on his way to the winner’s circle for yet another top title for Riverdreams LLC. CH The King Of Highpoint son, The King’s Redemption, was also in top order to exit with the red ribbon for second. Trè Lee showed for Bridget McNeese. Bob and Tonya Brison’s entry, More Than A Memory (Reggie’s American Legend x Sultan’s Finesse) put together a solid effort to finish with the top three ribbon with Brian Chappell showing for Bob and Tonya Brison.
Section two also showcased a strong group of competitors and with 11 entries, the panel had their work cut out for them to fill out their cards. A thrown shoe first way slowed things down for a bit, but once the class got going again, they put on a great show. Bob Brison continued a great night by taking the world’s championship title with the Callaway’s Guy Park-sired Good Fellow’s Park for the Brisons. Nuttin’ Doing (Undulata’s Nutcracker x Eyee Gadzooks) and Neil Visser stepped up to take the reserve world’s title for Elisabeth Goth to continue the good show she’s got going so far under the Visser Stables banner. Debbie Foley teamed her Silver Brook entry, The Inside Story to the top three finish. The son of Callaway’s Blue Norther and That’s My Story, he well represented the Silver Brook Stables breeding program.
The speedsters of the roadster pony division were next and a talent filled group took on the challenge of earning a world’s championship title. CH Calvin Hobbs and Kevin Ingram have a long list of amateur wins to their credit and tonight they were Open Road Pony 50" to 52" champions. Sired by Seventh Heaven and out of Duncannon Katie Coy, Calvin and Ingram took the victory pass under the direction of Hollow Haven. Last year’s winner Stat turned in a strong effort with Maureen Lydon Campbell driving for Dr. Robert Pugh and they added the reserve world’s championship title to a long list of wins.
The amateur ladies brought their under 15.2 three-gaited contenders and the huge group of 15 provided one of the evening’s most competitive classes. Earning a ribbon in a big class at Louisville is impressive, especially when almost half of a great group has to leave without one. Winning the class is an extra special accomplishment. Getting the nod from all three judges is like icing on the cake and Deborah Visser was on top of the world after her unanimous victory with Size Me Up, sired by SA Tornaado and out of Annie Up after they earned a 1-1-1 for owner and breeder James Orr. The Proof Is In The Heir (Supreme Heir x Callaway’s Blue Topaz) and Jan Small-Beth were right there to be named the reserve grand champions and The Black Horse carried Rebecca Sebastian to third for Bonus Time Farm LLC.
HS Dignitary trotted to the winner’s circle to be named the Junior Fine Harness Stallion and Gelding World’s Champion with George Knight at the whip. The son of Sir William Robert and broodmare hall of fame mare A Daydream Believer was a world’s champion last year for owners and breeders Hagan Saddlebreds. Eric Antman teamed Ready To Jet (Buck’s Co-Star x Callaway’s Blue Jet) for Carolyn Melka and they exited with a lot of crowd support for their reserve effort.
Yet another 15-entry class came through the gate and once again it was the lady riders who had to navigate through very deep water. The class would prove to be the start of what would turn out to be a fantastic night for Barbara Goodman Manilow. The Desert’s Supreme Admiral/Fahey’s Lady Luck daughter Our Sweet Addison and Manilow were on top of their game and even when a time out stopped the action briefly, they picked up right where they had left off and headed straight to victory lane to claim the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Mare win. Donna Smith made one of several trips to center ring for the presentation to meet the winners. CH Callaway’s Born For This, sired by CH Callaway’s Born To Win and out of Beckon The Day, was a popular reserve world’s champion with an elated Allison Brooke Combs up for Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Shires and Combs. JJ Beck rode Divine Asset (Attache’s Royal Assets x Step-N-Time Venus) to a very respectable third place for Williams Family Trust.
Heir’s Treasure has proven to be the perfect partner to introduce James Miller to the world of showing Saddlebreds. They’ve had a great season so far and their success continued when they won the Amateur Gentlemen’s Fine Harness class for Hillcroft Farm. This year’s win was the second in a row for the son of Supreme Heir and D.S. Sweet Summer Sunshine and all three judges agreed on the decision. The team from Bell View Acres had Simbara’s Exclamation (Merchant Prince x Denmark’s Radiant Society) looking good and Dr. Scott Cairns drove to claim the red ribbon.
Yet another split class proved that the talent and quality in the young horse ranks promises a bright future for the industry. Two great groups kept the crowd entertained as they watched the Junior Three-Gaited 15.2 and Under classes. Overall depth and a group of riders leaving it all on the table were the order of the night in both classes. Nobody was going to give up anything and leg-waving pass after leg-waving pass down the rail led to lots of applause from the crowd.
Last year’s ASR National Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Futurity World’s Champion Call Me Regal has had a sensational start under saddle for Barbara Goodman Manilow. Kenny Smith piloted the son of CH Call Me Ringo and New York’s Crown Jewel to the blue in a section that saw 12 horses come through the gate and 11 horses leave it. Owned, breeder and trainer Virgil Helm put his 2009 UPHA Classics Grand Champion Re-Energized in the second place slot with a picture-perfect performance.
Section two was equally entertaining although not quite as large. Yet again, not every horse that came through the gate would make it to the lineup, as one entry took the gate, just as in section one. It’s a well-known fact at Louisville that when the crowd gets behind someone, whether or not the judges agree, they make their opinion known loud and clear. The crowd definitely did that as seven elegant entries put on a show. As the class headed for the lineup, Mark Hulse brought his mare Swing An Singin for one more pass down the rail and the roar of the crowd went with them. The dark bay daughter of Designed and Reedann’s Supreme Glow did an old-fashioned park trot that’s not often seen anymore and the panel rewarded her by naming them the winners. Hulse co-owns the mare with breeders Alan and Fran Montgomery.
Twice Nightly’s first-rate performance had to have been somewhat bittersweet for owner Chris Nalley after the recent loss of his mom C. Jean Nalley who bred the mare. John Biggins piloted the Periaptor daughter to the red ribbon. Twice Nightly is a daughter out of Nalley’s many times champion CH Nightly Affair.
The second presentation of the evening changed things up for a bit. Jacob McGlaughlin, winner of the Al Haugen Memorial Scholarship, joined Dalton Medd and Tiffany Earehart in center ring for the AHHS Foundation Scholarship Award Presentations. Medd received the AHHS Foundation Scholarship and Earehart received the Ed Frickey Memorial Scholarship.
The ladies and their 18 amateur five-gaited geldings were split into two back to back sections and in each class, the water was deep and the ladies were riding hard. Laura Dozer-Elliott took the win in section one with a strong team effort on board Break On Through, sired by Classic Caper and out of Positively Peggy. Steve and Tiffany Wheeler directed the winning team and they bested nine other teams for the world’s championship title. CH Callaway’s Kit Carson and Maguire Hall were right there to take the reserve title under the direction of Randy Cates in the deep class.
Theresa Vonderschmitt teamed her I’m Something Wicked to the blue in section two to keep Fairview Farm’s great night going. Sired by Santana’s Charm and out of Penny’s Free Spirit, Vonderschmitt’s gelding topped seven other entries for the win in a class that started with nine entries. CH Carolina Cat (Catalyst x Artistic Impression) and Amanda Dellinger have consistently been at the top of the division and they added the reserve world’s championship to their list. Hollow Haven directed the reserve world’s champions.
The Junior Fine Harness Mare class showcased nine mares in a deep class and the panel was in complete agreement at the lineup that Madison Brown (Sir William Robert x Cisitalia) should take yet another victory pass this season with Redd Crabtree. Madison Brown represented Burning Tree Farm with the win just as she did at Rock Creek and Lexington. Undulata’s Fashion Plate and Jim Lowry were right there to take the reserve ribbon for Tom Fiedler. Fashion Plate was sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Riva’s Fashion Spirit.
The largest class of the night was arguably one of the most competitive and was the only class with a workout. A huge field of 18 ladies with their Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 horses did their best to spread out in Freedom Hall and find a place on the rail. The ladies did a great job showing their mounts and at the lineup, it was obvious the panel was going to call for a workout. With such a deep field however, their job was difficult to decide who would stay and who would go.
Callaway’s Campaign Manager and Kate Bauman, Boston Legal with Elizabeth Shatner, Bubble Bath with Ceil Wheeler, Glenview’s Excelalante! with Barbara Goodman Manilow, Angel Innocence with Laura Michelle Dozer-Elliott, Worthy’s Pure Love with Brittany McNamara, CH Callaway’s Merry-Go-Round with Annika Bruggeworth, CH New York’s Perfect Gift with Betsy Thomas, 2009 winner CH Juliette’s Deja Blue with Andrea Athanasuleas and Odyssey Man with Ali Judah all returned to the rail for the workout. The remaining entries were excused.
The group stepped it up and all 10 put on a great show but when the cards were turned in there could only be one winner. On this night, Barbara Goodman Manilow would be called out to return to the winner’s circle. Glenview’s Excelalante! (Designed x Tra La La) exited with the blue ribbon. Bubble Bath, sired by Adriatic and out of Katherine Highland Peavine carried Ceil Wheeler to the reserve world’s title for owner Michelle McCune and trainer Merrill Murray. Odyssey Man and Ali Judah continued their great season for owner Terri Dolan with the yellow ribbon and CH Juliette’s Deja Blue took fourth with Athanasuleas from Matt Shiflet Stables. Kate Bauman with Callaway’s Campaign Manager, CH New York’s Perfect Gift with Thomas, CH Callaway’s Merry-Go-Round with Bruggeworth and Angel Innocence with Dozer-Elliott claimed the remaining ribbons in that order.
The amateur gentlemen and their five-gaited horses were next on the evening’s agenda and a big competitive group of 12 headed to the green shavings in an effort to take the blue. The really nice class showcased the hard riding skills of their gentlemen riders and the hard racking and trotting of the great group of gaited horses. The 2008 Junior Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions and Sultan’s Great Day son, The Daily Lottery, added yet another world’s title to his resume but this time it was with Gabe Deknatel up for High Hickory Farm under the direction of John Conatser. They survived a cast shoe to return to the rail to win the class and start down the rail for their victory pass before again throwing a shoe.
David Rudder was called upon to ride (SA) Calif First Night Out for Joan Hamilton and they exited to lots of applause for their reserve world’s championship effort. Cloverleaf Master And Commander took the yellow ribbon with Bruce Williams. Sired by (SA) Zovoorbij Commander In Chief and out of Woman Of Distinction, Williams’ entry was the second South African bred horse to earn a nice ribbon in the deep class.
What a class the Ladies Fine Harness class was. Arguably, just about anyone would have been proud to take home any one of the competitors and just like almost every other class of the night, there were so many nice horses, it seemed almost a shame that only one could win. Last year’s world’s champion of champions, Lace’s Last Tango was the one that the panel decided should head down victory lane. He continued the successful showing of South African-bred horses and an elated Priscilla Marconi drove the son of (SA) Arborlane Tangos Wee Pee and CH Sultan’s Leather And Lace for Tri Color Ventures and trainer Jim Lowry. Joe Friday put forth a powerful effort with Ruth Gimpel driving to take the red ribbon for Helen and James Rosburg. The Attache’s Thunderbolt and Art Show sired gelding added the reserve to his numerous world’s titles. Former Fine Harness World’s Grand Champion CH Mother Mary (Revival x Mother Superior) was third but judging by the elation on Anita Simpson’s face as they exited the ring, their job well done was incredibly satisfying. Hillcroft Crown Jewel and Misdee Wrigley Miller, Catalytic and Mary Cockriel and 2009 Ladies Fine Harness World’s Champion Lady Vol with Chris Kaplan rounded out the top six in that order.
The road horses are always a crowd pleaser and a great way to get the place jumping before the evening’s finale. The green shavings of Freedom Hall have led to numerous great battles in the division and Raymond Shively has come out the winner in many of them, including four of the last five with his recently deceased Big Red. He would ultimately take the title for the Roadster To Bike Stallion and Gelding Stake but not before the green shavings caused a little drama for class winner Emerson.
Shively, in his trademark style came around the tight turn with shavings flying but the speed and slick footing caused him to slip and go down. JD Gardner jumped the rail and had Emerson under control quickly and Shively was able to get back in the bike and finish the class. Can’t Drive 55 and Rick Adams handled the delay in good order and they finished with the reserve title for owner Art Bedard.
The crowd was ready for the night’s traditional finale, the Will Shriver Five-Gaited Stallion Stake. A great group of eight came through the gate to put on a show and they did a great job working to impress the panel. The class gives a glimpse of what we might expect to see in Saturday night’s big stake. On this night, however, Redd Crabtree and the Callaway’s Blue Norther/Callaway’s Carousel (BHF) son could not be denied. The powerful black stud had the crowd cheering as they were called out the unanimous winners for Callaway Hills. Ed Cockriel and Kaye Bowles-Durnell’s popular stallion I’m Lookin’ For You also had a big share of the crowd’s support as they claimed the red ribbon. Joe Fabulous and Jerry Hutson pushed hard to finish with the yellow streamers for owners Annika and Scott Bruggeworth.
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