Louisville - Monday Night
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
It’s junior night! With the anticipation of some of the great young horses ready to grace Freedom Hall the energy level seemed to be at a high. And the night did not disappoint as great horse after horse stepped up to shine under the lights.
Marching down the chute to begin the evening session were the Junior Three-Gaited Over 15.2 contenders. Out of a field of ten Undulata’s Dream Team made his way to the winner’s circle for the fifth time in five rides aboard. Rob Byers had this son of Undulata’s Nutcracker who happens to be out of the dynamic World’s Grand Champion CH Garland’s Dream in top order for the blue ribbon ride for B & T Vonderschmitt LLC. Ceil Wheeler had a great ride aboard the expressive Castle Bravo son Work It. Also coming into Freedom Hall undefeated they claimed the reserve world’s champion title tonight under the Carriage Lane banner. Kentucky Proud made owner Terri Dolan proud as Neil Visser directed another Undulata’s Nutcracker son to the yellow ribbon.
The Hackney Pony Mare class seemed to be a class that would never get off the ground. After two equipment timeouts and two shoes thrown, the work finally finished up with the high stepping Giselle claiming the win unanimously. Larry Ella was on the lines for Bent Tree Farm. The 2010 World’s Champion of Champions Junior Harness Pony Heartland Queen Of The Road stepped up to the reserve title with Susan Olcott presenting.
Other than it being junior night if there was a theme to be found you could say it was a New Yorker night. Siring five of the world’s champions tonight, I’m A New Yorker was king of the “hall” tonight. The first of his progeny to rise to the top was Cary On Broadway MBA. A.J. Bruwer had the CH Cary’s Moonraker daughter racking up a storm winning the title for MBA Equestrians. Larry Hodge debuted the striking black beauty Cavalia for new owners Hillcroft Farm garnering the red streamers while Steve Wheeler carried out the yellow ribbon aboard The Veldt Queen for Fox Grape Farms.
My Gypsy Moon and Donna Beck were the epitome of elegance. The bright Gypsy Santana daughter just seemed to float on air as Beck paraded her around Freedom Hall. A world’s champion in 2010 in the Three-Year-Old Mare class, she returned to the winner’s circle tonight in the Amateur Ladies Fine Harness event with Beck and under the direction of Jared Ratzloff. Leslie Bennett had the catch driving duties for Happy Valley Farms earning the reserve honors with their homebred So Persuasive.
With 23 on the schedule for the Junior Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding class, management made the decision to split the class. In the first section out of a field of 11, The Plaza, another son of I’m A New Yorker, rose to the top with an effortless performance. Andy Freseth has been bringing this young horse along all year getting better and better after each show. Tonight it looked effortless has he piloted him through his gaits and down victory lane for Amanda Dellinger. Rob Byers was back to the ring aboard another Undulata’s Nutcracker progeny. Aboard Soquili’s Southern Blues he carried out the red steamers for Long Hollow Farm Inc.
Twelve made the gate call for the second section. Pass With Care did just that, passing all the competition with Smith Lilly in the irons. A thrilled Janet Sterba stood up and cheered in the stands as the flashy chestnut by Desert’s Supreme Memories was called to the winner’s circle. Winner at Mercer County Fair and Midwest Charity, My Royale Charm had a solid performance with A.J. Bruwer for the reserve title. The full brother to CH Our Charming Lady (Santana’s Charm X My Bugatti Royale) is owned and bred by Bridget Parker’s Parker View Farm.
Things sped up with the 50-52 Inch Road Pony Stake bursting down the chute. With distinction in his gaits and showing speed it was Regal’s Lightning Strike LF called to the winner’s circle tonight with Josh Greer. Reserve honors went to the motoring CH Stat with Maureen Campbell on the lines for Dr. Chip Pugh.
DeLovely made their first of two trips to the winner’s circle tonight in the Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited 15.2 and Under class. Ashley Wilson had CH A Travelin’ Man marching down the rail for the blue ribbon out of a field of 16. Last year’s winner of this class Size Me Up and Deborah Visser claimed the red ribbon under the direction of Rob and Sarah Byers while Ready To Jet with Elisabeth Goth marched up the top third spot.
As well as the sire I’m A New Yorker has done tonight, it’s no denying that Undulata’s Nutcracker is making a run to repeat as Saddle Horse Report’s Number One Sire Of World’s Champions, especially with the two top title winners in the Junior Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class. The past two years the Undulata’s Nutcracker X Secret Smile son , Military Secret, had made his way down victory lane. First in the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding, then in the ASR National Futurity Three-Year-Old Fine Harness and now in his third appearance he earned a hat trick winning the Junior Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding. Jim Cherry had Military Secret looking spectacular earning the win for owner Grace Arnold. Also a winner for the past two years, Alde-Mar’s Crystal Pistol claimed the reserve titles with Edward “Hoppy” Bennett on the lines for owner/ breeder Janet Kellett.
In the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Mare class 14 vied for the title. Ali DeGray had already had quite a morning session winning two classes but the ride was not over as she made her way to the winner’s circle aboard Most Definitely Diamonds. DeGray had the mare in true ladies form for the win. With huge applause CH Callaway’s Born For This and Allison Combs but together a strong performance for the reserve title. Theresa Vonderschmitt earned a piece of the action aboard Nutrageous as she claimed the yellow streamers.
Kenny Wheeler did not let his family have all the limelight, with both Ceil and Catherine earning reserve titles and Sallie Mason taking home a blue. The Fine Harness Amateur Gentleman class would be his time to shine as he expertly piloted Caraway’s New York Minute down victory lane. Reserve honors went to the Bell View team Simbara’s Exclamation and Dr. Scott Cairns.
The under two section of the junior three-gaited division was next in with 21 making the gate call. In his first show ring appearance the full brother to CH New York’s Perfect Gift, Ed’s Perfect Gift came in a little hesitant. Tiffany Wheeler worked him through it and quickly he settled in and made an amazing show. Wheeler was aboard the grand new star for owner/breeder Glasscock, Inc. Winner a year ago in the ASR National Futurity, Thundergun earned the reserve title with Darrell Case presenting for Judith Swartz. Maria Gilman captured the yellow ribbon aboard the elegant Legacy’s Cinemac for Erin Eichenbaum.
It was a great night for Autumn Hills winning their second class in a row with the blue in the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited Gelding event. It was not only Autumn Hill’s second class tonight but also the second year in a row for Break On Through and Laura Elliott. Together they worked through the field of 21 with ease for the win. Ceil Wheeler made her second appearance of the night picking up her second red ribbon. This time she was aboard The Mighty Moe, only a five-year-old, making a great show against the more seasoned performers.
Our Brilliant Belle lived up to her name once again. After a win on the Red Mile the beautiful and talented I’m A New Yorker daughter was selected for Mary Gise by Lynda Freseth. Now under the ownership of Priscilla Gise, Our Brilliant Belle made another brilliant show winning the Junior Fine Harness Mare with Jim Taylor at the whip. If The Tiara Fits (Such A Salesman X Princess Shalimar) marched up to the reserve title with George Knight presenting for owner/breeder Kim Skipton.
The Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class was stacked but when the work was done it was number 1667 called to the winner’s circle. When Andrea Athanasuleas heard her number she was ecstatic. She was aboard the elegant CH Juliette’s Deja Blue who marched down rail after rail never dropping an ear. Ali DeGray continued her successful day scoring the reserve title aboard Wee Pee’s Storm while Barbara Goodman Manilow captured the third spot aboard last year’s winner Glenview’s Excelalante!
CH The Daily Lottery and Gabe Deknatel put a show on in the Amateur Gentleman Five-Gaited class and for the second year in a row the Carriage Lane trained team unanimously captured the title. Reserve honors went to Callaway’s Bluesman with the hard riding David Rudder catch riding for Larry Hodge.
For the second year in a row CH Lace’s Last Tango topped the Ladies Fine Harness class but this year with Kim Cowart at the whip for Sharyn Lackey. The 2010 world’s grand champion was purchased last year at this show for Lackey and she has shown her successfully earlier this season and then the decision was made for Cowart to show him at Louisville. It was a good one as they took home the victory unanimously. Lady Vol seems to float on air as she parades around the ring. Tonight she earned the reserve title with Chris Kaplan on the lines. Unclaimed and Jan Beardsley Blanco garnered the yellow streamers after a nice drive under the direction of Gary Garone.
The tempo picked up with the Roadster To Bike Stallion/Gelding Stake down the chute next. As seven teams battled it out showing their need for speed, it was once again Emerson and Raymond Shively racing down victory lane for the second year in a row. Sam Stafford had a strong showing with Trio Bolero G capturing the reserve title for Hillcroft Farm LLC. Rick Adams earned a piece of the action with Can’t Drive 55 for Art and Lynn Bedard.
Even with the evening going long, the energy was still in the air as seven stallions made the gate call for the Will Shriver Five-Gaited Stallion Stake. If this class was any indication of what we have to look forward to on Saturday, we are in for a treat and the crowd seemed to agree as they found their favorites and cheered pass after pass. The top three, I’m Lookin’ For You, (SA) Kalarama’s Ultimate Choice and Marc Of Charm seemed to take over the ring for the crowd and in the last pass when Larry Hodge one-handed his way to the lineup aboard Ultimate Choice they erupted. The judges agreed and he was called to the winner’s circle. Marc Of Charm had another powerful show with Lionel Ferreira capturing his share of the crowd and the reserve title for Riverdreams LLC. Eddie Cockriel had I’m Lookin’ For You better than ever racking and trotting his way to huge crowd approval and third place ribbon for Kaye Bowles-Durnell, LLC.
After a thrilling evening another Monday night was wrapped up, setting the stage for what appears to be some great championships later in the week.
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