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Opening the show with a unanimous World’s Championship, her second in as many years, Stephany Monteleone went to the winner’s circle with Mastercraft’s Namesake LF in the Hackney Pleasure Driving World’s Championship under the direction of Abel Vega. Wearing her aqua coat, Monteleone drove the sporty bay with three white socks with considerable skill, really opening up at the second way road trot to earn the World’s Championship. World’s Champion in this class two years ago, Early Edition repeated his qualifier finish, taking the reserve world’s championship for Jane Mueller and Larry Bacon. One More Time and Anna Marie Knipp, also a former World’s Champion of Champions, took third, while Heartland Little Gem and the dazzling Stacey Swalla finished in fourth.

After winning the 13 and Under Kentucky Equitation class last year, it was clear that Callie Smith easily made the move to the senior ranks, winning the 14-17 Kentucky Equitation class aboard Heir’s Encore. It was a unanimous win for Callie and the DeLovely team. Callie trotted down victory lane with the red carnations. Eleanor Watkins earned reserve honors, riding Morgan Wolin’s CF Cool Night Out. The versatile rider shows under the Zubrod banner.

Just 11 years old, CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny earned her sixth consecutive Country Pleasure Driving World’s Championship. Since 2003 this has been an annual coronation, and in 2002 she was the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions, all with Nancy Anderson at the lines. Looking lovely as always in red, Nancy has the ability to put the grand mare by Callaway’s Full Power in all the right places. With just country pleasure shoes on, the beautiful bay still trots well above level. Six years in a row and no sign of slowing down any time soon for Calllaway’s Pretty Penny. Moving up from her qualifier finish to take the reserve world’s championship was Harlem’s Worldly Lady, with Helen Rosburg driving. It was a smooth, consistently beautiful performance for the reserve tri-color. Stonecroft Tanqueray and John Scheidt finished third in the deep class.

Is there a more beautiful picture of pleasure perfection than CH A Magic Spell? It would be hard to find one more refined and pretty. With blonde mane and tail flowing, Magic Spell and Katie Jarve have been racking up the titles since 2006, finally making it all the way to the top this year with the 14-17 Show Pleasure World’s Championship by a unanimous choice of the judges. The Jennifer Dixon-trained duo has been to the ring 13 times this year, and have 13 blue ribbons to show for their efforts. Taylor LaFargue had the ride of a lifetime in reserve with Harlem’s Moving Man. They were 13 and Under qualifier winners last year. In their first year in the 14-17 division, this good-riding girl and her bay teammate worked hard for the reserve world’s championship under the direction of Jack Magill. Out Go The Lights and Lauren Greenwald were third, while Shelby Reimer, catch rider extraordinaire, was fourth with Undulata’s Lost And Found for Soquili Stables.

The first homebred world’s champion of the Crystal Creek breeding program, Crystal Creek’s Hot Shot, was back again, this time taking the Junior Harness Pony World’s Championship with Maureen Lydon after winning the four year old qualifier. This pretty, fine bay pony moves with fantastic animation, pumping his legs like pistons, straight up and down as he moves down the rail. Heartland Undeniable and Dr. Alan Raun were the reserve world’s champions, a repeat of their qualifier placing. Undeniable is by The Postmaster.

Repeating their win from last year, it was again Taylor Newton with A Sweet Sensation, winning the Junior Saddle Seat Equitation World’s Championship in her final year in the division. The elegant and hardworking team shows under the direction of Shelley Fisher. DeLovely rounded out the top three, with Belle Owen and Chanti’s Prayer picking up the reserve world’s championship, while Hunter Chancellor and Feng Shui rode hard for the yellow ribbon.

Another year, another division, another boy rider, and another world’s championship for Highpoint’s Grandee. Last year a Show Pleasure World’s Champion in the 13 and Under division with Dakota Reiser, Grandee has made the move to country pleasure under the direction of Bob Griffin and Tom Thorpe. Andrew Slater now does the riding for Barb Fahey, and he came blasting through the in gate, all business today, not letting up until the world’s championship was his. Bob Griffin came blasting through the gate as well, working at a road gait on his rapid run down to the winner’s circle. Highpoint’s Grandee’s former trainer, Chris Reiser, had the reserve world’s champion in this one, Simply Striking. The former world’s champion of champions and winner of this year’s qualifier made another spotless performance with Lindsay Hensler riding for Scott Miller. Continuing a great season, Ooh La Latte and Sarah Lawson picked up the yellow ribbon for James Williams.

While Nancy Leigh Fisher’s granddaughter Alice-Mithali Unger Singh’s first word was apparently “Neigh” (while petting Callaway’s Forecaster as the story goes), her grandma’s favorite words are “Yeah boy!” She can be heard all throughout the day in Freedom Hall, voicing her support for her Hollow Haven barnmates. Among the many champions she cheers for is one that never disappoints, CH The Shadow Knows. By Supreme Heir and out of an Attache mare, Shadow Knows won his fourth consecutive Country Pleasure World’s Championship, completing the Brown-Anderson Farms sweep of the Country Pleasure division with all six first place votes between them. Linda Meyer was aboard. This is the third year in a row for Brown-Anderson to sweep both country pleasure championships. Sherry Frankel had the winning ride with “Nosey” in 2005. Lexington champions and world’s champions in their qualifier, League Of Nations and Carol Hillebrand made a driving, power-packed show to take the reserve world’s championship back to Carriage Lane. CH Worth A Scene, reserve in his qualifier, was third today with Emma Nichols. The Worthy Son gelding is now 14 years old.

Moving to the show pleasure division, Hunter Chancellor returned, still wearing her light gray equitation suit, to take the 13 and Under Show Pleasure World’s Championship with Can You Hear Me Now. Undefeated on the year, including their qualifier on Tuesday, Hunter and Can You Hear Me Now make an incredible team. To give you an idea of the intelligence with which Hunter rides, she caught a shoe coming around the in-gate end second way of the ring. Hearing the sound and feeling her horse miss a step, she immediately looked behind her to see if she had lost the shoe. Yes it’s a small thing, but impressive for a 12 year old rider to be thinking of things like that, even small ones. Section two qualifier winner CH My Grande was the reserve world’s champion with Cagle James riding. It was a hard-fought class and will likely be a tough rivalry for years to come. Jessie Wuesthofen had Brookhill’s King Of Kool looking strong in third. King Of Kool is a full brother to Sarah Werry’s 14-17 Three-Gaited World’s Champion, She’s My Desire BH. Obviously it is a cross that Glenmore enjoys. Brianna Meyer was fourth in the deep championship with Shamrock’s Asagi for Brown-Anderson Farms.

An absolutely regally bred filly won the $15,794 top spot in the ASR National Three Year Old Park Pleasure Futurity by a unanimous choice of the judges. This was Pola Negri, by Exalted Effect, the Periaptor son out of an Oak Hill’s Dear Sir mare. Exalted Effect was the UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Champion and then the Junior Fine Harness World’s Champion of Champions before being retired to stud. Pola Negri is out of none other than three-time Three-Gaited World’s Grand Champion CH An Heir About Her. Daniel Lockhart handled the riding duties under the Kalarama banner for Elisabeth Goth Chelberg. Captain Kangaroo and Bob Brison were second for Fairview Farm and Theresa Vonderschmitt. Captain Kangaroo is by Castle Bravo and out of another grand walk-trot mare, CH Sue Elegant, a daughter of Denmark’s Runaround Sue, a fantastic walk-trot mare in her own right. Kildwick Hall and Darrell Case were third for Tri-Color Ventures.

All Glory rested up quickly from last night’s Amateur Roadster to Bike Championship round, flying around the ring with Elizabeth Shatner to claim the Roadster Under Saddle World’s Championship for Belle Reve. Open qualifier winner Despite It All was the reserve world’s champion with Suzanne Hubbard for Barbara Watts. Quill and Holli McDowell crossed the finish line in third.

The Three Year Old Fine Harness Mares hit the ring next. Winning his first world’s championship yesterday and his second today, Pedro Martinez had the Blythewood filly, Magical Promises, bright, fixy and moving strong in Freedom Hall to take the last pass. Anne Stafford has been having a successful week with her Blythewood string. This one is by Mountain Promises, a stud by Reminiscent MHM and out of a CH Ronald Reagan granddaughter. Second generation stallions grace the bottom line of her pedigree. Her dam, Harlem’s Rare Magic, is by CF Rare Night Out, a CF First Night Out stallion. Her second dam is by the Harlem Globetrotter stud, Harlem Shuffle.

Hillcroft Crown Jewel was the Sir William Robert representative in this class, as there seems to always be at least one figuring into the top ribbons this week. Taking second in the class, she is another regally bred filly. A product of Misdee Wrigley Miller’s Hillcroft breeding program, she is out of CH Our Canary Diamond, who graced the winner’s circle seven times in Freedom Hall. Catalyst’s Blonde Ambition was third for Jim Lowry and Priscilla Marconi’s Tri-Color Ventures, while She’s Gone and Clark Clouse finished fourth for Joan Adler’s Tri-Color Saddlebreds.

The cute pony with the even cuter name, Albert Kaponey, raced to the winner’s circle in the 14-17 Road Pony World’s Championship. With his Bluebonnet Farm silks shining in the bright lights of Freedom Hall, Kevin Berman pulled out all the stops for his grandparents, Ed and Ada Perwien. When his number was called, trainer Sandra Currier jumped up and down with excitement. This has been a successful week for the Bluebonnet young horses and drivers alike. Boogity Boogity and Megan Todd carried off the reserve world’s championship for Ashlyn Farms LLC. Winners of their qualifier, this team is trained by Majestic Oaks. Lauren Mathewson is consistent as they come with Catch Me If You Can, finishing third today with another good show. Section two world’s champion, Heartland Wonderful Miss, was fourth, with Shannon Ella driving for Creekridge LLC.

The Three Year Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class featured a Two Year Old World’s Champion from 2007, The Chick Magnet. Sired by Deep Blue and out of the Hayfield’s Last Guy mare, Dixie Chicken. She is out of a CH Courageous Admiral mare. Mark Turner was at the lines for Fish Creek Stables. All Mighty and Jim Taylor were reserve world’s champions for Tim and Marty Shea, from the Arabian world. Memory Lane has one of the front-runners for the Morgan Park Saddle World’s Championship and top Saddlebreds for Arabian trainers. All Mighty is by Attache’s Royal Assets. The cleverly named The Black Horse was third for Kenny Smith and Barbara Goodman Manilow. His sire is one of the go-to stallions of Barbara’s breeding program, CF First Night Out. Designed By You was fourth with Melissa Moore driving for Linda Stone.

The relatively new Road Pony to Wagon division crowned it’s world’s champion today, as Ronnie Graham drove Bud Light to the blue ribbon for James and Helen Rosburg. This bay pony with four white socks and a white blaze has a high, reaching trot that helps him fly down the rail. Extremely Rare and Randy Harper were reserve world’s champions for Frickey Farms.

Jim Cherry notched his first world’s championship today with Brookhill’s Periday in the Three-Gaited Park World’s Championship for Zazen Ranch. Though he is still one world’s championship behind daughter Caroline, Cherry is a favorite of everyone he knows, with his self-deprecating sense of humor and love of a good time with his pals. Some of those pals were on hand to cheer him on today, including Ricky Harris who “lamented” with a big smile that they’ll never be able to deal with him now. It was an exciting conclusion to the day’s session, as the Periaptor son made the last pass with the ever-smiling Cherry aboard. It’s been a good week for the Cherry family, with Helen winning her Ladies Three-Gaited qualifier and Caroline picking up a reserve world’s championship in 10 and Under Equitation. Periday is out of CH It’s A Beautiful Day, making him a half brother to She’s My Desire BH and Brookhill’s King Of Kool. Ya-Ya followed up her park mares win with the reserve world’s championship. Dena Lopez showed the Forty-Second Street ERB mare to the reserve tie for Elizabeth Shatner and Dorothy Anderson. Ya-Ya is out of Galafragilistic, the dam of Conway and Ylang Ylang who is also by Forty-Second Street.

Stallion/gelding qualifier reserve world’s champion, Master And Commander, was third for Maria Gilman and Barbara Woods, while The Paper Princess JJW and Jay Wood had a great go to pick up fourth. In amongst the trainers, Michelle Krentz showed Day’s Grecian Gray to fifth, while Cydney Rae Cutchall earned the green streamers with her Cybertown.

The week draws to a close tonight, as the World’s Grand Champions will be crowned. Who will emerge from a wide-open field of gaited horses to take home the big prize, and will we see a certain charming lady in the open walk-trot stake? We will soon find out!

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