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Louisville - Saturday Daytime



What a great day it was for the young trainers here in the Saturday matinee. Danny Lockhart scored two blankets of flowers for himself today, while Tre Lee drove one down victory lane and David and Kristen Cater headed up a tricolor round of honor. The day belonged to High Caliber, with their three wins, but began with a unanimous victory for trainer Amanda Simpson and the decorated CH Callaway's Cumulus.

It was also a stellar start to the day for Callaway Hills, as they bred the top two in this Country Pleasure Driving Championship. Susan Aschenbrenner drove off with the biggest prize of them all after knocking on the door since 2011. Three times now, Susan and Cumulus have won their Louisville qualifier, including earlier this week. This was the first time that they claimed the title of World's Champion of Champions for Heartland Stables. Sired by Callaway's Blue Norther, Cumulus is out of Callaway's Cloud Nine. It is only fitting for Callaway Hills to breed a winner of this class, as it is one that their products have dominated for recent memory. This one and last year's winner both carry the “Callaway's” prefix, while it was the great CH Callaway's Pretty Penny who redefined and dominated this division for a decade. Callaway's Cumulus has been right at the top of this division for some time, earning four straight National Championships as well.

Last year's winner was up for the Reserve World's Champion of Champions title today, as CH Callaway's Halley's Comet was the selection here with Christine Broder. Directed by Hoppy Bennett, Christine and Halley's Comet have had great success together. The son of Callaway's Blue Norther and Mahvalous Day was also reserve in his qualifier this week. He and Christine earned their first world titles in 2009, sweeping the show pleasure driving division that time. CH Sapphire On Ice was beautiful in bay for third with Sally Grieme, followed by Ask Me Again and Vicki Reed in fourth.

CH Ms. Betty Grable doesn't sound like a horse bred by Callaway Hills. Oh but she is! Originally named Callaway's My Special Someone, she is by Callaway's Main Man and out of Callaway's Someone Special, by Blue Norther. Yet another product of the Weldon family's incredible program, Ms. Betty Grable was shown to the tricolor today by Graham Troxell. The entry of Joy Troxell is trained by Mary and Evan Orr, starting out a day that they will not soon forget with this 14-17 Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World's Champion of Champions. Graham and Betty Grable are in their first season together. Reserve World's Champions in their qualifier, they came back strong to score the tricolor, just their second championship win together. They were also champions at JD Massey. Cheyenne Mabey has gotten the call all year long as the catch rider of Callaway's Nachelle, and why not? She has been great, winning at both Lawrenceburg and Shelby County Fair, then taking her second reserve title here this week. Yet another from Callaway Hills, Nachelle is by Callaway's Blue Norther and out of Callaway's Return Engagement, by Royal Return. Rose Arbor Farm owns this mare, trained by Dena Lopez. CH Redesigned and Rose Marie Wheeler took third back to Grey Ridge, with Wild I Am and Jacquelyn King in fourth.

Two world's champions sired by world's champions took to the ring in the Junior Harness Pony Championship. Crystal Creek's Captain Mike was crowned the World's Champion of Champions for sire CH Crystal Creek's Commander and out of Hawkeye's Dark Angel, by Mr. Hawkeye. Sandra Surber took over the ownership of this wonderful young star after JD Massey, with Maureen Campbell driving him to two wins at Midwest Charity and Asheville Invitational. Reserve World's Champion in the four-year-old qualifier, he was wearing the flowers today. The gorgeous black Handsome Harry was the Reserve World's Champion of Champions for Golden Creek Farms. Jeff McClean drove the son of Twin Willow's Handsome Dan and Heartland Mary Belle. He has been a winner all his life, starting as the AHHS Limited Breeders Weanling Stake winner, continuing on as the Three-Year-Old Harness Pony World's Champion last year and the Four-Year-Old World's Champion this year.

The Kentucky Rider Equitation class might have to be renamed the Maisie Benfield Invitational, as she won it for the fourth year in a row. That would be impressive for anybody, but Maisie is just 13 years old as a rider this year, so the first time she won this class she was just a 10-year-old rider! If she wins it the rest of her career, the Kentucky State Fair will just have to name the class in her honor. At the very least there should be some sort of challenge trophy! Along with her four wins in this class, Maisie has seven world's championships to her credit for the Zubrod team. Emily Winchell and Elegant Silhouette continued the winning for the Zubrods, finishing second here. Champion at ETSA Midsummer Classic, Emily was the UPHA Junior Pleasure Challenge Cup Reserve National Champion in 2012.

Another first year team, CH Extremely Fortunut and Ashlee Wheaton earned the title of World's Champion of Champions 14-17 Country Pleasure for Cater Stables. The great week for the kids from Dunbarton, New Hampshire, continued with the addition of another blanket of flowers to their navy curtains. Ashlee herself comes from Nova Scotia, taking on this new division with a beautiful chestnut daughter of Undulata's Nutcracker and Miss Moriarity. Miss Moriarity is also the dam of Lexington winner Roselane's Dancing For Dollars. Extremely Fortunut was the Reserve World's Champion of Champions in this division a year ago, also under the Cater Stables banner. She swept two blues this time around.

Long a star of this division, CH League Of Nations was the Reserve World's Champion of Champions today with Rhiannon White. Directed by Carriage Lane for Stacey Himmelstein White, League Of Nations was the 13-and-Under Reserve World's Champion of Champions a year ago with Rhiannon. He took the tricolor in this class in 2011 and 2012, having won the adult division the two years before that. CH Jessie Cole was the popular gray choice in third with Gretchen Halloran, followed by CH Peanut Butter and Ellie Kangur in fourth from High Caliber.

It seems fitting that a Brit would ride Kalarama's Prospero, named after the protagonist in Shakespeare's “The Tempest.” Making this an international entry, Prospero is by the South African stallion Calif First Night Out and out of Miss Cosmopolitan, by Catalyst. Danny Lockhart rode him to the Junior Park Pleasure World's Championship today, having finished reserve in the ASR Four-Year-Old Park Pleasure Sweepstakes. These two were reserve a year ago as well, winning a big chunk of change in the ASR National Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure Futurity. Tre Lee started his good day as the Reserve World's Champion of Champions with I'm A Holiday. Also Reserve World's Champion in her qualifier, I'm A Holiday is by Callaway's Home For The Holidays, a son of Caramac and Christmas In New York ERB, making him a full brother to Undulata's Nutcracker. She is out of Taming Ingrid, by Glider Spirit. Second dam Ring Those Belles is a full sister to World's Champion The Groomsman, and a half sister to World's Champion The Phoenix SM. Reedann's What's My Line was in high spirits in third, ridden by Robert Gardiner for Mary Madison. Nuttin' But Fancy SS finished fourth with Andy Freseth for Barbara Baron.

It was a daily double for High Caliber over the course of the next two classes. Vickie Byrd, the matriarch of the High Caliber customers, picked up where Graham Troxell left off, heading down victory lane for the first time here since 2002. Vickie is one tough cookie. There is no backdown in her, taking on all comers to be crowned the Adult Country Pleasure World's Champion of Champions with CH Talkin' To You. In their first full season together, Vickie and Talkin' To You added this biggest of prizes to their Reserve National Championship from a year ago and their Reserve World's Championship from earlier this week. Twice reserve at both Lexington and Midwest Charity, these two have taken on the very best of competition. Talkin' To You is by CH The Talk Of The Town and out of CH The New You, by The New York Times. Princess Warrior added a Reserve World's Champion of Champions title to her burgeoning resume. Alyssa Lopez Northcutt rode her to this prize under the direction of mom Dena Lopez. World's Champion earlier in the week in her qualifier, Princess Warrior was twice a winner last year in junior park pleasure and the ASR National Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure Futurity World's Champion the year before that. Princess Warrior is by Dorian Warriors Song and out of Our Sunbeam. Alyssa was a Reserve World's Champion here in 2001 with Our Sunbeam in 13-and-Under Three-Gaited Pony. Juicy Fruit comes in a yellow package in the grocery aisle. He got a yellow ribbon today for a great third-place show with Karen Thompson. Stonecroft All That Jazz and Jo Anna Been were fourth.

Evan Orr could only shake his head as he came through the gate for a third High Caliber winner on the morning. They won more world titles before noon today than many trainers will win in a lifetime.

If Vickie Byrd is the matriarch of the customers, Allie Poovey might be the mascot of High Caliber. “The Poov” is known by people far and wide in the industry, always looking like she is having a blast aboard her entries. She got this catch ride at Lexington aboard CH Stonecroft I'm Radiant for Cindy Dunham. After getting to know the chestnut son of I'm A New Yorker and the Broodmare Hall of Fame mare Sultan's Radiance, Allie was ready to take it to the next level. She rode the hair off this grand horse to score the first two World's Championships of his career. This was The Poov's fourth trip to Freedom Hall's winner's circle. Emily Candelaria and Rondo flopped their placings from a year ago to be the Reserve World's Champion of Champions this time around. Reserve in their qualifier a year ago, they were the World's Champion of Champions for Barbara Woods in 2013. This year, the Judd Stables team won their qualifier world's championship, coming up one spot shy of repeating for the tricolor. Rondo is by CH Harlem Town and out of She Be Jammin', a grand walk-trot mare by Catalyst. Stonehenge and Sausha Saunders finished in third, with CH The Last Straw and Max Michalek in fourth.

While High Caliber earned a daily double in the last two classes, Majestic Oaks scored the exacta in this one, sweeping the top two spots with Kharbon Steel and Kentucky Hot Brown. Alex Ververeli earned his first World's Championship on Wednesday, while earning his first blanket of flowers here today. A year ago, he was the catch driver of Kharbon Steel for Toni Nastali. This year, the pony has been all his, and they have jumped up a notch, winning twice here this week. National champions at the Royal last year, they have gone through this campaign with now 10 wins in 11 classes. They were 14-17 Road Pony World's Champion of Champions today. The Wheeler girls both made catch rides and drives for Maureen Campbell, and both earned Reserve World's Champion of Champions titles. It was Catherine Wheeler doing the driving with Kentucky Hot Brown, moving up a spot from her qualifier for this reserve win. Hot Brown was the World's Champion of Champions in this division in 2009 with Tyler Miles. The veteran is by High Life Impression and out of Breezeland's Lisa Marie. Sheriff Andy and Katie Dunn were third, followed by Danny Hicks and Jackie O in fourth.

It wouldn't be Louisville without a new one out of A Daydream Believer winning her first World's Championship. The incomparable Broodmare Hall of Famer produced the Section One winner of the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare World's Championship, HS Daydream's Fashionista. This mare has become such a celebrity in the Saddlebred world, she has her own prefix. The “HS” of Hagan Saddlebreds has been addended with “Daydream's” for her incredible string of produce. This is another by Undulata's Nutcracker, making her a full sister to Reserve World's Grand Champion HS Daydream's Heads Up. Nelson Green drove her to this blue prize for owner and breeder Hagan Saddlebreds. If a horse has a clever or funny name, there is a pretty good chance that Carl Fischer had something to do with it. A winner at Rock Creek and Shelbyville, Souper Salad was the Reserve World's Champion here for Peter Palmer and owner/breeder Carl Fischer. Another by Nutcracker, she is out of Eyee Gadzoox, making her a full sister to World's Champion Nuttin' Doing. Roselane's Town Topic and Matt Shiflet were third here for Dr. and Mrs. Hank Gendron.

Tre Lee kept this daughter of the great CH The Attache Orchid on the ground and strutting to the section two blue for Steven E. Chancellor. Sired by Marc Of Charm, Cupid's Marc put the wonderful “Trixie” just one Louisville winner shy of the Broodmare Hall of Fame. The daughter of Attache's Thunderbolt certainly deserves every Hall of Fame induction she could be eligible for. It was the continuation of a great day for another fine mare, Miss Moriarity. She produced the Reserve World's Champion in this one, Futurette. Smith Lilly drove to this prize for Tim and Marty Shea. A celebrated winner at Lexington, Futurette is by Wine Women And Song. Miss Moriarity is also just one blue ribbon winner short of being eligible for her “BHF” status now. Buggin' My Wine and Gerhardt Roos made a good show in third for Shields and Associates.

It has been a great week to be a boy rider (it warms the heart of this former jockey). Blake Crim picked up where Wil Rowland and Charles Gassen left off yesterday. He took on an incredibly deep group of ladies, ranging in age all the way up to 17, to come away as the Junior Exhibitor Park World's Champion of Champions blanket of roses with CH High Heat. The place went nuts for the entry of Steven Myers. Directed by Tammy DeVore, High Heat was also a world's champion in his qualifier. Blake has been on a tear this year, winning the championship at Lexington as well. He hasn't been lower than third all season, and that was just once in his Lexington qualifier. The kid was the Man today. Justin Cowley is a mentor to Blake in the DeVore team. He rode High Heat to a Reserve World's Championship here last year.

The wonderfully hinged up CH HS Dignitary was reserve for the second time on the week with Courtney McGinnis. The DeLovely-trained entry of Fish Creek Stables is by Sir William Robert and out of A Daydream Believer (BHF). This was Dignitary's fifth Reserve World's Championship to go along with four World's Championships in his great career. CH Let's Talk and McGee Bosworth looked great in third for High Caliber, with The Invincible and Lindsay Slemmons in fourth.

Dr. Brian Garrett won the Roadster Under Saddle World's Championship for the third time in his career, the first since his back to back run in 2009 and 2010. Today it was Show Me The Money taking that prize under the direction of Mike Brannon. Brian Garrett was the only person to win a roadster under saddle class this year in Freedom Hall, sweeping all three with his team of Show Me The Money and the veteran Where Are We Now. He has won a class in this division here every year since 2009. Scott Hagan bombed down the rail to the reserve title with B-52. The 2012 USTA Roadster to Bike Classic Reserve World's Champion is a giant Standardbred in his first year of under saddle competition with owner Scott Hagan riding him under the direction of Debbie Foley. Chanteur P.V. and Andre van Schalkwyk were a well received third for Melody Adler.

A Louisville celebrity a year ago, Carson Nation reprised his role as a unanimous world's champion with Neil Visser. The Three-Year-Old Stallion/Gelding Fine Harness World's Champion this time, Carson Nation is by Leatherwood's Starlight and out of I'm Real, by I'm The Prince. The gorgeous bay colt is owned by Elisabeth Goth. This is his first time showing since Louisville 2013, besting a group of eight today for his second world title. Kim Cowart drove Best Show In Vegas to the Reserve World's Championship for Tamra Arndt. This was Kim's first drive with this son of Northern Vegas and Go Baby Go, as Peter Cowart drove to wins at JD Massey, Asheville, and Midwest. A World's Champion as a yearling, Go Baby Go is a full sister to World's Champion Show Baby Show and a half sister to World's Champion Zagnut. Bret Day and Up In Arms finished third for Kurz Equine Investments, with Undulata's Quiz Show and Lindsay Lavery fourth for Ralph and Sharla Deuschle.

In a class that is not often won by the mares, it was yet another gelding, the gorgeous Balenciaga, winning this one in unanimous style. Danny Lockhart took his second floral laprobe of the day, this one for James Orr. The Park Stallion/Gelding World's Champion is by Designed and out of One Parting Kiss, a Broodmare Hall of Famer. While the seven-year-old chestnut was not bred by the Orrs, as so many of their stars have been, she fits their program perfectly as so many of their top horses are by Designed. The last mare to win this Open Park World's Champion of Champions title was CH Ya-Ya five years ago with Dena Lopez. What makes this win even more impressive for the Orr family is that it gives them a sweep of the Park tricolors. When was the last time that happened? Ever? Deborah was the Amateur Park World's Champion of Champions just yesterday with the homebred Seven Spanish Angels. Another homebred product, Forever A Mystery is owned and bred by B & T Vonderschmitt LLC. By Undulata's Nutcracker, he is a brilliantly beautiful son of Callaway's Unsolved Mystery. Unsolved Mystery is a daughter of CH Callaway's Born To Win and out of Callaway's Agatha Christie, a Broodmare Hall of Famer and one of the greatest producers in the history of Callaway Hills. Nelson Green rode to the reserve honors for the second time this week with the five-year-old gelding. They were Park Jackpot Champions at Rock Creek earlier this year. Robert Gardiner had the third-place winner in the multi-titled Hot Apple Cider for Jayne and Carla Pearman. Also a veteran of top honors, CH Hollywood Agent and Jannie Giles finished fourth for Nancy Lassiter.

 

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