Louisville - Saturday Matinee
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
It was an emotional win to open the Saturday morning session, as the Country Pleasure Driving World’s Championship was dedicated to the memory of the recently passed Nancy Anderson. Her incomparable record in this class with the great CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny will stand for a long time before it is approached. It seemed fitting somehow that this tricolor would hang from the Hollow Haven curtains, as all of Pretty Penny and Nancy’s ribbons did for so many years. Today it was The Code Cracker claiming his first blanket of flowers with Alice Unger. Sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of the Supreme Heir mare, Xena, The Code Cracker combines supreme athleticism with beauty and charisma. The entry of WoodLeigh Farm could be the poster child for the natural talent of the American Saddlebred. The special combination of CH Callaway’s Cumulus and Susan Aschenbrenner were the reserve world’s champion of champions, coming back strong for trainer Amanda Simpson. Twice a winner of this class as part of their triple-digit win total, Cumulus and Susan are the six-time defending national champions in this division. By Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of Callaway’s Cloud Nine, Cumulus was twice reserve this week in this always deep and competitive division. A Night In Vegas and Grace Arnold finished third for Mercer Springs, with Attache’s Chocolate Thunder and Lynda St. Andre fourth for Cater Stables.
The reception line at Taylor Creek was at least 20 people deep as they waited for Lauren Greenwald and Callaway’s Aperitif. The mare winner beat back the stallion/gelding winner to claim the carnations in the Open Three-Gaited Park World’s Championship today. The reserve world’s champion of champions a year ago, Aperitif is owned by Lauren’s mom, Sherry Frankel and the SGF Winning Ways Farm. Lauren is part of the training team at Wes and Sena Bowling’s Taylor Creek Farm, and she made them awfully proud today. Aperitif is by CH Caramac and out of Callaway’s Sweet Clover. Winner of the stallion/gelding qualifier, Double Dog Dare is a punched up chestnut son of Dellview Dare Time and Lilly’s Night Out. The reserve world’s champion of champions today with Jannie Giles, he is owned by Nancy Lassiter. These two wore the flowers last year as the Junior Three-Gaited Park World’s Champion of Champions. Jim Stachowski and Isabella DaVinci were up for third, with Enchanted Kiss and Derrick Westbrook giving another strong performance in fourth for Helen Rich.
Faith Robbins got her turn in the winner’s circle aboard CH Anderson Cooper in the 14-17 Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Championship. Talk about a huge division, more horses were eliminated from competition after the qualifying splits than actually got to show back. All 16 qualifiers returned to vie for the title, with the long-necked chestnut gelding taking the tricolor. Directed by Kellie Budd Wendling, Anderson Cooper is a first foray into the Saddlebred performance division for the esteemed trainer of high-end Arabians. He is by Attache’s Royal Assets and out of Callaway’s Anchor Woman. Faith Robbins has made her mark in the Saddlebred world as well, taking the Senior Equitation Reserve World’s Champion of Champions title on Thursday night. Allie Gendron got another good prize with Roselane’s Town Topic for Dr. and Mrs. Hank Gendron. Trained by Matt Shiflet Stables, this pretty chestnut mare is by Salemtown and out of Topless, by CH Top Spool. That’s some pretty cool old blood for the champion from Lexington, J.D. Massey, and Raleigh Spring Premier. Alex Rudder rode Kalarama’s Prospero to third for David Rudder, while Uptown Chatter and Jade Woods took fourth in their final junior exhibitor appearance on the green shavings.
Smith Lilly and Fox Grape’s Dandy Lion put in a winning effort today for Dr. Michelle Sprengelmeyer. They carried off the carnations as the Junior Park Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions. Callaway’s Carnation is now eligible for the Broodmare Hall of Fame, as Dandy Lion rounded out the requirements for the grand mare, also the producer of world’s champions Our African Violet and Fox Grape’s The Tiger Lily. Dandy Lion is by Tomcat (SA) and has that look about him with the bright chestnut coloring and all the chrome. He was the UPHA Park Pleasure Classic National Champion last season at the Royal. Nason Bastarache made an exceptional comeback performance with Carrigan’s Anastasia to secure the reserve world’s champion of champions title. From Willisbrook Farm, Anastasia is by Samur and out of Carrigan’s Magic. Also a reserve world’s champion herself like Carnation, Carrigan’s Magic was a top park mare in her day. Todd Miles rode Secret Meeting to third for Annika Bruggeworth, with Empyrean and Jim Stachowski in fourth.
New to the live stream back to the barns this year is a tally of which exhibitor, owner, and trainer have won the most classes so far. Sallie Mason Wheeler pulled ahead of Maureen Campbell this morning with a winning ride aboard Royal Valentine in the 13-and-Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Championship. Now with six wins on the week, Sallie Mason has taken two blues on her own horses and four on those owned by Roberta and Miriam Hirshon and trainer Burt Honaker. Winner of her qualifier in her first ever ride aboard the son of Samur and Royal Pretty, Sallie Mason showed back hard to claim the carnations and the tricolor. Harriet Butscher’s best season yet with HS Decorum continued to be a special one. She was the reserve world’s champion of champions for Infinity Stables. With all that curve and class of the Sir William Robert x A Daydream Believer (BHF) cross, Decorum is perfectly suited for this division under the direction of Infinity Stables. CH Three Point Shooter and Ashley Creekmore were a strong third for Thomas R. Brock Jr. CH Redesigned and Kate Smith finished out their week with a good show in fourth for Mercer Springs.
The cavalcade of kids’ classes continued with the 14-17 Country Pleasure Championship. Grace McDonell made the last pass in this one as the unanimous world’s champion of champions aboard It’s Sam I Am. Here’s another one by Samur making waves on Saturday morning, giving that stallion back-to-back winners. Sam I Am is out of the Attache’s Thunderbolt mare, Simply Thunderful. Trained by High Caliber Stables, It’s Sam I Am is just a five-year-old, fully coming into his own this week for two world’s titles. Sommer Justice and the homebred G.V. Silver Oak were the reserve world’s champion of champions for Grand Vin Stables. Teamed up for five years now, Sommer is the only person to ever show Silver Oak, by Gothic Revival and out of Radiant Talent. This has been the best season yet for this team, champions at Lexington and reserve winners twice this week. Madeleine Hale and Undulata’s Blue Light Special took third, with Wild I Am and Jacquelyn King finishing fourth.
Emma Wood’s first trip to the Louisville winner’s circle came as the 14-17 Road Pony World’s Champion of Champions. She drove Sirfistication to that hard-earned prize for Three Sisters Stables LLC. Jim Lowry looked downright gleeful as he heard Emma’s number called out for the tricolor. Champions at Midwest and Lexington as well, they were the 14-17 AHHS Road Pony Medallion National Champions last year. Sirfistication was the 13-and-Under Road Pony World’s Champion of Champions last year with Sallie Mason Wheeler. Qualifier winners A Promise Honored and Rose Marie Wheeler were the reserve world’s champion of champions for Toni Nastali. That’s a dam line that always gets the job done with catch rides and drives. A Promise Honored is by Night Predator and out of Twin Willow’s Promise. The Majestic Oaks entry was also a winner in the qualifier here a year ago with Rose Marie. Tabitha Zimmerman was pleased with her third place prize with Showstar’s Prince Philip LF. CH Sha Boom and Hannah Champion finished fourth for Kenneth Killinger.
Groundhog got the unanimous call in the Adult Country Pleasure World’s Championship. Drew Taylor Hewitt covered her mouth with her hand in the traditional happy cry aboard the world’s champion of champions. An entry of Diane Sembler Kamins, Groundhog is trained by Neil Visser. He is a star in this division, by Callaway’s Northern Kiss and out of Callaway’s Can’t Wait. Juliette Dell and CH Reedann’s Rare Mystery earned their best Louisville tricolor yet as the reserve world’s champion of champions. The big bay gelding just puts his head in a great spot and never flinches for the entry of the 6D Ranch. Trained by DeLovely Farm, he was twice reserve this week for sire The Mystery Writer and dam Rare Connection. CH Extremely Fortunut and Ashlee Wheaton finished out their week in third, while Princess Warrior and Alyssa Lopez Northcutt took fourth.
Catherine Wheeler and CH Swing An Singin got the crowd going as the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Park World’s Champion of Champions for the second year in a row. They strutted, marched, pranced, paraded, whatever term you want to use, they did it all, and it was a joy to watch. When a horse and rider are that in tune, it brings the goosebumps out. It’s fun to watch the Wheeler girls show. Sallie Mason is all Kenny, hard-charging and gas pedal pressed all the way to the floor. Catherine is unequivocally her mother in the show ring, showing Ceil’s thoughtful and technical approach to performing in the show ring. She set up every pass deep in the corners and made every single one count to take the unanimous victory for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler and Mercer Springs Farm. This team is still undefeated in the park division. With a great ovation from the crowd, It’s Aerosmith was the reserve world’s champion of champions for the second year in a row as well. Skylar Rueff is to be commended for the job she does with this black son of VHF The Licorice Drop Kid and Steal The Day. She took a four-year-old into the junior exhibitor division a year ago and has enjoyed tremendous success over these two seasons for Betsy Webb Stables. The reigning national champion in this division, It’s Aerosmith was the champion this year at Midwest Charity, River Ridge, and Midsummer Classic. Emily Van Duren had a huge smile in third aboard My Royale Prince for Cater Stables. Crackin’ Up and Emily Candelaria finished fourth for Barbara Woods.
Alex Rudder made it two years in a row as the Road Pony Under Saddle World’s Champion of Champions with Cocked-N-Ready. Trained by Gerhardt Roos, Cocked-N-Ready is by LLF Top Of The Mark and out of Miss Katie, by Dun-Haven Classic Contender. The Junior Road Pony World’s Champion of Champions here in 2012, Cocked-N-Ready has continued to excel in this under saddle division as well. A split winner here last year, Heartland Parade Time was the reserve world’s champion of champions. This was Ryan Visser’s best ride with the Majestic Oaks-trained entry, sired by X-Treme and out of Heartland Fantasy. Rich and Maureen Campbell have done a ton for the kids of their trainer friends, guiding them to great success and a ton of fun. CH DF Tres Chic and Katie Funk were up for third for Kendall Weber, while HCH Double Vision and Lora Thornhill finished fourth.
When Gerhardt Roos looked at his schedule for this morning’s session, he had to have a sense of dread for his back-to-back-to-back run. The second of those three classes ended the same as the first, as Gerhardt’s team scored a win as the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare World’s Champion. An entry of Rose Arbor Farm, Maggie The Cat RAF was driven by Gerhardt himself to claim the blue. This filly is by Tomcat (SA), who has really started to come on as a sire. She is out of Cocktail Ring, the dam of Rose Arbor’s Moving Out. Radiant Destiny was reserve for the third time in three outings in her career. This one, however, came with the title of reserve world’s champion. All three classes have been with different drivers, as Mike McIntosh brought her out last year, Neil Visser showed her at Midwest, and John T. Jones was at the lines today for Diane Sembler Kamins and Visser Stables. Radiant Destiny is by Mountainview’s Heir To Fortune and out of Radiant Design. Little Black Dress and Mike Tunstall made a good show for third for Maple Ridge Farms. La Barracha Belle and Kathy Capsuto Walker finished fourth.
Rose Stables kept the success train rolling, winning the Road Horse Under Saddle World’s Championship with Street Legal GRS. Ridden by Cyd Simmons, Street Legal won a third straight for trainer Gerhardt Roos on this phenomenal day in his life. Owned by Dr. Chip Pugh, Street Legal gave Cyd a great moment with her mom, Cathie, after the class. Cathie has been suffering from posterior cortical atrophy, a form of dementia that affects vision. It has been a tough road for the Simmons family, and this week of success on the green shavings has been a wonderful distraction. This is a family that has had this sport at its heart for nearly all of Cyd’s 27 years. This is why we do this. Dr. Brian Garrett and Show Me The Money were reserve world’s champion of champions for the second year in a row. Three times a reserve winner this week for trainer Mike Brannon, Show Me The Money has been a star of this division since 2011. Two years earlier, Brian rocketed to the top of the charts as the world’s champion of champions with Where Are We Now. Coming In Hot and Sarah MacKenna were third for Flecia Fairey.
Jessi McCurry has made the top three in Freedom Hall four different times. Never has she made it into the top two to earn a world’s title. Her final class of her junior exhibitor career at Louisville was the absolutely loaded Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship, a class she was fifth in on qualifier day, and that was in her split. Why not just go for broke? Jessi and My Dreamboat Annie left it all out there on the green shavings today, and when the dust had settled, it was these two girls alone in the ring as the world’s champion of champions. Trained by Harrison and Grant Shiflet, Jessi is just a great kid. A multi-sport athlete, she puts her heart into everything that she does. Headed off to Appalachian State University, she will have some nice new decorations to hang in her dorm room. Mom Debbie McCurry was a bit beyond beside herself with glee. Check out some of the pictures from today of these two, and you will know what pure joy looks like.
Another great kid with tons of talent, Tea Snider made her best ever Louisville ride to be the reserve world’s champion of champions. Reserve in her qualifier last year as well with Lucky You Lucky Me, Tea cranked it up a notch for Duane and Tonna Snider and trainer Mike McIntosh. This black gelding is by Worthy’s Lucky Son and out of Riddles And Roses. He and Tea have become quite the team over the last two campaigns. Grand Master Flash and Haley Griffin finished third in this one, with Wish Me Radiant and Camryn Silverton in fourth.
A winner here a year ago as a two-year-old, HS I’m Hot Wired returned to Freedom Hall with the same driver and the same result. Debbie Foley drove him to the Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Championship for breeder Hagan Saddlebreds. By Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of I Am The Dream, I’m Hot Wired made his best show of the year at just the right time. I Am The Dream is also the dam of world’s champion HS Baby Steps. A cross of Sir William Robert and an Undulata’s Nutcracker mare, Boy Howdy was the reserve world’s champion with Jesse West driving for Paula Schmidt. A star under saddle as well, Boy Howdy was ridden to wins at Midwest and Lexington this year as well. He is the only foal from Laughing Matter, who traces her bottom line back to her second dam, Whata’ Jewel Whata’ Jewel, and on past that to the greats, Lady Trigg and Carol Trigg.
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