Louisville - Thursday Morning
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Once and for all. That was the theme in the ASR Kentucky Amateur Weanling Futurity. Once and for all, the Worzalla family grabbed their first World’s Championship. The history of the Worzallas in Wisconsin is well known. They have been doing this a long time. They breed (horses and a dozen children), they train (it is a family effort), and they show (both daughters are killer jockeys). This was their moment in the spotlight today, carrying off the Louisville blues with Once And For All. Sue Worzalla was on the lead, with daughter Sarah Luft tailing. Sarah married into the first family of the “Limited Breeders” concept, tying the knot with Dr. Rick Luft’s son, Brent. This was also the first World’s Champion for young stallion Arrowhead’s Once In A Lifetime, a son of Worthy Son owned by Barbara Goodman Manilow. In true Worzalla style, this strutty little colt is out of Unspoken Intentions, a mare who they still show (there are no embryo transfers on the Worzalla farm), and out of Stolen Beauty, one of their most successful mares and the dam of Reserve World’s Champion and Equitation World’s Champion The Bourne Supremacy. That’s two horses to wear Louisville blue this week that came from their breeding program.
Walterway’s Here Wego was up for reserve with the tried and true team of Kenny Wheeler and Brad Noel handling for breeder Larry Hartsock. Sired by his stallion, Exalted Effect, Wego is out of Oak Hill’s Watch Me, who after this week is now eligible for the Broodmare Hall of Fame. Pascale was her first winner in 2006, taking the ASR Kentucky Weanling Futurity. Walterway’s Watch Me was up two years later for the ASR Amateur Kentucky Weanling Futurity title with once again Kenny and Brad making the show. Wego was the winner of the Open Futurity on Sunday night. Forever Marilyn MHF was third in this one with Jeff Ramey and Linda Fischer for Merriehill Farm and the Redwood Partners, while MBA’s Nuttin’ But Thyme came fourth for Todd Valentine and Margo Baird.
It was another first time winner in Youth Roadster to Bike, as Brandon Hubbard claimed his first Louisville blue at the lines of Where’s Reuben. Owned by Steve Crabtree, Where’s Reuben a year ago finished top three in the Roadster to Bike World’s Grand Championship. Last year’s World’s Champion was reserve this time, as Anna Stoddard and Carl Julian picked up that prize. Carl Julian is owned by Lucas Equine Services.
The “dream team” was back for a repeat performance from a year ago with Wooly Bully. Last year’s ASR Kentucky Amateur Yearling Futurity winner was back to win the ASR Kentucky Amateur Two-Year-Old Futurity with Kenny Wheeler and Brad Noel. By Walterway’s Wild & Wooly, out of Topstitch, and named by Janet Sterba, Wooly Bully is wildly athletic. Smith Lilly and Ally Kopf stood by the gate watching their charge win by a unanimous decision. Todd Valentine was up for another top prize with Peri’s Charm SS. Owned by the Valentines’ good friend Toni Nastali, Peri’s Charm was started by their top colt man, Antonio Hernandez. Now a denizen of Majestic Oaks, he is equally talented in harness. He is by Sir William Robert and out of Gallant Heart, by Periaptor. Double Edge was up for a third place prize for Kathy Capsuto Walker, with Rich Kid and Rick Wedel fourth for Edward Mowles.
From slow and steady to fast and speedy, the switch from in hand competition to road silks was completed once again, as the Road Pony Under Saddle Championship was up next. The first World’s Champion of Champions on the week was Aragorn. Hannah Hirschhorn saved her best ride for the biggest stage, delighting her trainer, Chelsie Smith. It was a first World’s Championship for the entire team, and they were beaming as they left the ring. Aragorn is owned by Karl Hirschhorn. Lexie Flint earned her second reserve title of the week with Pure Country. An entry of Dr. Robert and Melissa Flint, “PC” is trained by Majestic Oaks. Five times a World’s Champion, this was his third Reserve World’s Championship title. Qualifier winner Island Fever’s Getaway was third with Mitchell Tunstall showing for Gaeton Lorino. The 2010 World’s Champion of Champions, Dun-Haven Majestic Motion, rounded out the top four with Cheyenne Mabey, also from Majestic Oaks.
As was the case in the two-year-old class, the ASR Amateur Kentucky Yearling Futurity winner was a winner here a year ago as well. Johnny McSwain was the choice, just as he was in the Amateur Weanling Futurity a year ago. Rick Wedel once again had the World’s Championship honors for breeders Paul and Rebecca Dieckmann. The chestnut colt is by Kinex, a son of The Irish Connection, who was also a sire of many top futurity babies. This colt’s dam is Kim Darlin’, by The Manipulator. As was the case in the weanling class, the Open Futurity winner finished up in reserve, as For The Win added a Reserve World’s Championship prize to his fantastic week for Joe and Bette Russell’s Hickory Knoll Farm. Sired by The Last Don, this flashy flaxen is out of Becoming, a daughter of the mare Albelarm Impulse. Most all of the colts from that cross have been futurity stars. He was shown today by Madison Milligan and Aubrey Behnke. Both of these Minnesota girls have purchased Last Don colts, with the Madison family owning Bella La Donna and the Behnkes owning First Round Pick, a full sibling to For The Win. Todd Valentine was up for third again, this time with MBA’s True Blue for MBA Equestrians. Mountjoy’s On Parole and Bobby Dunn finished fourth for David Mountjoy.
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