Louisville - Thursday Morning and Evening
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Thursday Morning
Thursday morning began with the twenty-one entry American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Amateur Kentucky Futurity Weanlings. Topping the competitive class was Colorful Tale. Full of attitude and talent this young star, owned by Dr. Alan Raun and handled by Jan McGlaughlin is by The Mystery Writer and out of Colors Flying. Reserve went to Susan Worzalla’s entry Al Capone by The Wish Card and out of Waffles & Roses M.H.S.
In the first of two divisions for the Hackney Pony Pleasure Driving Adult Amateur thirteen entries made the gate call. After an outstanding show the flashy Cherry Royale with Judy Kjellander earned the blue ribbon under the direction of Kurt Hufferd. Reserve honors went to the consistent performer Cover Story with owner Brenda Rappaport on the lines.
Next up was the ASR Amateur Kentucky Futurity Two-Year-Old In Hand with thirteen entries. Taking home the blue in this competitive class was Final Deklaration who is by Andeker and out of Hula Dancer. An excited Kelsey Nicole Smith expertly handled this flashy chestnut with his parade trot for Barbara and Paul Schwemer. Reserve honors went to Home Town Edition with Doug Fritz exhibiting for Dale Musselman. This stunning two-year-old is by Only Man In Town and out of Classiphied Edition.
Division two of the Hackney Pony Pleasure Driving Adult Amateur entered the ring next with eight entries. With a solid performance the high stepping Early Edition with Jane Mueller on the lines earned the blue ribbon. Reserve honors went to last year’s winner, Once Upon A Time and Anna Marie Knipp.
Continuing his winning streak the stunning Golden Market added another title to his list with the win in the ASR Amateur Futurity Yearlings. Kenny Wheeler skillfully handled G olden Market who is out of the breeding program of Sue Nifong, by The Irish Connection and out of Sink Oar Swim. Out of Dale Musselman’s program reserve went to Duguello who is by Rifles And Roses and out of Classiphied Edition, the dam of the just-crowned two-year-old reserve champion.
Thursday afternoon closed out with the UPHA Adult National Equitation Championship with fourteen riders competing for the top honor. After rail work all fourteen were asked to complete the workout consisting of trotting down the rail to the right of the lineup three-fourths down the rail showing two changes of diagonals, then completing a two-loop trotting serpentine ending on the opposite rail, followed by a two-loop cantering serpentine to the original rail, then stop and reverse and return to the lineup at a trot. After pattern work was completed the judges called for additional work from Brooke Jacobs, Sarah Taylor and Deveau Zubrod. When the cards were turned in the championship title was awarded to Deveau Zubrod. Top ten awards were also presented to Kevin Ingram, Brooke Jacobs, Lauren Pope, Katie Bartlett, Sarah Taylor, Kristy Wallace, Cristina Sloan, DeAnn Dinelli and Erin McCracken.
Thursday Evening
Thursday evening opened with the Senior Equitation Championship with twelve of the best riders competing for the roses. After the completion of the rail work ten riders were asked to complete pattern work consisting of a series of point to point work containing both trotting and cantering skills with changes of diagonals and leads respectively. After all ten completed their pattern work, three riders, Ashley Alden, Alexandra Flynn and Kelsey Nicole Smith, were asked to return to the rail for additional work. Once completed, the winning number belonged to an excited Kelsey Nicole Smith. Smith was greeted at the winner’s circle by trainers, Carol and Scott Matton. Ashley Alden graciously accepted the reserve title with Alexandra Flynn rounding out the top three.
The show took its first pause of the evening to award the Audrey Gutridge Award. The recipient this year was Marjorie P. Fergusson. After founding Royal Scot Stables with her late husband, Donald Fergusson, she and her family have owned, bred and shown many champion Saddlebreds and Hackneys like CH Tartan Twilight, CH Jimmy James, CH City Glitter, CH Sergeant Royalty and CH Protégé just to name a few. Most recently Fergusson exhibited Bold Lad in 1996 sweeping the amateur harness pony in Freedom Hall.
In unanimous fashion Boston Legal and Renee Biggins made the trip to the winner’s circle the Junior Three-Gaited Championship for Belle Reve Farm. By Royal Return and out of Whoopsey Daisy this powerful chestnut would not be denied as he marched down the rail with even more extreme motion as the judges called for a third trot. Reminiscent of his sire, (SA) Aborlane Tangos Wee Pee, with his huge presence, Wee Pee’s Storm with Neil Visser in the irons earned the reserve title. A strong third place went to the newly trimmed A Silver Charm with Tre Lee presenting for Barbara and Brad Bacon.
The elegant and powerful teams for the Amateur Fine Harness Championship entered the ring next with fourteen magnificent entries. Additional work seemed to be Thursday’s theme and once again the judges asked five teams, Call Me Ringo, Gone Platinum, CH Kalarama’s New Sensation, Lady Maya and Simbara’s Exclamation, to return to the rail. Once completed CH Kalarama Sensation added another title to her career with Mary Gise on the lines becoming bolder and bolder with each pass. With huge crowd support, Gone Platinum and Mary Sally Alward graciously accepted the reserve title with Lady Maya and Barbara Goodman Manilow in for third.
With daring speed six entries vied for the Roadster To Wagon Championship title. With great speed Ashland with Mike Barlow, The African Queen with Brad Bacon, Staccato with Jim Schack, Power Ranger with Raymond Shively, Invincible Summer with Judy McNeish and Stylish Stepper with Merrill Murray all proved their talents with maintaining speed in the turns and on the straightaway giving the crowd a thrill and also a scare as The African Queen and Brad Bacon clipped a wheel on the rail breaking the wagon in pieces on their last pass but since the class was judged Bacon was able to stay to accept his ribbon. When the cards were turned in the 2004 World’s Grand Champion Roadster To Bike, Power Ranger with Raymond Shively added another title to their list, now in their new division, with their full throttle speed. Defending their 2004 title in this class Ashland with Mike Barlow on the lines earned the reserve title. It was a special evening for Barlow. A few classes later Barlow was inducted into the American Road Horse and Pony Hall Of Fame for all his great work with road horses like Ashland, WC Oprah Winfrey, Desert Storm, Le Duc, WC Martel, Canadian Express, Stopwatch and Dragster.
The young stars of the three-year-old gaited division entered the ring next with ten entries. The McDaniel family was more than excited when the back number for their owned-and-bred Ooh Yes I Can was called for the win. Presented by Lewis Meadows this handsome bay is by Designed and out of Talk Talk. Peter Cowart presented Marika for the reserve with a first place vote. This sporty bay is by It’s Hammertime and out of Dixie Chicken.
Next in was the multi-titled CH The Bodega Bay for his retirement ceremony. With ten World’s Championship and five Reserve World’s Championship titles to his credit in the five-gaited show pleasure division it was only fitting that he make his last pass in Freedom Hall. As the group of trainers and riders entered the ring waiting for the awesome bay performer to enter the ring, someone was missing and there was a whisper wondering who would have the honor of piloting this charismatic performer for the crowd. As CH The Bodega Bay made a grand entrance down the ramp and onto the green shavings it was appropriate that Bill Becker would be aboard. There is much history between these two, a bond actually that, as the script was read, tears could be seen in the corners of eyes watching. As tradition has dictated, after Becker dismounted and photos were taken to capture the moment, the blanket of red roses was draped on his withers and his saddle was removed CH The Bodega Bay was backed out of the ring as Billy Becker serenaded this great horse with “My Way.”
Gaited stars continued as the junior exhibitors made the gate call for the first time this evening with their ponies. Miss Outta My Way and Ivy Johnson are on a roll. Fresh off the championship win at Lexington and a reserve title earlier this week in the 14-17 qualifier, Johnson and her bold moving pony exuded confidence as they made pass after pass. Having a magnificent ride, they earned the trip to the winner’s circle under the direction of trainer, Jerry Hutson. Tammy Devore had a busy class putting in three top entries, Our Sonflower with Rachael North, CH Sammyshine with Cydni Simmons and CH The Champagne Lady with Tyler Devore. Each having great rides North and Simmons rounded out the top three with Our Sonflower taking the reserve title for Hickory Hill Farm LLC and the multi-titled CH Sammyshine earning a strong third. Devore with his flair and showmanship thrilled the crowd aboard CH The Champagne Lady.
Coco Loco with John Conatser had an outstanding performance marching down the rail for the win in the Junior Fine Harness Championship with unanimous approval from the judges, earning their second title of the week for owners Candace and Fritz Meili. The captivating VHF The Licorice Drop Kid earned the reserve title and huge crowd support, as they seem to float around the ring. A strong third went to the strikingly beautiful mare Sugar Pine with Carter Cox.
Next the show paused to highlight the fundraising efforts of the ASHA from the silent and live auctions and the raffle. With tremendous leadership from Sandy Lilly and Kay Richardson this year’s fundraising was a huge success with the auction grossing over $100,000 and the raffle, which benefits both the Youth and the new Futures Fund, had $40,000 in ticket sales this year. Winning the top $5,000 raffle prize this year was Parker and Cash Lovell. After opening the envelope Lovell immediately donated the winnings back to the Youth.
A group of strong contenders competed for the title in the Two-Year-Old Five-Gaited. With unanimous approval the sporty Spirit Of New York PSF with Smith Lilly in the irons made their way to the winner’s circle. This sporty son of I’m A New Yorker and out of Callaway’s Spirited Gal is out of the breeding program of Platinum Stock and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bowling. Reserve honors went to Saleema with Johanna Kapioltas showing for owner and trainer Brian Chappell.
Manhattan’s Irish Cream has been a dream come true for catch rider, Whitney Bennett. They first gained attention winning at Roanoke. Next up was Lexington when they came back to win the championship, earning Bennett her first win on The Red Mile. Now in Freedom Hall there seemed no stopping this team who is trained by Kristen and Matt Shiflet at Diamond View. After a win earlier in the week in the 14-17 qualifier, this team was on fire and returned to Freedom Hall Thursday night to take the green shavings by storm winning the championship with approval from all three judges for owner Kathy and Ruby Bagdasarian. Reserve honors went to another relative newcomer. Cameo’s Carte Blanche, who was shown by Suzanna Crews last year under the Diamond View banner, was purchased for Anna Drew Jackson to campaign this year upon graduating from the academy program at Cash Lovell Stables. Earlier they won the 13-and-Under qualifier, and returned tonight to receive the reserve title in the championship.
The amateurs took the spotlight next with for their hackney pony championship. Winning the roses was the exceptional pony Heartland Elise with Mary Gaylord McClean on the lines. Reserve honors went to Classical Dancer with Ed Frickey.
The speed demons returned to the ring for the USTA Roadster To Bike Classic. To compete in this class the Standardbreds must be registered with the USTA or CTA and cannot have shown in any roadster class prior to August 29, 2004. The class, which offers a glimpse of the future for division, was a thrill for the crowd as two teams King Simcoe with Merrill Murray and BJ’s Hails Storm and Sam Allred took on the competition like FedEx and Raymond Shively, Chappy and Steve Crabtree and Eaton’s Guy and Page Champion. As the two raced down the rails with huge talent and control the crowd got behind their favorites. Earning all three judges’ approval was the high headed King Simcoe with Merrill Murray for Matilda Ewald and Dr. Ty Thomas. BJ’s Hail Storm with Sam Allred earned the red ribbon while FedEx and Raymond Shively rounded out the top three.
With nineteen young stars set to compete in the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding, management made the decision to split the large class. In the first division with ten entries it was the standout Linkin Park with Tom Scott earning the title. Deborah Butler purchased this grand horse, by Roseridge Heir and out of Worthy’s Daybreak, after his win at Midwest. Another son of Roseridge Heir Captain Roseridge earned the reserve title with Mike Felty aboard for Shields & Associates, INC.
The remaining nine three-year-olds closed out the evening. Capturing the crowd’s attention immediately, Bono was expertly shown by Bret Day for owner Karen Mayer all the way to the winner’s circle. This sporty three-year-old is by Desert’s Supreme Memories and out of Mountain Mine. Minna Hankin Mintz’s entry The Big Storm with Mike Spencer aboard earned the reserve title with an outstanding performance. This solid performer is by Attaché’s Thunderbolt and out of Dolce’s Dandy.
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