Louisville - Tuesday Evening
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday night’s session began with the ASR National Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Futurity, offering more than $31,000 in prize money. On a night devoted to showcasing gorgeous young Saddlebreds, the first class didn’t disappoint.
Sixteen walk-trots came through the gate and with $15,794 paid for first place, riders and horses put on a great show in an effort to take home the big check. When the cards were turned in the number on top was number 93. Darrell Case headed to center ring with the Attache’s Thunderbolt-sired A Storm Star for owner Judith Schwarts. The sporty three-year-old, out of the mare Ursa Major, added yet another win to the Willowbank Farm total. Robert Gardiner had a great night and it began with his reserve finish in the class with Majestic’s Jackie O. The mare, owned and bred by Paul and Jonelle Chovanec LLC, picked up $7,897 for the second place tie and represented sire Simply Majestic and dam Anacacho’s Desdemona. Bret Day rode Simbara’s Belle Michelle (I’m A New Yorker x Simbara’s Special Someone) for Grey Ridge Farm, McAllister Equine LLC and Hy Horse Farm to pick up $3,949 for third place. Picking up a check for $2,369 for fourth place was Denise Steinhauer’s entry I’m Custom Designed. The gelding is sired by Designed and out of the mare Dianna’s Song and Bob Brison rode for Steinhauer.
Remaining ribbons and prize money in the class went to Hallston Manor’s futurity mare Hilheiry Duff (Supreme Heir x Whirlwind’s Witchcraft) for fifth place and $948. Carter Cox rode Sir Yes Sir to sixth for Jamie or Addison Lanier and claimed the final check for $632. Entourage, sired CH Callaway’s Wish Me Will and out of Elanwood’s Diamonds N Rubies, and Coco Mojo (Catalyst x CH Cocoloba) filled out the final two places on the card in that order.
From 16 to six, the amateur gentlemen were next in the ring with their three-gaited horses and Kalarama Farm’s Joan Hamilton was the winning owner. David Rudder turned in the blue ribbon ride aboard the CH Great Day's Came The Son sired Prophet's Song. Trainer Larry Hodge met him in center ring for the presentation. Last year’s winner, Heir To A Star, exited with Glenn T. Werry and the red ribbon for Glenmore Farm to continue the Werry family's successful week.
Next on the schedule, the first of two sections for the ASR Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Kentucky Futurity showcased 10 entries performing for the panel and the chance to come back Friday night for their finals.
The amateur riders had a big, deep class with their under 15.2 three-gaited horses but this was a class that seemed to be moving along in the beginning then lost momentum with a cast shoe first way of the ring and then another timeout. As is always the case, the timeouts helped some horses and perhaps hurt others, but Lynda Norman and Enough About You were consistent both ways of the ring to win the class for the second year in a row. Ali Judah, riding Hollywood Agent, was the first rider in the gate and the first rider out of the gate as she exited with the red ribbon for Judah Saddlebreds.
The junior exhibitor five-gaited riders for the 14-17-year-olds, had to wait a bit before heading down the ramp into Freedom Hall due to a cast shoe in the warm up ring. When the gate call came, 19 young riders burst onto the green shavings. They worked hard both directions and the panel decided to keep 10 for a workout, just as they had done in the first section earlier in the day.
CF Night At The Castle and Brittany Baird, Freaky Links and Angela Darrow, Callaway’s Lil Abner and Faye Wuesthofen, CH What’s The Hoopla and Caitlin Leith, She’s Fancy Free and Cory Vetter, CH L.A. Boca Raton and Kelsey Olson, Memorize and Sarah Sessoms, CH Sprinkles and Claire Talley, CH My Teddy Bheir and Caroline Burglass and Stonecroft Rumor Has It with Alexa McWilliams were all called out to remain in the ring for another look.
The junior exhibitors displayed their determination and when the cards were turned in it was Faye Wuesthofen and Callaway’s Lil Abner selected to pick up the blue ribbon for Glenmore Farm after a consistent ride both directions of the ring. Memorize and Sarah Sessoms exited with the red and reserve title after they too turned in a clean go to impress the panel. McWilliams and Stonecroft Rumor Has It were third for owner Cynthia McWilliams and fourth was awarded to CH What’s The Hoopla and Caitlin Leith, showing from Ingleside Farm. Freaky Links, She’s Fancy Free, CH L.A. Boca Raton and CF Night At The Castle claimed the fifth through eighth place ribbons in that order.
Another group of two-year-olds were next to impress the panel in their bid to return Friday night for the ASR Futurity of Kentucky Two-Year-Old Fine Harness class.
The Three-Gaited 15.2 and Under Stake showcased 12 elegant, high stepping three-gaited horses and was a good class of open horses. Another shoe came off but didn’t stop the class as that horse was able to canter second way without it. Robert Gardiner headed to the winner's circle when his athletic VHF Belle Epoque was named the World’s Champion after a picture-perfect performance. Tre Lee and A Silver Charm also drew lots of applause as they exited with the reserve champion red ribbon for Pidgeon Roost Farm.
There was another break in the show ring action when the presentation of the AHHS Foundation Scholarships was made to Allyson Taapken, Ivy Howells and Tannis Marley.
The amateurs were back in the ring next and 15 five-gaited stallion/gelding teams burst onto the green shavings to put on a great class. Carol Hillenbrand and Swish came into the class having won it for the last four years and they turned in a strong team effort to take the blue ribbon once again and make it five years in a row. John Conatser met them for the presentation after a unanimous victory. Dr. Wendy Troyer and (SA) Carlswald Prince’s Dominoe were accompanied by enthusiastic applause as they exited with the reserve title. Callaway’s Banner Headline and Janet Kellett finished in the top three as they were racking up a storm.
The second of three national futurity three-year-old classes was next on the agenda and once again, a very nice group was looking to earn the top prize of $15,794. Ten fine harness horses put on a very nice class and like the futurity classes earlier in the night, this class showcased some gorgeous young horseflesh and gave a glimpse into what the future holds for the Saddlebred industry from some of the country’s top show horse breeders.
Leatherwood’s Starlogic, sired by Leatherwood’s Starlight and out of Callaway’s Lean On Me, was selected as the top youngster and Scott Perelli handled the winning drive for Leatherwood Stud, LLC. to take the blue and the $15, 794 in prize money. Larry Hodge drove Kalarama’s Much Superior, sired by Harlem Superior and out of Fianna, to second place for R & R Farms, Inc. and picked up the check for $7,897. Nearly $4,000 was awarded to S,More Undulata for third place. Nelson Green drove the daughter of Undulata’s Nutcracker and Callaway’s Red Lady for owner Patricia Misko. Jim Lowry handled the presentation of Catalyst’s Blonde Ambition (Catalyst x Art Work) for fourth to earn $2,369 for Tri Color Ventures. Hold The Onion and Peter Palmer were fifth for owner Carl Fischer. Sired by The Mac Attack and out of the mare Odessa Jane, Fischer’s entry earned $948 for Meadowlake Farm. The final check for $632 went to Curtis Lowe and Steve Demjen. The son of Wild Eyed Warrior and Callaway’s There’s A Way earned the sixth place ribbon and money. Katie Watson presented Mooie Mooie (Uhlen Branch x Evening To Remember SLS) to seventh and the final class ribbon went to County Supervisor with Alan Raun driving. Raun’s colt is sired by County Treasure and out of the mare Callaway’s Small Talk.
The Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class showcased a gorgeous group of 13 and it was a deep class with numerous world’s champions and reserve world’s champions in the mix. Multi-titled world's champion Marching Orders was in top order with Barbara Goodman Manilow to take the blue back to Chicago from Richard Obenauf Stables. All three judges were in complete agreement and put number 633 at the top of their cards. Kent Brockman and Bridget McNeese were directed by Martin Teater to be named the reserve world’s champions for Catherine McNeese.
The open roadster ponies headed down the ramp for their 50 inches and under class and all eight ponies were presented by veteran drivers for a good class. Beaulah Jean made it two years in a row when she received three first place votes and was named the top pony with Jeff McClean driving for Golden Creek Farms. Larry Ella was next to pick up a ribbon as he piloted Moment Of Excellence to the reserve finish for Bent Tree Farm, Ltd.
Judy McNeish and Invincible Summer have been invincible on the green shavings in the Amateur Roadster To Wagon class for the last four years and for the second time of the evening, a world’s championship was awarded to the same winner for the fifth year in a row. Invincible Summer also earned a unanimous decision from the judges. Jon Dabareiner drove Postmaster Mike to finish with the reserve world’s title for Fish N Fun Farms.
The ASR National Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Futurity showcased a beautiful group of young gaited horses and each received their share of crowd support when they stripped for conformation judging and were brought to the middle to be presented to the panel. Lexington champion Our First Class Day TS, sired by CF First Night Out and out of Georgia Day Dream, carried a very happy Melinda Moore to the winner’s circle when they topped the other 10 entries for the win to also earn $15, 794. When Peter Doubleday announced their unanimous victory, he also included a special thanks from Melinda Moore to her mom and new owner Donna Moore. Second place and $7,897 went to Henry Hudson, with Neil Visser on board for Elisabeth Goth. Goth’s colt is sired by I’m A New Yorker and out of Hall Of Fame broodmare World's Grand Champion CH Hollywood Excellence. Tracy James piloted I Wish You Well (CH Callaway’s Wish Me Will x CH Scarlett Santana) to third to earn $3,947 for Cross Timbers Saddlebreds, Inc and Silver Brook Stables. Boxers ‘N Chaps (Jon Bugatti x Beleroit LCC) was fourth with Billy Jarrell showing for Betty Jarrell and they received $3,949. I Think I Will (Everything Will x Feather Light) and Matt Shiflet were next in the ribbon count as they took the fifth place finish for All-Well Farm and claim prize money of $948. Especially For Me added $632 to the Silver Brook Farm total when the panel named the daughter of Designed and CH The Homecoming Queen to sixth place.
The final two ribbons went to Walterway’s Pardon Me (Star Material x Yorktown’s Forget-Me-Not) with Merrill Murray showing for Larry Hartsock and Perfectly Designed (Designed x CH Katie Co-Ed) for Misty Hills Farm LLC.
Barclay De Wet added another win to the Leatherwood total when Callaway’s Winning Ways topped the eight-entry Amateur Five-Gaited Mare class with a unanimous decision. Redd Crabtree directed the world’s champion team. Andrea Nelson picked up the reserve title and red streamers with The Light O’Love under the direction of Martin Teater.
Heartland Candidate topped seven other strong competitors to win the Amateur Ladies Hackney Pony World’s Championship under the direction of Majestic Oaks. Sandra Surber was all smiles as she took the victory pass for the second year in a row and the second time this week. Kay Marschel drove the world titled Heartland Moonglow to second place under the direction of Buffalo Creek Farm.
The Five-Gaited Mare class closed out the evening’s session and 11 beautiful and hardworking mares put on a great finale for the crowd. According To Lynn was in top order with Mary Gaylord McClean and they headed to the presentation area to pick up their world’s championship win for the second year in a row. Trained by Premier Stables, According To Lynn made one of her strongest shows in a while and her victory was a unanimous decision from the panel. Callaway’s Karla, with Debbie Foley riding, was right there for the reserve tie for owner Jo Ann Griffith and Pour Some Sugar On Me finished in the top three with Todd Miles up for Deborah Butler’s Melrose LLC.
|