Louisville - Tuesday Evening
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Tuesday evening began with a group of four beautiful entries competing for more than $14,000 in prize money in their National Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Futurity class. The crowd was ready to get the night started and they enthusiastically supported their favorites. The judges were in complete agreement when they named their favorite and it was Undulata’s Simbara named to take the blue ribbon. Neil Visser rode the high stepping youngster sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of Gotta Secret, for Diane Sembler Kamins. A Rare Temper, sired by (SA) Dorian Wild Temper and out of Garland’s Second Edition, exited out of Freedom Hall with the reserve world title for owners and breeders Fox Grape Farms, Inc. Tiffany Wheeler presented the three-year-old and they picked up a check for $3,763.
A great group of nine put on an entertaining class in the Amateur Gentlemen’s Three-Gaited class. Nick Maupin and Kalarama’s Blue Mac turned back all challengers for the win after a powerful performance for Golden Lantern Farms LLC just as they did at Lexington Junior League. Callaway’s Another Saturday Night and David Rudder exited with the red ribbon for Joan Hamilton of Kalarama Farm and Attache’s Popeye was third with Danny Cummins up for Danny and Kathy Cummins. Cummins rode under the direction of Jack Magill.
The ASR Futurity Of Kentucky Two-Year-Old Fine Harness finals will be held Friday night so the preliminary class was to determine which of the group would qualify to return. Four were selected including The Code Cracker, shown by Smith Lilly for Anita Simpson, At School and Pedro Martinez for Blythewood Farm, Lady Kate and Kathy Capsuto-Walker for Paula Schmidt and Kathy Capsuto Trust and Undulata’s Crystal Crown with Johanna Kapioltas for Janet Kellett.
Things really heated up in Freedom Hall when a big group of 15 Amateur Three-Gaited 15.2 and Under horses entered the ring. The noise level got higher and higher as great pass followed great pass down the rail. This was a class full of talent and riders worked hard to impress the panel, but in the end it was CH With Style And Grace named to take the victory pass. Rider Tara Grom had a masterful ride on the Robert and Kim Grom-owned entry and the win was their fourth under two world’s title in a row under the direction of DeLovely Farm. Twice The Dice and Ashley Alden stepped up and took the reserve world championship title from DeVore Stables after impressing the panel and they were followed in third by VHF Belle Epoque with Danielle Benson showing under the direction of Robert Gardiner.
Section two of the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited 14-17 class had a lot to live up to after the afternoon’s great section one class but they didn’t disappoint tonight. The junior exhibitors looked like veterans as they put their mounts through all five gaits.
It was a battle between all 11 but when the cards were turned in George Knight, Kent Swalla and Fran Crumpler were in complete agreement and awarded the blue to CH Platinum’s New Look with Hunter Chancellor up for Steven Chancellor. Tonto and Hunter have had a big fan club for years and they got plenty of support from the crowd but there was also strong support for CH I’m Something Wicked and McGee Bosworth as they exited with the reserve title. Bosworth showed under the High Caliber Stables banner for Pair Of Jacks Stables. CH Freaky Links and Jenna Winquist also had cheers from their fan club as they headed to pick up the yellow ribbon for owner Sally Wingquist from Knollwood Farm.
The fast paced gaited class was followed by the second split of the two-year-old fine harness futurity and the four entries that qualified to return Friday night were Nut Guilty and Darrell Case for Willowbank Farm, Swanson and Jampsa, It’s Aerosmith and Lionel Ferreira for Wade Fairey, Jr., Tell No One and Peter Palmer for Carl Fischer, Jr. and Rose Arbor Destiny with John Conatser for Rose Arbor Farm LLC. They all have a very competitive final to look forward to as the group competes for more than $16,000 in prize money.
The Three-Gaited 15.2 and Under Stake was yet another class full of talent to continue this action packed night and eight elegant walk-trots did a great job entertaining the crowd. HS Daydream’s Heads Up and Tre´ Lee picked up the unanimous decision and a huge roar from the crowd as they headed to the presentation area to pick up the blue ribbon for owner and breeder Hagan Saddlebreds. Sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of the grand Broodmare Hall Of Fame mare A Daydream Believer, last year’s National Futurity World’s Champion and Reserve World’s Grand Champion park trotted his way to the winner’s circle. Sir Silver Knight, sired by Sir William Robert, is out of the legendary mare R.R. Silver Lady and was bred by Dena Lopez. Melinda Moore piloted the powerful stallion to reserve for Annika and Scott Bruggeworth.
The Amateur Five-Gaited Mare class, with all 14 entries, was rocking along until a thrown shoe first direction stopped the action. Once farrier James Quiram had the shoe back on everybody regrouped and put on a great class. David Rudder was on board the Redd Crabtree-owned-and-trained entry Candalight for the win but it wasn’t a cake walk. They faced fierce competition including CH Ava Gardner with Allyson Ehle up for Bob and Nancy Ehle from Kierson Farm. The powerful mare had plenty of support as she exited wearing the red ribbon. Zippers & Snaps and Chuck O’Donnell made the trip to Louisville from California and they exited with the yellow ribbon after a strong effort under the direction of David Blevins.
The first section of the ASR National Three-Year-Old Futurity Fine Harness preliminary hosted six talented youngsters vying for the four spots to compete Friday night. We Must Be Nuts, with Jim Cherry showing for Grace Arnold, will return to face the group and he will be joined by Las Vegas First Edition with Melissa Moore showing for Sandra Corney Stables, Sir Surreal with Kathy Capsuto-Walker for Paula Schmidt and Kathy Capsuto Trust and Belle Reve’s Sgt. Pepper with Tiffany Wheeler for Belle Reve Farm.
Maya Manilow had already put a blue ribbon on the Skyline Stables tack room wall earlier in the day and her mom Barbara Goodman Manilow added another one when Call Me Regal was awarded the Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Championship title after a great team effort to defend their title from last year. They faced seven other teams that waged a fierce battle including Work It and Carol Hillenbrand who claimed the reserve title and red streamers under the direction of Biggins Stables. Jennifer Hartner and Gypsy’s Triple Expresso headed back to Northern Tradition Farm after their third place finish for JJCK Hart Limited Partnership.
One of the highlights of the night was the Amateur Ladies Harness Pony class. There were so many great ponies competing that the class had to be split, something seen often in the pleasure driving division but rarely in a longtail class. Both sections included world champions and their accomplished drivers and it was great to see so many high-stepping ponies in the ring.
Impress My Daddy took the top prize in section one to add another world title to his list. Owner Juliette McDonald was joined by trainer Rich Campbell for the blue ribbon presentation. Last Call, last year’s winner with Mary Gaylord McClean, claimed the red ribbon for Golden Creek Farms and Major Impact was third with Karen Frickey driving.
The second section was as competitive as the first and seven ponies got the crowd cheering for their favorites. Sandra Surber and CH Crystal Creek’s Commander turned back all challengers to take the blue and give Majestic Oaks Farm both wins. Charlotte Wrather and Seamair Sensation were on their game to finish in second under the direction of Janet Crampton and Bebe Olcott drove her chestnut pony Heartland Queen Of The Road to third under the direction of Mike Hylton.
From a big group of harness ponies to another great group of three-year-old harness horses the exciting action continued and the audience watch six entries put on a show before leaving the ring to wait for Friday night.
Bob Brison put Redwing Farm’s I’m A Fashionista on track to return along with Rose Arbor’s Valentino with Dena Lopez driving for Joellen Fisher Blount. Kalarama’s Sally Ride and Danny Lockhart made the list for Friday night for Larry Hodge and Joan Hamilton. Debbie Foley rounded out the list of four with Stonecroft Tsunami for owners and breeders Stonecroft Farm.
Mark Catron was thrilled when he headed to the winner’s circle with Cookie Monster after they were named the Amateur Roadster To Wagon World’s Champions. This was just the second time the Steve Hanks trained entry had been hooked to a wagon. Judy McNeish was called upon to drive Ice Man for owner James Nichols and they exited with the reserve ribbon and world’s title.
The ASR National Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Futurity hosted six powerful gaited horses and with more than $15,000 in prize money up for grabs, there was more than just a blue ribbon and world’s championship at stake. Since the class was stripped the crowd had plenty of opportunity to make their choices known by their cheers and applause.
With lots of chrome and plenty of charisma Freshly Dipped carried Debbie Foley to the winner’s circle after a unanimous decision from the panel. Sired by (SA) Dorian Warrior’s Song and out of Sterling Colors, the three-year-old’s prize money of $7,500 went to owner and breeder Debbie Foley. Nuts About Me was popular with the crowd after a reserve world’s championship ride by Andrea Wolkoff for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. Jim and Helen Cherry bred the reserve world’s champion by sire Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of CH Victoria Lynn. The futurity paid $3,673 for the reserve win.
Lionel Ferreira rode Monnington Marc Of Destruction, sired by Marc Of Charm and out of (SA) Limebank Radiant to third for his wife Georgia Bulmer Ferreira and breeder John Bulmer who shared the $1,882 prize money.
The Amateur Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding class was one that had been highly anticipated as two-time winner of the class Fort Chiswell’s Royal Kiss and Elisabeth Goth faced last year’s Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions CH Courageous Lord and Dr. Owen Weaver. The class of 11 also included a great group of competitors who also put their entries on the rail to rack and trot their way onto the judges cards.
Freedom Hall has a way of showcasing epic battles unlike any other venue. Not only the big crowds and green shavings but the long straightaways get the crowd revved up to cheer for their favorites. In the case of Royal Kiss and Courageous Lord, they easily divide the crowd because they are so different from each other.
Both women went full out and turned in great rides amongst the talented group of contenders and Goth knew when she lined up that there wasn’t any more she could have done. When the panel turned in their cards it was a unanimous decision that gave the Neil Visser trained stallion his third win in a row to retire the trophy. They headed down to the presentation area accompanied by a huge amount of crowd support. Their was also a huge roar from the crowd when Weaver and her gallant gelding exited as the reserve world champions for Fox Grape Farms. Allie Wellington Nunley put together a great ride with Kiss My Attache to take the yellow streamers for All Well Farm and David Rudder put New York’s Real Magic in fourth for owner and new dad Rudi Benecke.
The Amateur Ladies Hackney Pony class was next on the agenda and by the time it was over yet another unanimous decision had been reached. Toni Nastali added another victory to the Majestic Oaks total with her winning drive behind the charismatic Heartland Rough And Ready. Faydelle Schott and last year’s popular winner CH Heartland Fortune Maker left the ring with a lot of support from the crowd for their reserve world’s championship effort directed by Bob Phillips.
The $10,000 Five-Gaited Mare class wasn’t large with five entries but it was definitely large on talent. Debbie Foley, Brian Chappell, A.J. Bruwer, Jason Molback and Erica Aloe did a great job for their respective owners in an effort to take the prestigious win. Callaway’s Annabel Allison was Asheville’s Five-Gaited Mare Champion and Midwest Charity’s Five-Gaited Mare Champion and Five-Gaited Jackpot Champion before heading back to Freedom Hall where she’s won this class for the last three years in a row.
Voulez Vous and Brian Chappell have been riding a wave of popularity all season after winning the stake at River Ridge and Harrodsburg and taking the reserve in the mare class at Lexington. They both had to leave it all on the green shavings after facing off with challengers Callaway’s Heather Ann and Bruwer showing for Sam and Vicki Reed, Forty-Second Sweetheart with Aloe showing for Dr. Joel Garrett and So About Last Night with Molback showing for Dr. Geraldine Meanor.
The panel agreed that Foley and her CH Callaway’s Annabel Allison were the unanimous champions for Silver Brook Stables. Voulez Vous was named the reserve world’s champion after her strong performance and Bruwer, Aloe and Molback headed out with the remaining ribbons in that order.
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