Louisville - Wednesday Evening
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Eighteen classes were on Wednesday evening’s schedule. First up were the lady riders with their over two three-gaited horses. There were 14 teams making the gate call but when the work was done it was My Hail Mary making her way to the winner’s circle for the fourth year in a row. Her trek began back in 2010 with Tre Lee in the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Mare class, then the ASR National Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Futurity win in the 2011. Current owner Annika Bruggeworth purchased her after her three-year-old year and watched her win the over two junior class with Todd Miles. This year Karin Folkers was aboard under the Arrowhead banner for the ladies over two win. Only a four-year-old, St. Nick EGF has burst onto the ladies and amateur scene with Jackie Manzo. They debuted with the ladies over two win at Rock Creek and then went on to make a pair of victory passes in the amateur division on the Red Mile. Tonight they captured the reserve title in this competitive class under the direction of Nelson Green. Always a top contender, Halem’s Showman was bright as he marched down the rail for Beata Flately Lilja. They were third. With a strong season thus far accumulating wins at Gasparilla, River Ridge and Madison, Brookhill’s Glam Slam and Elizabeth Ghareeb picked up the white ribbon.
Out of a field of 10, Moment Of Excellence and Larry Ella rose to the top in the Road Pony 50 Inches-and-Under qualifier. This marks the third year in a row the high-headed pony sped to the winner’s circle for owner Bent Tree Farm. To Be Or Not To Be picked up the reserve title with owner/trainer Debbie Foley at the whip. Rounding out the top three was Silver Oak’s Sirfistication and Patrice Watson O’Brien.
Threepeats continued to be the theme when the winner was called to the winner’s circle in the next class too. This time it was Wild Carrissima earning the distinction. Under the guidance of Bret Day, the talented gelding marched down victory lane for the third year in a row for Robert L. Pugh LLC. In only his third career performance, Nutcracker’s Nirvana has already built his fan base. The handsome, black stallion captured the reserve title along with the crowd’s appreciation with James Stachowski at the whip for Shawn Stachowski. Lexington’s Grand Champion Cosmic Charm rounded out the top three in a very deep class with Merrill Murray on the lines for Grand Vin Stables LLC.
CH Swing An Singin and Catherine Wheeler came into Freedom Hall with an undefeated season to their credit. The talented mare who bounces off both ends with such animation has taken the 14-17 three-gaited division by storm with wins at Bonnie Blue, Devon and Lexington Junior League. Tonight they added a unanimous win to the list in the first section of the 14-17 three-gaited. Two DeLovely teams took the next two spots in the line up with CH HS Dignitary and Courtney McGinnis garnering the red streamers and Caroline Rainbolt-Forbes picking up the yellow ribbon aboard Watermark’s Kiss For Luck.
The ponies were next down the chute into Freedom Hall for the Open Hackney Pony qualifier. Having the winning performance was Heartland Globe-Trotter. This is the second entry for Sandra Surber to take home a World’s Champion title unanimously, last night it was CH Crystal Creek’s Commander. Maureen Campbell was at the whip tonight. Heartland High Tech repeated his title from last year earning the reserve world’s champion title with Ruth Gimpel presenting for Helen Rosburg. CH The Final Contender and Mindy Preston rounded out the top three for the Linda Lewis Estate.
Eighteen made the gate call for the Ladies Five-Gaited Gelding qualifier. Emerging victorious from the pack was He’s In Style and Kim Cowart. They won the class unanimously for Sharyn Stokes Lackey. This is the second year in a row that Cowart and Lackey have won the class. Last year it was with My Wonder. He’s In Style is no stranger to the winner’s circle in Freedom Hall as he won the ASR National Futurity Five-Gaited class with Tracy James in 2011. Fresh off a win in Harrodsburg, homebred New Yorker’s Special Gift captured the reserve title with Mary Jane Glasscock Kirkpatrick in the irons. Always a crowd pleaser, Iconium thrilled the crowed once again and caught the attention of the judges for the yellow ribbon with a beaming Vickie Byrd aboard. Roselane’s Town Mystery, Belle Reve’s So Photogenic, Worthy’s World To Know, CH Hollywood Material and BWF You Wish also qualified for the championship on Saturday night.
Since owner/exhibitor Karly Morgan was moving into Wake Forest this week, trainer Smith Lilly took over the reins with Kentucky Proud. Together they made Morgan proud as she watched the live feed in Winston-Salem. They took on the field of six in the Open Three-Gaited Over 15.2 qualifier and bested it unanimously. Coming into Freedom Hall with a recent win at Shelbyville, Battlefield and Peter Palmer claimed the reserve title for Carl T. Fischer, Jr. Robert Gardiner rounded out the top three with The Red Hot Kid for High Spirits Farm LLC.
Center ring took a time out from the performances to honor Rich Campbell with his induction into the American Hackney Horse Society Hall of Fame. He was joined in center ring by many of the Majestic Oaks clients and staff along with his wife Maureen.
Jacqueline Beck followed her incredible two-win Monday night with another win tonight this time in the first section of the Ladies Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under qualifiers. Beck was aboard Nuttin But Style who she has also teamed to wins at Asheville and Midwest. Nancy Leigh Fisher directed her beloved Heavenly Thunder to the reserve title while Undulata’s Susan McGee and Barbour Childress claimed the yellow ribbon.
From a field of 10, CH Mr. Center Stage and Mary Gaylord McClean triumphed in the second section. This is only the second performance for McClean aboard the elegant chestnut, her first was a win at Kentucky Spring Premier. After that Sarah Byers was back in the irons directing Mr. Center Stage to a pair of victory passes at both Rock Creek and Lexington Junior League while Mary recovered from an ankle injury. Byers also piloted Mr. Center Stage to this same Freedom Hall win in 2012. Cataclysmic and Jackie Ware already had one world’s champion title to their credit this week from the ladies amateur division. Tonight they added the reserve title from the ladies division. What may have made this title even more special was the crowd’s approval of their outstanding performance tonight. The trimmed in chrome She’s My Sugarland claimed the third place with Susan Olcott in the irons.
The paced changed up as the roadsters burst through the gate for the Open Roadster Under Saddle class. In the Carolinas, Dr. Brian Garrett is a force in the division having roadsters for both the open and amateur division. He carried that force to Louisville this week not only winning the amateur class earlier but now the open class with Show Me The Money. Another great Carolina team Iamnotacow and Rebekah Cloninger didn’t make it easy for Garrett as they showed speed and form for the reserve title. Beaucourt Boy and Jeff Lukens rounded out the top three.
The second half of what will make up the Fine Harness Grand Championship Saturday night came in next with five mares. Lisa Strickland has directed the Sir William Robert daughter Roselane’s Clemency to wins at Spring Warm Up, Des Moines and most recently the Illinois State Fair. Tonight she had the dark liver chestnut mare marching up to the check winning the class for Ready For The Limelight LLC. With her parade like trot My Gypsy Moon claimed the reserve title with Jared Ratzloff on the lines for Donna Beck. Last year’s winner The DaVinci Code rounded out the top three with Kathy Capsuto-Walker presenting.
Eleven mares were on the schedule for the second half of the ladies gaited division. Taking the spotlight among the nice group was Undulata’s High Society. Anne Neil was aboard the Undulata’s Nutcracker daughter for the win marking her third win in three years. The first came in the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Mare class and then the junior class all for owner PIdgeon Roost Farm. Just like CH Mr. Center Stage, Mary Gaylord McClean had not shown Lynn Williams since Kentucky Spring Premier when they won the ladies class. Rob Byers campaigned the CH Top Spool daughter to wins at Rock Creek and Lexington since then. Tonight with McClean the beautiful bay mare capture the reserve world’s champion title. Nancy Leigh Fisher had a tremendous ride aboard Catalyst’s Work Of Art for the yellow ribbon while Cary On Broadway MBA and Tammy DeVore picked up the white ribbon.
Charlotte and John Wrather purchased The Remington back in July from Toni Nastali who had directed the talented pony to wins at River Ridge, Devon and Midwest. Tonight John Wrather debuted behind the white faced, leg-waving Hackney for the Open Harness Pony win under the Majestic Oaks banner. Reserve honors went to Heartland Expectation who was fresh off the sweep at Lexington with Randy Harper on the lines for Tamra Arndt. Heartland Pursuit picked up the yellow ribbon with Ronnie Graham presenting for Helen Rosburg.
The second half of the 14-17 three-gaited class was a battle of epic proportions between Glenview’s Excelalante with Maya Manilow, Platinum Moon with Hunter Chancellor, The Mighty Mouse and Hannah Houske and newcomer Trust In Love and Chris Hawley, among others. Each brought in wins from great shows like Blue Ridge, Midwest, Shelbyville and J.D. Massey respectively. When the work was done the teams finished just in that exact order. With the addition of the first section it sets up a great championship for Friday night
The last qualifier setting up Saturday night’s big dance closed out the evening with nine trotting down the ramp into Freedom Hall for the Five-Gaited Gelding Stake. Last year Honey Badger had Freedom Hall on their feet in the Junior Five-Gaited Championship as Matt Shiflet piloted him to the championship title for Chris and Andrea Athanasuleas. Tonight was no exception as the bold moving chestnut took command of the ring pass after pass, gait after gait for the unanimous win. The only disappointment was as they made their way to the winner’s circle Honey Badger pulled a shoe but the crowd did not care as they cheered as Shiflet made the long walk down victory lane next to Honey Badger. Melinda Moore had a fantastic ride aboard CH Attache’s Crown Royal for Annika Bruggeworth. It had been 2009 since Moore had presented the white faced gelding for Bruggeworth when they were the Reserve World’s Grand Champions. Tonight it looked like they had never been apart as they worked the ring with ease. The toppy chestnut Our Favorite Memory with Merrill Murray picked up the yellow ribbon for Shirley Rinehart and Wendy Bruwer. Stewie Griffin, Wicked In A Winning Way, Lucky New Day, Madeira’s Taste Of Reality and CH Five O’Clock finished out the ribbons.
After the show, exhibitors had a chance to stop by Majestic Oaks to celebrate Rich Campbell’s induction into the AHHS Hall of Fame before they made their way to the Arabian Nights American Saddlebred Museum Fundraiser Party.
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