Lurie and Specht Take Top Awards in the Bluegrass Futurity Limited Breeder’s Class
Monday, October 13, 2003
The Kentucky Fall Classic was once again the venue for the second annual Bluegrass Futurity limited breeder’s weanling class held October 2, 2003, in Lexington, Ky., at the picturesque Kentucky Horse Park. Mother Nature smiled on all participating in this class as 22 top weanlings entered the ring to compete for approximately $80,000. The handlers presented their weanlings one at a time to the three-judge panel of Merrill Murray, Rob Byers and Edward Bennett. Upon initial judging, 10 weanlings were asked to remain in the ring for a second look.
Quality was plentiful as the weanling handlers and their entries vied for the top prize of over $33,000. After a second look at the top 10 weanlings, the judges made their decision and when it was over the team of Joan Lurie and Clyde and Sally Nolan captured this lucrative title for a second year in a row.
This year Lurie was the handler for Clyde and Sally Nolan’s weanling Miss Roxie Heart (Supreme Delivery x Severe Clever). Pam Specht was not to be out done; for the second year in a row she was the reserve champion handler, this year taking home the cash to owner Patricia Misko for her entry High Time’s Northern Son (Supremacy’s High Time x High Time’s Northern Fantasy). Third place went to the entry of Melinda Moore and Danny Bugg, Enchilada (Revival x Haute Tamale). Melissa Moore also took home the fourth place prize for Spencer Mains’ entry South Bound Suarez (Star Material x Fancy Woman).
October 3, 2003, marked the inaugural class for the Bluegrass Futurity Limited Breeder’s Yearling class. A limited yearling class is a new concept in the limited breeder’s program and judging by the small number of entries, it may take a few years for the owners to grasp the concept. To be eligible to show as a yearling, all nomination fees must be maintained as a weanling and yearling. All nominated yearlings are eligible for the two-year-old Fine Harness class by paying the two-year-old nomination fee by March 31 of the two-year-old year.
Even though the numbers were small, the quality was outstanding. Danette Musselman was the handler for the winning yearling My Jose Cuervo, who placed fourth as a weanling in the limited weanling class in 2002. My Jose Cuervo is owned by Alliance Stud (Rifles and Roses X Classiphied Edition). Tim O’Brien’s entry, Brookhill’s King of Kool (Harlem Town x It’s A Beautiful Day) placed second with Todd Walker as the handler. The 2002 fifth place weanling, Mother Mary (Revival X Mother Superior) was awarded third for Belle Reve Farm. David “Butch” Payne was the handler. Café Demitasse (Fascinating Rhythm SLS x Demitasse Fox) was the fourth place finisher for Linda Fischer Wheeler. Nelson Green was the handler. Café Demitasse placed third in the 2002 weanling class. A total of $15,000 was awarded in the inaugural Bluegrass Futurity Limited Yearling class.
For the second year, David Freedman of Freedman Harness handcrafted a weanling and yearling show bridle. Freedman plans to stay on board for the next four years adding another handcrafted piece of tack for the two-year-old fine harness class. The Bluegrass Futurity is honored to award these hand crafted pieces to the winners.
Bronze artist Cindy Wolf created a yearling bronze for the Limited Yearling class. The winners of each class will keep the bronze trophy for one year. Wolf’s Bluegrass Futurity bronze medallions were once again awarded to every participant in the Bluegrass Futurity classes. The Bluegrass Futurity would like to thank both of these talented individuals for their contribution to this exciting program.
Plans are underway for the 2004 Bluegrass Futurity Limited Breeders Stallion Auction. To nominate your stallion or for more information, please contact Melissa Moore.
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