Monday Was A Grand Day From Start To Finish
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
A showery Monday morning in Oklahoma City ushered in a much-needed cool front along with a great day of competition from start to finish at the Morgan Grand National. The day began with two-time defending Park Harness World Grand Champion JW That Special Flaire lighting up the coliseum ring with a unanimous victory in the Four-Year-Old Park Stallions. A little over 12 hours later, the evening closed with SLB DaVinci topping the Park Harness Stallions for the third year in a row to set up a classic rematch for Friday night’s finale in the 2007 Park Harness World Championship.
There was a plethora of exciting performances in between with classes again filling the Coliseum as well as Show Arenas 6 and 9. There were several repeat victories for some of the breed’s winningest performers including; Festival Calypso, True Gold, HVK Ancient Cry, HVK Primary Light, Boogie Nights, and Gotti. The winner’s circle also greeted first-time Oklahoma winners whose excitement was clearly seen and felt.
The young horses showed great promise as they entertained the crowd with many Monday performances. A pair of world titles were contested for in the World Futurity for two and three-year-old pleasure driving. It was Miyake (Mizrahi x And The Dream Goes On) who captured the roses in the two-year-old field producing one of several victory passes for owner Copper Beech Morgans as well as for the entries trained by Broadmoor on Monday. The Dragonsmeade breeding program produced the three-year-old champion as Phil Fountain drove Dragonsmeade Infusion (HVK Bell Flaire x Cedar Creek Pirouette) to the roses. The sport horse disciplines also featured world championship competition in carriage driving and dressage following three days of intense competition. For complete Monday results, click here.
Seen at Grand National on Monday:
Kim Germ and Tony Lee celebrated simultaneous
victories in different show rings on Monday
under the Broadmoor banner.
JW That Special Flaire and Ken Swanson
started off the day on a high note
with a unanimous victory in the
Four-Year-Old Park Harness Stallions.
Dylan Spence enjoyed a memorable
Oklahoma debut as he rode
Cedar Creek Samurai to win the
Jr. Exhibitor Park Saddle 15 & Under.
Stonecroft Byzantine returned to the Oklahoma
winner’s circle in his debut with Cathy Hazen
in the Amateur Pleasure Driving Stallions.
Ann Marie Biron and Boogie Nights teamed up
for a unanimous victory pass in the
Classic Pleasure Saddle Stallions &
Geldings Under 15.1 Hands.
Miyake wore the roses in the World
Futurity Two-Year-Old Pleasure Driving
with Dwayne Knowles on the lines
for Ann Hailey’s Copper Beech.
Owner Cristina DiGioia greeted HVK Flash Back
and Natasha Rodley following their Grand National
Youth English Pleasure Championship victory
under the Arcuri Stables banner.
LCS Ice Princess and Pat Gesler
drove away with the World Champion
Carriage Pleasure Driving following
three days of top performances
in the large field.
Stephanie Connor enjoyed a great day on
the lines of her grand bay geldings earning
victory passes with Festival Calypso (pictured)
and Dragonsmeade Carnegie Hall.
|