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Morgan Grand National – Wednesday, October 11



 

Wednesday, October 11

 

Coverage by Diana Davidson, Sadie Fowler, Bob Funkhouser and Christy Parsons

 

Coliseum

 

The Wednesday morning session began with another trip down victory lane for a Broadmoor-trained park entry. This time it was Mike Goebig directing Whitemud Dixie Danceking to the Park Saddle Three-Year-Old Mare and Gelding title for owner Rhoda Hoenmans. David Rand and the athletic Twin Peak Limitless earned reserve honors for owner Dr. Grace Steere.

 

Last year’s world titled amateur team of Priscilla Marconi and WSG Circumstn’l Evidence mixed it up with the pros this year as they made the familiar trip to the winner’s circle in the Pleasure Driving 15.1 Hands and Over prepared by Kurt Hufferd. Percy McDaniel and MEM Just My Style turned in a bold performance to claim reserve honors along with a first-place vote for Black Orchid Stable.

 

Jaisen Von Ballmoos ran to meet Treble’s Legal Tender and Loek Neimeth in the winner’s circle after a winning performance for Misty Meadows Farm in the English Pleasure Amateur Masters Under 15.1 Hands Class. Alicia Davis teamed up with her multi-titled homebred gelding Raindrop’s Chisum and earned reserve honors under the direction of Euchee Matthews.

 

Jenny Taylor has earned the respect of all horsemen with her confident riding style. She put the dazzling black Patchwork Simply Amazin in all the right places in the Park Saddle Ladies Mare class to earn the top honors for owner Donna Zimmerman. Anne Benson did a fine job aboard KD Hot To Trot to earn reserve honors for Heidi Kunkel in this outstanding six horse class.

 

Shannon Connor and French Flambeau turned in a fabulous ride as they bested a field of five talented entries to claim the unanimous victory in the English Pleasure Amateur Stallions. Terri Travers had a Change Of Heart for the reserve honors for Andy and Marilyn Wienkowski under the Taylor River banner.

 

A full class of eleven Pleasure Driving Under 15.1 Hands contenders vied for the judges’ attention. When the cards were tabulated, Stan Bodnar and What’s My Line earned the nod to make the victory pass for Epona Morgans LLC. Reserve honors went to the bold performing Dragonsmeade Carnegie Hall, shown by Tim Arcuri for Tom and Stephanie Connor.

 

A great schedule of Wednesday morning classes continued with a grand field of 17 entries answering the call in the English Pleasure Amateur Gelding qualifier. Teri Rumens was all smiles when her number was called to reward Baccarat’s Noble Cause with the victory for she and husband Kurt’s Fire Run Farm. Lisa Howa and Rampaige enjoyed a good ride to collect the reserve tie in the competitive class of top names from coast to coast.

 

John Green earned the next victory pass and the chance to tip his hat following a rousing round of applause from his fans. He guided the sporty Roadshow Steppin Out to the English Pleasure Amateur Maters 15.1 Hands and Over win for Windswept Place. Pat Dills and Marin Five-O-One enjoyed a confident ride to garner the reserve honors.

 

Next on the agenda was the competitive Classic Pleasure Driving Three-Year-Old World Futurity. Teri Brisco celebrated another impressive win for her breeding program as she drogve Tomeri Swingtime to the tricolor honors directed by Blackridge. William Filosi and Final Judgement had a fine drive as well to add the reserve world championship to a winning season under the Mike Carpenter banner.

 

The Broadmoor string of winning youngsters continued as Dwayne Knowles added the win in the English Pleasure Three-Year-Old Mare class aboard TTA Authentic Princess for owner/breeder Samuel Ebersol. Brian Stewart directed Lookaway’s Black Light and Kathleen Flower to the reserve title for Jim and Linda Stewart.

 

Sasha Klein came to Oklahoma with a decade of great memories and added another winning performance to the list on Wednesday morning. Here, she successfully defended the Park Harness Junior Exhibitor 16 & 17 class with FZM Encore guided by Lynn Peeples. Jessica Sebring and many time champion Comoshun’s Avante teamed up for the reserve honors coached by proud parents Harry and Carolyn Sebring.

 

Paradigm Hot Chocolate and Shelley Silber closed out the morning session in grand fashion with a unanimous victory. They bested a field of seven entries to earn the English Pleasure Amateur Mare title for the Kourt Jester Morgans under the Grove Pointe banner. Bob Neimeth and his Fury’s Fortune made a confident showing to pick up the reserve honors to round out the morning session.

 

The afternoon session kicked off with the Pleasure Driving Junior Exhibitor 16 & 17 competition. Tommy Brisco and Boston Dylan continued a winning season as they enjoyed a unanimous victory for proud parents Paul and Danica Brisco and the Blackridge team. The world titled team of Zachary Howa and Aristocraticallee added a strong reserve finish in the competitive class with Rick, Lisa and JR Howa cheering them on.

 

Fay and Jim Lowry have earned their share of world championships as trainers for their clients, but today’s world title won by their daughter Elizabeth Lowry and Cabot Carte Blanche might just be the most rewarding. They were there every step of the way as they greeted them in the winner’s circle for the Classic Pleasure Saddle Junior Exhibitor 13 & Under World Championship. Alexandra Mooney and Cedar Creek Tour De Force earned the reserve honors and a great round of applause from their fan club under the direction of Blackridge.

 

Lauren Griffin and Celebrity Marquee made a beautiful solo performance in the Park Harness Junior Exhibitor 15 & Under class to earn the victory pass for the second year in a row under the Bobbin Hollow banner.

 

Twelve exhibitors were up next to vie for the Walk-Trot Hunter Pleasure 9 & Under Finals title. Sara Heidenreich and Fairhaven Federal Xpress won their second tricolor of the day as they claimed the top honors under the direction of Mary Carlton. It was a tricolor sweep for the state of Michigan as Shelby Martin pleased her own fan club with another strong reserve tricolor performance aboard Aspenglow’s Evolution.

 

Ling Fu Wylie and Prada were designer all the way as they matched up to beat a field of nine entries in the Pleasure Driving Amateur Ladies Finals under the Blackridge banner. In addition to siring many champions of the week, The Last Don also matched up with owner Donna Zimmerman to turn in an outstanding show to claim reserve for the Kohler team.

 

The inaugural Classic Pleasure Saddle Masters World Championship featured Carolyn Gibbard and About Last Night’s names in lights. Tim Roesink prepared the perfectly matched team for their rose-adorned victory pass. Brenda Varney and her beautiful DCS Irresistable closed out their debut season as the reserve world champions to the delight of trainers Rick Stevens and Anne Benson.

 

Dwayne Knowles and Straight Up enjoyed a terrific solo drive to add the Pleasure Driving Two-Year-Old Gelding title to the Broadmoor banner.

 

A great field of 20 necessitated a split in the Walk-Trot Hunter Pleasure 10-11 Finals where each section was pinned. Sarah Harb and Sunny Acres Kaleidoscope enjoyed their second tricolor pass of the show as they topped the A section. Finishing in the same order as they did in equitation, reserve in this section went to Merriehill Rythem National and Ryenn Nicole Johns. The B section featured Miranda Hengy and Ha Ho Windstar besting the field with a flawless ride for Bre Shultz. Cailey White and Cabot Custom Order added a Grand National Reserve Championship to their tricolor season.

 

Small but mighty Ariana Varveris has won the 11 & Under Pleasure Driving Grand National title for two years in a row (2005 and 2006). This year she returned to the 13 & Under World Championship to be crowned the best of the best as she directed True Gold around the ring for the victory pass coached by Lark Henry. Austin McLallin and HVK Primary Light had an outstanding drive to add the reserve world championship to a great week for PlayMor Farm.

 

Jim Lowry and his string of top youngsters continued in Oklahoma. Kriskroft Keynote was his promising mount for the victory in the English Pleasure Three-Year-Old Stallion and Gelding class for Kriskroft Farm. Stan Bodnar directed TE Ammunition to the reserve finish to add to a great season for owner Bonnie Adams.

 

Becky Devos matched up with JP’s Livin On The Edge to carry the Pleasure Driving Junior Exhibitor 14 & 15 win back to the Liberty Stables banner. Katherine Alderman and AFF Leroy Brown turned in a bold drive for the red ribbon.

 

2004 Ladies Park Saddle World Champion Bellisimo and Judy Whitney Harris made a beautiful solo performance to claim the Park Saddle Ladies Gelding title. They added the victory pass to the harness title earned earlier in the show for Barbara and Arthur Jones.

 

Mark Mason and Graywood’s Boogie Boy added Oklahoma honors to their résumé with a victory in the Pleasure Driving Two-Year-Old Stallion class. He carried on the winning tradition for his sire Born To Boogie and dam UVM Columbine for owner Katrina Wood. Gerry Rushton directed another youngster with a tricolor pedigree GLB Leader Of The Band (Futurity French Command x GLB Bell Of The Ball) to the reserve finish for owner Lorraine Bumb.

 

The long afternoon continued with the presentation of the 2006 Hunter and Jumper World Champions. The Low Working Hunter High Point World Championship featured a tricolor ride for Wintergreen Don Diego and Susan Garmier with Statesmans Encore and Alison Fry in reserve. Melendy Cash Bonus and Kelsey Robinson cashed in on the Working Hunter High Point World Championship followed by Wintergreen Don Diego in reserve. The entertaining Jumper High Point World Championship saw Mineral’s Country Playboy and Julie Pickering leap for top honors with Rowenda Irish Mist in reserve.

 

The action resumed when eight entries hit the gate for the Classic Pleasure Driving Gentlemen’s Finals. The spirits were high indeed at Memory Lane Farm as Merriehill High Spirits and Tom Burick claimed the victory in the competitive class. Smith & Wesson and Bill Crawford were the toast of their fan club as they drove away with the reserve tricolor to add to a great week for Boston Morgan Farm.

 

The Four-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure World Championship featured a promising field of 14 athletic performers. Following her recent transition to the division, Graycliff Miss Liberty has garnered rave reviews that translated on this day to the unanimous world championship victory. Mary Carlton matched up with the Liberation first Star daughter to make the winning ride for breeder/owners Lynn and Jeff Yelton. JNP Simply Delorean and Jennifer Keuhn enjoyed their trip to Oklahoma as they put in a solid performance to claim Reserve World Championship honors for Morning View Stables.

 

The Pleasure Driving Two-Year-Old Mare class featured a bright and dynamic showing by KDS Kumite and Krista Dent. Co-owner Bo Lucas was on hand for a trip to the winner’s circle as they bested a field of seven entries to claim the Grand National title. Harold Angell and the charismatic VVM Dare to Dream claimed the reserve honors for the Vegas Valley Morgans breeding program to close out the afternoon.

 

Wednesday evening was a short performance with only seven classes slated. It started with the best of the best competing for the AMHA Saddle Seat Gold Medal. Following Monday afternoon’s preliminary rides, 12 multi-titled young riders were called back for the finals. All 12 of the riders performed on the rail as a group and then each returned individually to perform the intricate individual pattern. After the tabulations were made, all 12 riders returned to the ring with the final placings announced in reverse order. With the top ten ribbons awarded to Sarah Shimmer, Casey Morgan Tibolet, Brittany Schilling, Racel Keidan, Tommy Brisco, Holly Carlton, Alyssa Wick, and Brooke Yule, only two riders remained.

 

Number 821 Marlo Franco was announced as the AMHA Saddle Seat Gold Medal Reserve Champion with a polished and precise ride. Franco and her mount Liberation Knickerbocker were greeted in the winner’s circle by instructor Jean DeGutis. Remaining alone in the spotlight was the Gold Medal champion Ariana Corrigan. Corrigan and her beloved Festival Troubadour celebrated a picture-perfect performance as they again lit up the ring in championship fashion. Corrigan became the fifth student of Hall Of Fame instructor Anne Speck to earn this most prestigious title.

 

Penny Cochran was back in the saddle to entertain the crowd with a solo performance aboard HVK Tempest in the Roadster Under Saddle Amateur Finals. It was another tricolor performance for Cochran Auction Service.

 

Cheyenne Rumens added her name to the generations of world champions at Fire Run Farm with her Wednesday evening victory. She was all smiles when her number was called from a large field of Western Pleasure Junior Exhibitor 13 & Under teams for the world title aboard Temptation’s Answer. Inga Johnson and UMC Pomp and Circumstance had a big cheering section as they jogged away with the reserve honors for Arcola Farm directed by Lyle and Colleen Wick.

 

Eye Spy and Bob Neimeth have enjoyed a season filled with brilliant victories for Misty Meadows Farm. They added an Oklahoma victory pass to the list as they claimed the Park Harness Amateur Mare and Gelding win directed by Jaisen Von Ballmoos. Representing Dragonsmeade Farm in grand style, Iann Fu Longenecker and Dragonsmeade Fusion were a bold and determined in their efforts for the reserve honors.

 

A field 18 top performing teams filled the coliseum for the Amateur Hunter Pleasure World Championship. With a pair of qualifier victories under their belts, Julie Chan and En Excess NKS came into the championship round with visible confidence. It carried them through to earn the bragging rights as they claimed victory with the boisterous Garn Walker Stable cheering section in their corner. Martha Simpson and SpringMill Primary Color celebrated a sensational week of their own as they earned reserve honors in the world championship to the delight of trainer Kathleen Peeples and the Waterford team.

 

If the world championships are known as “The Big Dance”, no horse was more ready for the dance floor this week than Boogie Nights. The big little horse represented his championship heritage in grand fashion as the son of Born To Boogie and UVM Unity paraded down victory lane on Wednesday night with his second rose blanket of the week. Owner Dawn Fire perfectly presented her expressive gelding to claim the Classic Pleasure Saddle World Championship for the second year in a row for Peeper Ranch. Displaying the ultimate in type and versatility as well, Festival Rock N Roll earned his the reserve title in his first of two varied divisions. Caprice Soltice Zoumaras enjoyed the riding honors with George and Joan Arnold’s handsome stallion.

 

The evening ended with a wonderfully exciting Park Harness Amateur Stallion Grand National class. There were only four entries, but they included the 2004 Park Saddle World Champion, the 2005 Amateur Park Harness World Champion and the 2005 Amateur Park Harness Reserve World Champion. After a beautiful class, Stephanie Connor and El-Toro were rewarded with the unanimous top honors in the competitive class. This 2004 Park Saddle World Champion was magnificent in harness under the direction of Arcuri Stables. Reserve in the class went to last year’s reserve world champion CN The Commanding Touch and Brenda Varney. Third went to last year’s World Champion Evolution and Donna Zimmerman. What a class and what a way to end the session!

 

Show Arena 6

 

A dozen confident young riders headed to the ring in the Walk-Jog Western Seat Equitation 10-11 riders to start off the morning in ring 6. Ryenn Nicole Johns and Merriehill Rythem Nation added to their tricolor show as they carried top honors back to Peeper Ranch. to the victory in the western finals after earning the reserve title in the hunt seat equitation finals. Myriah Martin added to a great week in the show ring for her family as she guided Batton’s Maestro to the reserve tricolors under the Morgan Valley banner.

 

The younger set of riders showed off their skills, and Sara Heidenreich was delighted to defend her 2005 title from the Walk-Jog Western Seat 9 & Under Equitation Finals. She started off a winning day with unanimous victory aboard Fairhaven Federal Xpress under the Crystal Farms banner. Another top young competitor earned the reserve finish as Miller Young Fina rode Marin Royal Command under the direction of Barbara Irvine.

 

It was back to back victories for Crystal Farms as Kali Erin Hutchinson moved up to the eldest age group to claim victory in the Western Seat Equitation 16 & 17 class riding Hylee’s Fanflaire. Last year’s top team of  Ellen McQuade and Kane Creek Kryptonite carried the reserve honors back to Rolling Oaks Farm.

 

AMHA Western Seat Gold Medal winner Alyssa Rumsey added another victory Wednesday by winning the Western Seat Equitation 14 & 15 Grand National class riding Merriehill The Lion King. Karlie Bagan earned reserve honors aboard Kane Creek Conspiracy for instructor Carmen Hobson.

 

Lauren Little is no stranger to victory in Oklahoma. Last year she was the Western Seat Junior Equitation World Champion. This year she has started off with a unanimous win in the Western Seat Equitation 12 & 13 class aboard Evil Knievil. Cheyenne Rumens started off a memorable day with a solid performance aboard Temptation’s Answer to finish in reserve.

 

Ellery Walker added to a victorious morning for instructor Mary Carlton as she closed out the session with the Western Seat Equitation 11 & Under title with Fairchild Skyway. Emily Jones and Vigilmar Thomas matched up to claim reserve honors.

 

The afternoon session in Ring 6 featured the always-entertaining carriage double jeopardy classes. The Carriage Driving Double Jeopardy Single competition featured Juneacres Tandy cruising to the top spot for Anita Meinert. They were closely followed by The Chairman of the Board performing for Karen Holford.

 

The impressive pair of Cum Laude Juhl and Cum Laude Kapstreiter and Al Celecki, made a great presentation in the Carriage Driving Double Jeopardy Multiple class.

 

Ring 9

 

The schedule of working hunter and jumper classes came to a close in ring 9 on Wednesday. It was quite a day for Melendy Cash Bonus who claimed four of the six classes of the morning, both with Kelsey Robinson and with Fawn McDaniel. Kelsey Robinson, even though she is only 13, claimed the Hunter Seat Over Fences Equitation 17 & Under Finals title as well as the Working Hunter Junior Exhibitor Finals. Fawn McDaniel took her turn aboard Melendy Cash Bonus to win the Working Hunter II and Working Hunter Under Saddle titles. Congratulations to this winning team!

 

Reserve in the 17 & Under Over Fences Equitation class went to Kate Brightwell riding TRS Longfellow Saranade. Valerie Shurtleff rode Wintergreen Sultana to the reserve finish in the Working Hunter Junior Exhibitor Finals.

 

The Working Hunter Amateur Finals featured last year’s reserve champion, PKF Hollywood and Kayla Reser, claiming victory this year. Alison Fry and Statesman Encore earned the reserve Amateur Finals honors.

 

Reserve in the Working Hunter II was awarded to Susan Garmier and Wintergreen Don Diego who also earned the reserve title in the Working Hunter Under Saddle class.

 

Julie Pickering and Mineral’s Country Playboy continued to dominate the jumping competition. On this day they earned the Jumper III title, to add to the Jumper I and Jumper II titles they earned earlier this week. Sarah Zenisek and Rowenda Irish Mist finished in the reserve position in the Jumper III competition.

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