Performance Classes Begin On Monday At Morgan Grand National
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Monday Coliseum
An array of performance classes, the first of the
week, started off the Monday morning session with lady
riders aboard classic pleasure geldings 15.1 and over.
It was mostly a collection of some of Morgandom's grand
veteran performers who are still providing great
enjoyment for their owner/riders. Associated with Rick
Lane for many years with countless victory passes,
Limerick Pepper Don topped the classic competition
with Carolyn Gibbard in the irons. Strike It Rich and
Sally Lawing were second, followed by Mallory Square
and Tammy Mucklestone in third.
For the past few years Kiss N Tell has dominated
junior exhibitor competition on the west coast as well
as the famed Oklahoma coliseum ring. This year the
Issues ‘N Answers daughter was the star of the Ladies
English Pleasure Mare division with Stacey Hennessy
riding for DreamMaster Morgan Farm. Reserve in the
good class belonged to Jane Doe MEM, a gifted mare
ridden by Melissa Cribley-Wahl for Maine Event
Morgans.
There was a nice collection of talent in the
Three-Year-Old Park Harness Mare and Gelding class in
which the top votes were spread around. Showing for
Terry Titus, Mike Carpenter presented the Liberation
First Star daughter, Stardavari, to make the victory
pass. Patchwork Simply Amazing, a beautiful black
daughter of Simply Maserati, picked up several fans
and a first place vote on her way to reserve honors
with Jim Taylor at the whip for Janet and Eugene
Siddle.
It looks as if the Ladies English Pleasure World
Championship is going to be a great showdown as the
ladies gelding class, the second ladies qualifier of
the morning, featured a top group of household names
which will be challenging the mares for the world
title later in the week.
Small but mighty, Silversides Toy Soldier prevailed
again for owner/rider Mary Fisher. The Krista Dent
trained team was just ahead of former Three-Year-Old
Pleasure Driving World Champion VVM Wrapped In Roses.
Jenny Taylor presented the Vegas Valley Morgan entry.
Next in line for a Grand National prize were hometown
stars Abendlied Aristocrat and Ronda Collins and they
were followed by Erin Thomas and Think About MEM.
The Classic Pleasure Driving Junior Exhibitor 14-17 competition featured a New Engalnd tricolor sweep as last year's world championship duo of Manhatten Design and Caitlin Harrison brought top honors back to the Broadmoor banner. The popular team of Hermitage Avatar and Steven Handy claimed the reserve award with a polished drive.
A bright group of Four-Year-Old English Pleasure
Mares displayed their talents next. Emerging with the
2004 title was Hillwood Irish Claddagh, an expressive
Irish Revelation daughter ridden by Debbie Lukas under
the direction of Jean DeGutis. Amateur riders claimed
the top two prizes as Cindy Vogels rode AMHF Double
Miss C to the red streamers while under the direction
of The River's Edge.
The east coast won the battle in the Ladies Classic
Pleasure Saddle Mare class. Multi-titled Rumor Has It
earned the rights for an OKC victory pass. Barbara
Irvine directed the winning performance with Elizabeth
Young Fina in the saddle. The Washington state team of
Goldencrest Aleksis and Inge Johnsen picked up the red
streamers for trainer Bill Grundmeyer.
Ben’s Rhapsody was the winning sire from the Grand
National Four-Year-Old English Pleasure
Stallion/Gelding competition. Knowing the family well,
Jim Lowry presented Kriskroft Choirboy to claim the
top honors for Donna Zimmerman. Connecticut Morgan
winner KGA Picasso was reserve for Mike Carpenter and
owner Maggie Hood. Both of these top two finishers
have shined under saddle and in harness this season.
A large group of contenders vied for the blue prize
in the session ending Ladies Classic Pleasure Gelding
Under 15.1 Hands class. When it was all said and done,
Anne Speck greeted Debra Hurst Walters and VVM
Litigator in the winner’s circle. Reserve honors went
home with Cristina Di Gioia and the heralded Rum Brook
Immortal Mystic. It was Di Gioia’s first time in the
Oklahoma show ring as directed by Arcuri Stables.
When action resumed for the afternoon session Steven
DeBolt and Pine Creek’s Noble Vision were the lone
contestants for the Three-Year-Old Park Harness
Stallion class with the other three-year-olds
apparently headed for the Futurity class later in the
week. This handsome Nobility son earned his second title of the early week for Michael and Mary Penn.
Numbers increased drastically when the gate opened
for the Hunter Pleasure Four-Year-Old Stallion/Gelding
class. Adding another Grand National title to her
storied career, Amanda DuPont rode Carreg Wen
Nocturnal Hawk down victory lane. Mary Carlton turned
in the reserve ride with Orrwoods Special Edition for new owner Timberland Morgans under the Keith Nelsen Stables banner.
Medomak Lady Of Fortune and Elaine Galatz were the
talk of the Ladies Pleasure Driving Mare class as all
three judges had them on top of the cards. Ann Anderson and Minion
Starlette were the best of the rest of the
challengers for Livingston Morgans.
It was becoming quite week already for the Forster
family of Redmond, Washington. Kimberly Forster and
Desiderata Tosca added to the family’s good fortune
with a victory pass in the 11 & Under Classic Pleasure
class. Lauren Little and Whistler’s Endeavor went home
with reserve grand national memories.
Beside the number 342 the judge’s card read 1-1-1 for
the Three-Year-Old Classic Pleasure Driving entries. It was KB Infinity And Beyond and Kathleen Mullaney who saw their names in lights as Jim McCleester directed them to the victory. Bruce Beckman and Thunder Beam earned the red
streamers.
There was an impressive lineup for the English
Pleasure 12 & 13 Year-Old Riders but none quite as
impressive as champion Cabot French Pepper. A former
World Champion English Pleasure performer, French
Pepper was piloted by Alyssa Wick to the victory pass for Richard
Cecchettini. Emily Orthwein and Bandelaro trotted up
to accept reserve honors.
Some of the park harness classes for young horses
weren't the largest but the two-year-old stallion
class came through with four nice entries. The best of
that group was a hook necked youngster named
SpiceOLife Present Tense. Diane Conrady was the
winning trainer/driver of the animated performer for David James Walker. The
reserve finish went to the promising Liberation First Star son, BKC Valiant Star with Mike Goebig at the whip for the debut performance for the Brewer-Killian Committee.
Seventeen entries strong, the Western Pleasure
Gelding Under 15.1h class had some of the biggest
names in Western riders. It was a group of veteran
trainers going for the title and in the end Mike Wahl
and Cedarfarm Lancelot reigned supreme for Judy Corbin. PTR Raz Ma
Taz was named the reserve champion with John McDonald
tall in the saddle for Erin Hittesdorf.
After being teamed with the legendary Hyland Acres
Command and winning a world title last year, Adriana
Liberty returned to the winner’s circle at Oklahoma
‘04. This time the David Rand trained Ultra’s
Proclaimation was her winning partner. The Howa/Arcuri
team is always hard to beat and in the 14-15 pleasure
class Zachary Howa and Minion Mademoiselle finished
as reserve champions.
It was a returning champion successfully defending her title for a new owner and trainer in the Roadster To Bike Mares. Here, the fleet of foot JW Romantic Ways introduced Frank Gibbard to the Oklahoma winner's circle under the direction of Cabot Morgans. AFF Narrow Margin and Peggy Alderman were in hot pursuit with the reserve finish for Claudius and Mary Ann Cole.
Rushton Stables claimed a unanimous decision in the
11 & Under English Pleasure class with Airegantlee and
Rachel Miller. The Arcuri Stables trained combination of Outrageous
Courageous and Stacia Klein also had a good go to take
reserve.
The Two-Year-Old Park Harness Mare & Gelding class
was one of those “Yeah Boy!” kind of classes as Kurt
Hufferd drove SpringMill Renaissance to the title.
Owned by SpringMill Morgans and sired by former Park
Saddle World Champion The Master’s Touch, SpringMill
Renaissance was the talk of the afternoon. They did
have good competition from a number of teams, the best
being reserve champions Century Oak Noblique and Judy
Whitney Harris performing for Bob and Muriel Herrick.
All of the junior exhibitor pleasure sections were
strong this afternoon. One of Oklahoma’s most popular
stars over the past decade, Merriehill Hooligan led
the way with Christin Ramsey aboard in the 16-17 age group. Having raised and
started the legendary Hooligan, Merriehill Farm was
reserve to the champion with Nicole Meyer riding
Futurity Chicago Whitesox.
Bringing the afternoon to a close, the Carriage
Driving Turnout Single was split. Junacres Tandy and
Anita Meinert were having a good week already, adding
section A of this class to their collection. Beta B
Provocative and Martha Wetmore had the reserve drive.
In the next round CJS Cinergi and Cindy
Fischer-Shepherd were on top with Bethesda Nickelodeon
and Sherri Lower in reserve.
Monday night’s schedule wasted little time in
cranking up the excitement level. Eleven high powered
entries vied for the Amateur Park Saddle Mare &
Gelding blue. Champions from the east coast, west
coast and many points in between gave it their best
shot and after a second trot the second way of the
ring, the defending world championship team of Hylee's Dann Right and Annie Morgan were crowned
the champions. It has been a tricolor season for the
Cape Cod team representing Bob and Jean Morgan. HVK Man Of Distinction and Kristin
Curreri made a strong show themselves in their Oklahoma debut to receive the
red prize among the seasoned contenders. Leaving the
friendly confines of the junior exhibitor ranks
behind, Lauren Cojocar and King Lehr’s Bob A Loo
enjoyed a solid third place finish.
Junior exhibitors had the coliseum to themselves in
prime time. The 12-13 classic pleasure riders followed
the outstanding park class and they kept the
competitive level right up there. It turned out to be
a family celebration as Tyler Hufferd rode Bery Banke
Toot Toot to the winner’s circle in a large and
competitive class.
“He actually listens to instructions. That’s not a
family trait,” said uncle/trainer Kurt Hufferd.
Tyler's dad John Hufferd agreed that he didn't know where
that gene came from. Emily Buchanan and her family had
a celebration as well following her reserve ride with
Irish O’Ryan.
The tack room curtain at Crystal Farms was already
getting full with blue ribbons and team Carlton added
yet another with Shaker’s Maribeles and Judy Fox
taking the Amateur Hunter Pleasure Mare title. Whitney
Singer Porter and Jax Noble Onyx were on their heels
in reserve.
Always a large and competitive class, the Ladies
Pleasure Driving Geldings did not disappoint.
Everywhere you looked someone was making an Oklahoma
caliber pass. In the end all three judges agreed that
Melissa Morrell and Can’t You See MEM represented the
specs of the class the best. They were Grand National
Champions for Phyllis Frechette. Also unanimous,
Stephanie Connor and Festival Calypso added a reserve
grand national title to their long list of credits.
Also strongly in the mix, Debra Hurst Walters and No
Doubt trotted away with a third place finish.
Sired by World Champion Born To Boogie and out of
Devan Melmore, Let’s Boogie was crowned the
Three-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Futurity World
Champion. Year in and year out Kathleen Peeples scores
Oklahoma titles in the Hunter division and this was
another one for Cynthia Brown-Clark. Reserve money
went to the Stonecroft Byzantine entry, Briar Oaks Pep
In My Step, ridden by Belle Hufferd for Morgans Of
Briar Oaks.
Con-sider Me Special was most entertaining as the
Four-Year-Old Classic Pleasure Driving Grand National
Champion. With a “look at me” expression, the aptly
named entry was driven to victory by Connie Votava
under the direction of Mike Slomkowski. Marilyn
Hackett and JW Enjoyabelle represented Cedar Creek as
the reserve champion.
A beautiful work of art, Grand Cru Beaujolais was the
Western Pleasure Stallion winner with Keith Nelsen in
the saddle for Debra Woolley Lee. Their closest
competition came in the form of Eitan Beth-Halachmy
and Charlestown Blue Moon in the stunning field of 11.
David Rand is as excited about each blue ribbon won by his
customers as if it were his very first. He was beaming
while running alongside Amy Gatewood and unanimous
Grand National Amateur Park Saddle Stallion Champion
PWF Good Will Hunting on the way to the winner's
circle. The crowd also showed its appreciation for the
athletic performance given by Key Biscayne and Lori
Skover for the reserve title.
It was standing room only at the rail to watch the
evening’s finale and what a good one it was. Speedster
after speedster kept coming through the gate for the
Roadster To Bike Stallion/Gelding class. And when the
dust had settled, Tim Roesink and Primary Investment
GP were called to the winner's circle for Kourt Jester
Morgans. In just two days this was already an
incredible week for the hard working young trainer
from Ohio.
“That took me by surprise,” said Roesink. “I thought
I had a good drive but I would look around and there
were some other horses making good shows too.”
Among those pushing the winners were reserve
champions Arboria Victorious with Lynn Peeples on the lines for Paul Calandra,
followed by Mary Cockriel and Oak Creek Doubletake in third.
Show Arena 6
Across the lane in Show Arena 6 the Versatile Morgan
Finals opened the day with Wintergreen Sultana and
Jill Countryman presenting the well-rounded champion.
Bruce Novak and Monogram Backfire commanded reserve
honors.
Fifteen of the nation’s finest from the Western
Pleasure Mare division came together on Monday
morning. It was a much different group from last
year's challengers and when the results were announced
Burkland Elegant Lady and Jordy Johns strolled to the
winner's circle for Dragonsmeade just ahead of Bold Eden and Joyce
Swanson in reserve for Katherine O'Meara.
A blue ribbon was hung on the Cedar Creek tack room
following work in the Grand National Amateur Hunter
Pleasure Stallion/Gelding 15.1 h and Over competition.
It was delivered via Sight Unseen and Jennifer Cooley.
Reserve among the 17 entries was the world class team
of Melissa Walker and GPM Genesis B, holders of
numerous world and grand national titles.
Hollie Luedtke and Evil Knievel represented the best
of the 11 & Under Western Pleasure class with a smooth
presentation. They were followed by reserve grand
national champions JL's Night Track and Kelsey Kay
Osborne directed by Cheryl Woosley.
From the Mark Mason Stables, Jennifer Lalone and CHC
Blue's Shining Star were at the top of the final card
in the Four-Year-Old Hunter Pleasure Mare class.
Valerie Siemer and TMB Wicked Smile made the long trip
from Florida worthwhile with a reserve finish for Lynn and Steve Burch.
Numbers continued to stay in the teens in most all of
the western and hunter classes this morning. Thirteen
was the magic number in the Western Pleasure Gelding
15.1 h & Over event. Moving to the open division, last
year's World Champion Amateur Western Pleasure Horse,
He's Simply Marvelous, looked just as sharp to make
the blue ribbon pass with Garn Walker in the saddle for Virginia Adams. A reserve grand national title
belonged to Leave It To B and Dale Rickford.
Amateur riders on hunters also came 13 strong. This
section was for stallion/geldings under 15.1h. There
was a big smile on Julie Rhen’s face as she heard the
name Denbury Irish Justice called out first. LR Ami
Sultan and Mallory Mignot followed the champions for Anne Mears.
If Hunter Seat Equitation was your bag the AMHA
Hunter Seat On The Flat Gold Medal Preliminary was the
place to be as 33 polished young riders attemped to
make the cut. Those that did survive included Lauren
Cook, Kati Anderson, Rachel Miller, Nicholetta
Burroughs, Kayla Suzanne Reser, Krystle Pennington,
Jullian Zick, Kali Erin Hutchinson, Lynzee Arnold,
Emily Rosini, Ashley Wright, Karlie Bagan, Caitlin Novotny, and Kara
Hose.
Show Arena 9
Heading into day two, Open Reining got ring 9 off
with a blast. Mark Wilcher rode another Heartquest
entry to a Grand National title. This one was
Heartquest Erin, an entry owned by Leroy Stockton.
Taking their second reserve in as many days,
Morganquest Native Sun and Sterling Slemp were next
for the Burris family.
From the afternoon session LMC Summit Rose and Jarvis
Anderson left the ring with the Grand National title
from the Four-Year-Old Snaffle Bit/Hackamore Reining
event. Rough Diamond Rock My Sock carried Phillip
Meredith to the reserve placing.
In the five-year-old competition for snaffle
bit/hackamore reining Morganquest Native Sun and
Sterling Slemp captured the blue after having already
taken two reserves. Heartquest Erin and Mark Wilcher
had to settle for reserve this time out.
Also in Show Arena 9, Mt Echo Mr. Bowtie and Earl
McFall had the highest score among the Low Working
Hunter 1 entries. Susan Garmier and Wintergreen Don
Diego were the best of the rest of the 17 entries.
From William Woods University, Prairie Run Fools Gold
and Betsy Irvin represented the storied school with a
Grand National title in the Jumper 1 competition. LR
Amie Savior Faire was the reserve champion with Kate
Silberman.
Evening competition came to a close with nine entries
entertaining the reining enthusiasts while ridin’ and
slidin’ for the Reining Non-Pro World Championship.
Texas came out on top in this one with Sherry Rivers
and River Riders Rapture passing the tricolor test.
Reserve world champion honors were bestowed upon
Painters Pine Ridge and Travis Filipek.
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