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The Point Standings At the Midway Point



by Christy Howard Parsons

With the 101st World’s Championship Horse Show well underway and the lightest day of competition today, it seemed a very good time to stop and assess how the classes held so far had impacted the Highpoint Report. As the only triple point show for the American Saddlebred Highpoint Report, a top ribbon can secure a position within the point standings, or can propel a team forward by several points.

Let’s take a look at the action so far.

In the five-gaited division, very few of the highpoint leaders changed, because most of these leaders also fared well in early world’s championship competition. Lucrative remains on top in the Open Five-Gaited division but Lakeview’s Rare A Phi has certainly closed the gap by securing 24 additional points with a third place finish at Louisville. Intoxicating Conversation, She’s A Red Hot Chili Pepper and CCV Casey’s Final Countdown all broke into the top ten as well with their performances in Louisville.

CH Caramac’s Capital Gain made the biggest move in the division with a win at Louisville earning 30 points to move them from fourth place to first in the 14 and Under Five-Gaited division. Forty Second Street Gal also won at Louisville to gain 30 additional points and move from 5th to 3rd in the 14 and under category.

CH Fox De Jour splits her points between the senior and junior age group as she shows with much success in both age groups. Her points are split, but if they weren’t she would be at the top of the 14 and under riders.

Got The Ticket managed to hold on to the first place spot in the senior group of junior exhibitors, but Breaking News is closing the gap, moving from the third place spot to second with a win at Louisville. Other Louisville ribbon winners who managed to hold on to their highpoint lead were CH Sammyshine in the Five-Gaited Pony division (with a third place ribbon at Louisville), Great Day Rising in the Amateur Five-Gaited division (who earned a reserve world’s championship), and It’s All About Me in the Junior Five-Gaited division (who also won a world’s championship).

The Open Three-Gaited ranks saw 2003 World’s Grand Champion An Heir About Her make a move from 8th place to 3rd in the highpoint standings with her qualifying win at Louisville. Eighteen points behind the current leader The Border Star, An Heir About Her could claim the highpoint leading spot and a repeat World’s Grand Championship with a top performance on Saturday night.

Amber Lager moved up from second to the top spot in the Amateur Three-Gaited standings. CH The Super Nova also moved up from 3rd to 2nd with their Louisville win.

Callaway’s Buttons and Bows and CH Undulata’s Perfect Gift ERB both took top Louisville ribbons to move up and claim the top two spots in the 14 and under three-gaited division. Now only separated by one point, the competition is fierce at the top of the standings.

Other outstanding highpoint leaders in this division who managed to hold on to their top spots include Victoria Lynn in the junior three-gaited division (with a 2004 world’s championship), CH Blackberry Delight in the ladies three-gaited division (with a world’s championship, CH Lady Periana who is in the second spot in the ladies three-gaited division and pressing hard by also winning a world’s championship, and Highpoint’s Fantasia in the three-gaited pony division (with a reserve world’s championship).

CH A Step of Time stayed atop the amateur three-gaited park division with her win at Louisville, but second place Promise to Dance also picked up a world’s championship to keep pressing the points leader.

Waltz claimed an open three-gaited park title at Louisville and used the 30 points to move up from the second place in the highpoint standings to 1st. Nurse Goodbody managed to climb from 5th to 2nd with the 27 points she earned at Louisville.

The Great Gaspar claimed a world’s championship and stayed atop the field of junior fine harness contenders with a healthy 29 point margin. The next highest points are with You Move Me who moved from 6th place to 2nd after a reserve world’s championship.

Kool Tyme BH also held on to their top spot in the amateur/ladies fine harness category by winning a world’s championship.

The top two points leaders in the adult show pleasure division stayed there both earning reserve world’s championships. They are CH Sweet Virginia and My Grande.

Absolutely Exquisite used the 30 points earned with their world’s championship to move from fourth place to first in the junior exhibitor show pleasure division. The younger age group saw So Audacious and Future Treasure hold their positions by earning top ribbons in Louisville.

Not much changed in the five-gaited show pleasure ranks. Forever Aptor and CF Night So Rare held on to the top two spots in the adult division, both by earning third place ties at Louisville. Turn On The Heat and Berry Garcia also remained the top two points winners by earning good ribbons at the Kentucky State Fair. Harlem’s Babe Ruth also managed to continue to dominate the Show Pleasure Driving division with a fourth place ribbon at Louisville. Foxy’s Delight and CH Olympic Charm have each shown twice in Louisville to top ribbons and to now top the junior exhibitor show pleasure driving divisions. Foxy’s Delight climbed from 5th to 1st while Olympic Charm climbed from 8th to 2nd with their beautiful drives.

The leaders in the country pleasure division all held on to their top spots, CH The Shadow Knows by winning a world’s championship to remain atop the Adult Country Pleasure division; Spice Queen who won a reserve world’s championship to remain atop the junior exhibitor under saddle division; and Heirithmatic who still tops the country pleasure driving ranks after earning a reserve world’s championship.

Heartland High Tech won a world’s championship and used the 30 points to move from 2nd place to 1st in the open hackney pony division. Heartland Rain Song is closing the gap in the amateur/ladies hackney pony division with a world’s championship drive.

Heartland Parade Time remained at the top of the points standings with a world’s championship in the junior exhibitor hackney pleasure driving division.

Calvin Hobbs made a big move from 9th to 1st with a reserve world’s title in the roadster pony division. Heartland Sundust held on to the top spot in the amateur roadster pony division with a reserve world’s championship.

Dun Haven Grandiose managed to hold on to the most points by earning 12 points at Louisville, but Boot Scoot and Boogie is trying to close the gap with a fourth place finish at Louisville earning 21 points.

Bunker Buster used a reserve world’s championship and the resulting 27 points to jump up to the top of the highpoint report in the open roadster to bike division. Westgate Villain managed to hold onto first in the amateur roadster category by earning 18 points, but Dirt Devil and Gingerbread Man are both closing the gap with both earning world’s championship titles and 30 points each.

Ashland continues to dominate the Road Horse to Wagon category, earning 30 points and a world’s championship, to put them more than 60 points ahead of the nearest competitor.

Sarah Taylor held on to her top spot in the Saddle Seat Equitation division by winning a world’s title. Rachel Machamer also won a world’s title and further secured her strong lead in the 14 and under equitation category.

Christina Collis and Kelsey McDonald held their spots at one and two respectively in the walk and trot highpoint standings, both winning a world’s title.

The competition in Louisville is deep as always, and we all can’t wait to see what happens the rest of this weekend. But stay tuned to the Highpoint Report as well - it reflects an entire season of outstanding rides and drives!

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