Stonecroft Verbena stepped up to the plate for a polished reserve ride with Rob Byers up for Golden Creek. She gave a grand performance to place ahead of Fianna, the multi-titled mare who put on a great show to win Shelbyville's junior stake just a few weeks earlier with Neil Visser in the saddle for Happy Valley Farm. Kalarama stablemate Callaway's Merry Go Round was fourth in the deep championship with Larry Hodge riding.
The junior exhibitor division was deep numbers and quality making a split necessary for the 11 and under riders with eight and nine entries in each class respectively. Shelby Reimer paved her way to the winner's circle after an aggressive ride on Town Fantasy. She was greeted by her ecstatic parents Brian and Susan Reimer. Heir Calendar Girl and Sydne Huntoon collected reserve for R.Kyle and Robin Saver. Marilyn Macfarlane was at the rail for this reserve.
Division two was equally impressive in numbers and the quality was outstanding. Allison Combs has enjoyed a successful season thus far with French Silk Stockings and she topped it all off with a world's champion victory pass for the Mercer Springs team. Stepping up to the competition and appearing content at reserve was the new Clover Leaf team of Aaron Stump aboard Undulata's Perfect Gift.
The 12 and 13-year-old class was not split. Doing her best to stand out in the 15-horse class, Caitlyn Spring and 2001 Junior Exhibitor 13 & Under World's Grand Champion CH Sergeant Royalty came out on top once again this year, with Jan Lukens again cheering in the background. Versatile Alexandra Flynn was up for a reserve ride aboard Quickview under the Delovely banner.
The 13 & under championship saw 14 entries giving it their all. Coming back from a third place ride in the 11 and under class, Colorado native Anisa Tracy really set out to prove her talent as a rider and captured the world's grand championship with the fancy CH Renowned SC. Trainer Jamie Bridgewater is responsible for the coming together of this up and coming combination. Another pair likely to remain in the scene was French Silk Stocking and Allison Combs who brought home reserve to Mercer Springs. Remaining ribbons were given to the following: Undulata's Perfect Gift and Aaron Stump, Callaway's Kiss and Tell and Kelsey Price, Town Fantasy and Shelby Reimer, Heart Of Blue and Brittany Kale, CH X's and O's and Allison Cherry, and CH Sergeant Royalty with Caitlyn Spring.
Cash Lovell had Sportster cranked up and ready to go for the 14 and 15-year-old riders. New owner Kate Bryan was ready for the victory and took it home to Dr. Hugh and Marion Bryan. Kayla Wooters aboard Jama Rose finished reserve in the 12-horse class for Kathryne Stief. The second place pair is coached by William Greenwell.
Eyes remained steady on Made You Look and Kerry Honkamp in the senior class as the judges tied this outstanding Knollwood Farm pair above the 17 other competitors. Following the world champions in this strong class was Simply Tasty with Dakota Willimon, who was riding this time for James Orr with the instruction of Larry Hodge. The remaining ribbons went to Fame's Preferential Treatment and Caroline Gillespie, Viola Madden and Abby Jones, New York Cheesecake ERB and Jessica Harrison, Tahiti Petey and Audrey Pade, CH K-Mon and Jamie Hitchin, and Titleist Imagination and Anne Skiba.
With two good qualifiers coming together for one championship, you can imagine the Three-Gaited Junior Exhibitor 14-17 Championship was intense. Fifteen gave the class a shot but Kayla Wooters was determined to make a come back with Jama Rose, and they did so, receiving two out of three first place votes. Sportster settled for reserve with Kate Bryan again up. Other top finishers were Made Ya Look and Kerry Honkamp, Fame's Preferential Treatment and Caroline Gillespie, CH K-Mon and Jamie Hitchin, Hollywood Scandal and Tate Bennett, Viola Madden and Abby Jones and New York Cheesecake ERB and Jessica Harrison.
The Three-Gaited 15.2 and Under Ladies' Amateur Stake was taken by the expressive Time's Mirrored ERB and Anne Marie Mielke. Lynda Freseth had this pair in prime condition for the victory pass after defeating 14 others in this deep class. It was another world champion pass for Anne and her mother, owner Barbara Mielke. Phillipa Sledge received a second place finish for the Pidgeon Roost banner with the many times champion CH Americana's Jazz Man. Jazz Man was part of the trio of walk-trot stars shown by Phillipa this week. Pagan Prince and Erin Sembler received third making the class extremely deep with title holder after title holder shooting for the top.
There was no doubt among the panel when in came to the over two ladies' amateur stake. An exciting combination of Tara Duff and Tamarack's Lightning Strikes pulled off a unanimous victory with the assistance of Nelson Green. Melody Adler and City Lady secured a solid second under the direction of Kalarama. Kelly Mount glowed has her name was announced as the third place finisher with her Harlem's Town Scandal.
Another unanimous decision was in store for Tamarack's Lightning Strikes and Tara Duff, who swept the tricolor in the 13-entry Three-Gaited Ladies' Amateur Championship Friday night. They have stayed at the top all season long. Time's Mirrored ERB stepped up to the competition for reserve with Anne Marie Mielke. This tough class left last year's ladies' amateur world's grand champion City Lady in third with Melody Adler.
L'Ambiance returned to the winner's circle again...and again it was Ryan Stodd to accept the blue with Heir Popper Tuesday night in the amateur gentlemen's class. It finished off a week which included two top finishes after only two goes. A previous winner of this class with both S.S. Lies and Alibis and Nightly Affair, Chris Nalley rode the Merchant Prince daughter [Nightly Affair] to reserve for Jean Nalley under the direction of John Biggins.
The Three-Gaited 15.2 and Under Amateur Stake featured 14 entries. Judy Werner's handsome bay stallion, Designed made a winning performance for the Delovely team. Another flashy bay, Callaway's Buttons and Bows put on a good show with Mary Gaylord McClean up for the reserve. Lexington's amateur grand champion Man On The Run received one first place vote, as did the first and second place entries, but ended up third with Brooke Bodenhorst up for the strong finish.
Marking the cards very consistently in the over 2 amateur stake, the first and second place entries were both tied unanimously. Making an unforgettable performance for a second year in a row, Yes It's True paved his was to the roses, however this year, rather than trainer Sam Stafford in the open division, owner Phillipa Sledge took on the challenge and succeeded. Pas de Deux flawlessly finished reserve with second place votes across the board. Frankie Trull was up with John Whalen and Bill Shiflet cheering her on.
The championship brought an even steeper challenge on for Phillipa Sledge as she was now up against stars of the amateur under two and gentlemen's classes as well as the previous competition set by Frankie Trull and others in the amateur over two qualifier. All of these riders were looking forward to the championship ride as the 1999, 2000, and 2001 Amateur World's Grand Champion CH Winter Day was being officially retired later in the evening.