Thursday Morning at the Royal
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Trainers, parents and riders were out early at Kemper Arena for the Senior UPHA Challenge Cup preliminaries. Later tonight the best of the best will come back to give their final performances for national honors. The UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup held its first phase and these talented riders will also return tonight for their final test.
For the sixth year in a row, CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny captured the Adult 39 and Over Country Pleasure Driving class with Nancy Anderson making the familiar drive down victory lane.
The ASHAF Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Driving Challenge Final found a new home in Kansas City this year. With seven horse and driver teams competing for the medal and championship honors, it was yet another familiar face gracing the winner’s circle. By unanimous decision, multi-titled CH Advantage Me and Aliyah Asch won the ASHAF title for the third time over the past six years, having also tied reserve twice during that same period.
Perfect Vengeance and Tara Grom were in perfect form to top the 15-entry Amateur Three-Gaited Park class. In the very next class, Grom returned to the winner’s circle to collect the Junior Exhibitor 15-17 Country Pleasure blue with Uwharrie’s Patriot Sage. It was a unanimous win in a class of twelve.
Three-Gaited Park was added to the Missouri-Kansas line-up this year for the first time, and after two well-filled classes, there’s just one name to claim top honors, the aptly named Certainly A Star. North Carolina native Chelsie Smith rode the William Woods entry to both blues in the Tuesday qualifier and today’s championship.
Certainly A Star and Chelsie Smith
The Show Pleasure Driving 39 and Over was such a deep class and full of quality that a workout was called. Of the original 14 entries, 10 were asked to return to the rail. When the second round of work was done, it was Nancy Lassiter and CH Callaway’s Head Over Heels who were invited to the winner’s circle. This winning team represented Milligan Stables.
Lonnie Quarles was pleased for
Nancy Lassiter and her big win.
Complete results from Thursday’s sessions can be found by clicking here. Stay tuned for more daily highlights on Saddle Horse Report Online.
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