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Tradition Upheld Tuesday Night at The American Royal



Tuesday night has been the traditional home of the Missouri Breeders’ Challenge Weanling Stake, and that tradition was upheld once again here in 2014. Christjon Sannes Mielke had the top choice in the class with Luna’s Choice. Showing under the Fairview Farm banner, Luna’s Choice is owned by Laurie Fowler. By Racing Stripe, Luna’s Choice is out of Unanimous Choice, a daughter of Stonewall’s Monogram. Anthony Mead garnered the reserve prize with Sir Charming Knight, an entry of Jess and Marjorie Bain. By Sir Of York and out of Attache’s Fancy Ribbons, by Attache’s Royal Assets, Sir Charming Knight has made the tour of the futurities, winning at both the Iowa and Texas Futurities already this year.

It had been four years since CH It’s Good Karma showed in an under saddle class before the All American Horse Classic this year. The bay gelding with a mile-long neck has been a star of the Country Pleasure Driving division, winning the World’s Championship in 2011. Brittany Baird stepped aboard for a great ride tonight for owner Julie Greenbank, taking the last pass in Section One of the Adult Country Pleasure class. Chuck Herbert trains this son of Attache’s Thunderbolt and Kingwood’s Harlem Harlem. Getting a head start on Louisville qualifying for 2015, CH Perfect Vengeance made the division switch to claim the reserve prize with Tara Grom. The entry of Robert and Kim Grom has been teamed with Tara since 2008 and is one of Tara’s all-time favorites. She and “Ace” have won four World’s Championships together, including one just this year in their split of adult show pleasure. Leatherwood’s Zenergy and Betsy Thomas finished in third, followed by Pangaea and Nancy Kanive in fourth.

Just a four-year-old, Ginger Magnolia was tops in Section Two of Adult Country Pleasure. Carol Hillenbrand is undefeated with the daughter of Bobese and Ginger Blossom, a CF First Night Out mare. Trainer Steve Wheeler rode Ginger Magnolia to a Junior Park Pleasure World’s Championship this year, turning over the reins at All American Horse Classic for Carol to take now five straight victory passes. This newcomer to the division had to take on a strong challenge, as the reigning World’s Champion of Champions earned the red ribbon in second. CH Talkin’ To You has been part of the High Caliber string since 2009. Now teamed with Vickie Byrd, he has continued to be a star. The bright chestnut son of CH The Talk Of The Town and CH The New You has won eight times already on the season, with this being his sixth reserve win. Mimi Bahcall and Mighty Mouse picked up the yellow ribbon in third in this split, followed by We’re All Nuts and Erin Obenauf in fourth for World Calm LLC.

In a great group of five, CH Callaway’s Annabel Allison held tight to her throne, winning the Five-Gaited Mare Stake here for the fourth time in the last five years, skipping this show in 2011. The 2013 World’s Grand Champion returns most every year to the state she comes from taking three National Championships in this decade. By CH Caramac and out of Callaway’s Love Lucy, Annabel Allison was once again ridden by the only partner she has ever known, Debbie Foley, for Silver Brook Stables. The talk of Shelbyville back in August, Two Sweet To Kiss earned reserve honors here with Larry Hodge. An entry of Hillcroft Farm, Two Sweet To Kiss is by Callaway’s Northern Kiss and out of Two Sweet Bucks, by CH Buck Rogers. She has an extreme amount of athleticism that she is just beginning to learn how to harness.

The first Mo/Kan offering of the night was in the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure division. Lenore’s Tornado and Morgan Balentine were the top call in this one for Morgan and Melody Balentine. By Royal Return and out of a Supreme Heir mare, Lenore’s Tornado was the Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure Champion at other Missouri stops like Central States Benefit and Boone County Horse Show. Alice Rowland continued a good run with The Outlier, adding a reserve win to her two first place trips at Central States and St. Louis. The Ever Glades entry is trained by Missy Hughes Smith. By Simbara’s Living Legend, Outlier is out of the great World’s Grand Champion An Heir About Her.

Misdee Wrigley Miller made a great ride for the blue in a wonderfully deep and talented Amateur Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under class. She teamed up with Moonbeams and Dreams here for the win for owner Joan Hamilton. This was Misdee’s first show aboard the offspring of Attache’s Royal Assets and Callaway’s Truest Blue, by Callaway’s Blue Norther. Also with the Callaway Hills ties, Callaway’s Naughty And Nice earned the red ribbon with Ceil Wheeler riding for Kenny and Ceil Wheeler. Directed by Carriage Lane Farm, Naughty And Nice was the World’s Champion in this division in August, coming back in the championship to be crowned Amateur Reserve World’s Champion of Champions as well. Twice The Dice and Ashley Alden finished in third, while Dr. Merrell Magelli and Enchanted Kiss took the white ribbon in fourth.

What a wonderful debut it was for Ali DeGray with her new teammate, Twin Willow’s McDreamy. An entry of Helen Rich, McDreamy is trained by Majestic Oaks. This was Ali’s first time showing at the American Royal in the history of our Saddle Horse Report database, dating back to the 2002 show season. She made the most of it, with a high style performance as the Open Road Pony winner with the two-time defending World’s Grand Champion Road Pony. Sheri Lampropoulos was thrilled with her reserve prize at the lines of Regal’s Monarch LF. By Dun-Haven Regal Attraction and out of Knight’s Humdinger, Monarch is owned by Dr. Andrea Parkman. They have had a great season already, winning eight straight coming into tonight.

It was Fox Grape’s Sierra Madre receiving the nod in the Ladies Five-Gaited Mare class. Tiffany Wheeler was aboard for a winning ride tonight, just as she was two years ago here as the UPHA Five-Gaited Classic National Champion. An entry of Fox Grape Farms, Sierra Madre is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of their late, great gaited mare, Himalaya. Sierra Madre has been a Reserve World’s Champion the past two years in Freedom Hall. Debbie Foley returned with another nice mare, Stand Out Star, to claim reserve honors for Debbie Gabbert. This one is by He’s Born To Royalty and out of another grand gaited mare, Undulata’s Georgie Girl, a horse near and dear to Debbie Foley’s heart. Stand Out Star is just finishing out her five-year-old campaign.

Another division split here on opening night, the Mo/Kan Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class had two sections, with the Section One blue going to Preferred’s Gray Miracle. When you need a top catch ride in Missouri, Abby Mutrux is always a good one to go to. She turned in a great go for owner Truman Volkart. They also teamed up at the Calvary Episcopal Charity earlier this year for double wins. Cindy Harris is in her fifth year with HS Daydreams Come True. She was the reserve winner in this one with the son of Sir William Robert and the great Broodmare Hall of Famer, A Daydream Believer.

Janet Danuser made the winning ride in Section Two. She captained her own Sterling Price to the top honors under the direction of Kent Swalla. Sterling Price is by El-Dorado’s Stonewall Jackson and out of Absolute Obsession, by Attache’s Absolute. He and Janet have been together now for five seasons. Long a star of the show ring, CH Just Special was up for the red ribbon in reserve with Sarah Perry. Sarah rides as part of the Stephens College program, and what a great horse to be teamed up with. Just Special still has that show horse attitude that carried him to his world titles.

The American Royal has long been a special one for Tara Grom and CH With Style And Grace. It was here in 2008 that Bob and Kim Grom selected the mare after her UPHA Park Pleasure Classic National Championship. Beginning with their Amateur Three-Gaited National Championship in 2010, they have now won eight straight times here in Kemper Arena. Tonight they made the last pass in the Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited class for the DeLovely banner. The Ladies Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Champion this year, CH Real Action was the reserve winner in this one with Betsy Thomas. The 2011 Three-Gaited World’s Grand Champion has looked spectacular all year long for the Carriage Lane team, winning seven times on the year. World’s Champion of Champions in this division, Soquili’s Curious George finished third tonight with Kate Foy, while Hilheiry Duff and Mimi Bahcall were fourth.
Three times the Fine Harness World’s Grand Champion, CH Wild Carrissima was the Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding winner here for the fourth straight year. Driven to every one of those victories by Bret Day, the wildly talented bay son of Rare Perception and Mia Carrissima is owned by Dr. Chip Pugh. The flashy chestnut Cosmic Charm earned the red prize with Merrill Murray at the lines for Grand Vin Stables. By Powerful Charm LCC and out of Tornaado’s In A Hartbeat, Cosmic Charm was the Kentucky County Fair Fine Harness Grand Champion this year in Freedom Hall.

Samantha Baker took a fifth victory pass on the year at the American Royal complex, and her second straight year to take a Tuesday night round of honor here at the UPHA/American Royal National Championship. Winner and champion at the UPHA Chapter 5 Horse Show and the Central States Benefit Horse Show this year, Samantha and Hot Couture were the Mo/Kan Amateur/Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited winners tonight. Last year she took a winning trip aboard Talladega Red in a split of Mo/Kan Show Pleasure. It was another reserve win on the night for Stephens College, as Cara Wolf claimed that prize here with A Silver Charm. A Three-Gaited Pony World’s Champion just last year with Camille Cowart, Silver Charm is by Santana’s Charm and out of R.R. Silver Lady, the dam of World’s Grand Champion Sir Silver Knight.

The boys renewed their rivalry in the Amateur Roadster to Bike class, as the top three from last year’s National Championship were the three in the ring tonight. Charlie Jones won this class for the fifth time in his storied career with Mr. Bones. Trained by Jan Lukens, Mr. Bones was the Amateur Roadster to Bike World’s Champion of Champions this year, his fourth time to win that crown. Last year’s National Champion, Ring Of Fire was the reserve winner tonight with James Miller driving for Hillcroft Farm and the Kalarama banner. Always right at home at the lines, this is just the second season for James and Ring Of Fire to be teamed together. The beautiful bay was the 2012 USTA Roadster to Bike Classic World’s Champion with Luman Wadhams.

A great day for Debbie Foley continued in the Ladies Five-Gaited Gelding class, as she completed a sweep of this ladies division aboard Memories Of Heart. An entry of Hagan Saddlebreds Inc., Memories Of Heart was the Amateur Gentlemen’s Five-Gaited Reserve World’s Champion this year with Scott Hagan. By Desert’s Supreme Memories and out of Kalarama’s My Heart, he was the Amateur Five-Gaited Champion this year at Midwest Charity and JD Massey Classic. The Ladies Five-Gaited Gelding World’s Champion and the Five-Gaited Reserve World’s Grand Champion, CH Bravo Blue was the reserve winner in this one. Elisabeth Goth made the ride under the direction of Neil Visser. By Northern Blues and out of Amp Leigh, Bravo Blue was the 2012 Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion. The popular Iconium and Vickie Byrd were up for third, while You Can Kall Me Lucky and Sena Bowling were fourth for Saddlebred Rowe LLC. This division is now set up remarkably deep for the Friday night finale.
Maureen Campbell made her first show with the highly decorated Seamair Simply Awesome, winning the Open Hackney Pony class for Charlotte Wrather. This wonderful cross of Dun-Haven Truly Awesome and Heartland Simplicity has won 11 World’s Championships for the Wrathers, including two this year with Charlotte. They were named the Amateur Hackney Pony World’s Champion of Champions. The 2013 Reserve National Champion in this division and the 2010 UPHA Hackney Pony Classic National Champion, Heartland News Leader was reserve here with Connie Smith driving for Beth Jones. He is by Heartland Head Of The Class and out of Heartland Rhapsody In Blue, by Sky King.

Two trainers stepped into the irons in place of the usual jockeys to take the top two spots in the Open Three-Gaited Park qualifier. Bob Brison made the winning ride with Designed By You, returned to his former home of Fairview Farm with owner Kris Naros of Barrister Saddlebreds. Bob is now three for three on the year with the son of Doubletrees Classic Design and CH The New You, also the dam of World’s Champion of Champions Talkin’ To You. Bret Day took to the saddle in place of Lexie Flint tonight for Dr. Robert and Melissa Flint, finishing reserve with HS First Day. This was the first time on the season for Bret to show the son of Callaway’s Northern Kiss and A Daydream Believer (BHF). Lexie rode him to tricolors at both River Ridge and Blue Ridge already this year. My Mockingjay and Clark Clouse were up next in third for John Herbst, while Talk Is Money and Lionel Ferreira were fourth for Susan Swope.

Tammy DeVore took her first victory pass with Kalarama’s Ultimate Choice, winning the Will Shriver Five-Gaited Stallion Stake for Helen Rich. It was a great night for Helen, with two of her newest teams taking top honors. The Amateur Gentlemen’s Five-Gaited World’s Champion this year with David Rudder, Ultimate Choice is slated to be teamed with Ali DeGray over the winter. Winner of this class the last two years, It’s Double O Deuce was the reserve winner with Melissa Moore. The entry of SGF Winning Ways Farm debuted with Sherry Frankel at the All American Horse Classic this year, winning the Amateur Five-Gaited Championship there.

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