UPHA American Royal – Saturday Show Coverage
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Saturday Morning
The young horses got the final morning session off to a terrific start. Eight three-year-old three-gaited horses park-trotted their way around the ring like seasoned campaigners. Heir By Design was made to wear the blue, and wear it he did in a debut show with owner Cindy Maloney in the saddle with Nelson Green coaching from the rail. Reserve went back to West Virginia with Matt Shiflet riding Kathy Bagdasarian’s Simbara’s Bountiful.
The national championship continued with the country pleasure driving division. Receiving the unanimous support of the judges and defending their past four national titles, CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny and Nancy Anderson made their way to the winner’s circle. Hometown Commander commanded attention as Kevin Ingram drove him to the reserve championship for Delton Farm.
One More Time made one more trip down victory lane as he and Anna Marie Knipp topped the Hackney Pony Pleasure Driving National Championship. Jimmy Miller directed this team to the winner’s circle after they also won the qualifier. Heartland King Of Kings and owner Joanne Weiner took the reserve honors back to California.
Another glimpse of the future came in the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited class. A group of eight came down the ramp. The gray Callaway’s Born For This was born for this class as she wore the blue ribbon with Nelson Green in the saddle. Stonecroft Farm owns this eye-catching entry. Robert Gardiner catch rode Mike Roberts’s entry, Mojo, to the reserve for Katie Coup. Debbie Foley took the third place prize on Callaway’s Karla.
Seven elegant entries rode in for the Western Country Pleasure National Championship. CH A Magic Surprise was chosen as the national champion with Jessica Moctezuma in the saddle for Pat Johnson after winning the junior exhibitor qualifier. Nealia McCracken trains this beautiful gray gelding. Defending their reserve title from the adult qualifier, Mapleridge Rare Event and Sue English returned to jog away with the reserve championship.
The junior exhibitors took over the ring for their three-gaited national championship. In unanimous fashion, CH Blackberry Delight defended his title for the third year in a row. Rachael Machamer piloted this champion with Lynda and Andy Freseth directing. Wee Pee’s Storm earned the right to wear the reserve tricolor with Julie DeVault in the saddle. The cute team of Scott Pisarik and CH Steel In Love put in a good show for the third place honors.
Dancing Up A Storm LCC did just that in the Show Pleasure Driving National Championship. Kathy Capsuto drove her horse to the honors after capturing the older age group qualifier. Julie Greenbaum Belgrad brought good karma in her drive with her horse It’s Good Karma as they claimed the reserve championship under the direction of Roman and Cayce Marcos. CH Callaway’s Head Over Heels and Nancy Lassiter made a good drive to earn the yellow ribbon in a nice class of horses.
Simbara’s Audacity had a comeback ride to capture the tricolor in the Three-Gaited Pony class. Ellie Headlee rode her pony for the victory. The winner of the qualifier, Tip Of The Hat, and Brittany Balagna returned to earn the reserve honors.
Fourteen junior exhibitors brought their country pleasure horses in for the national championship. Piano Man and Lori Jordan hit all the right notes to claim the championship. Chuck Herbert instructs this team who had also won their qualifier. Molly Kregor was all smiles as she rode The Petite Princess to the reserve championship, taking the red tricolor back to Premier Stables. Jessica Moctezuma made a quick change from western dress to Saddle Seat to pick up the third place ribbon on Tamale Wally for Nancy Rothe.
Heartland Alluring stepped up to the Junior Hackney Pony blue with Dr. Alan Raun on the lines for Deborah Jahn. Mike Dumas drove up for the red ribbon with Front Page News for Larry Schultz.
For the past four years, CH The Shadow Knows has carried three different riders to national championships. This year was no different as he took Linda Meyer down victory lane in the Adult Three-Gaited Country Pleasure National Championship. The unanimous tricolor went back to hang on Hollow Haven’s curtains. Barbara Goodman Manilow continued to stay in the top ribbons this week as she rode Top This to the reserve spot. Cheryl Friedman Allison picked up the yellow championship ribbon with CH The Billy Bob.
Only one came in for the Junior Road Pony class. Gib Marcucci was in the bike for Jane Mueller to drive Heartland Most Wanted to the blue.
The last young horse class of the day was the three-year-old fine harness division. Supreme Spotlight and Dena Lopez park-trotted to the blue for Kay Marschel. Heavenly Thunder and Joan Lurie carried the red out of the gate for Nancy Leigh Fisher.
The Amateur Three-Gaited Park Stake gave the crowd something to cheer for when fifteen entries came back to battle it out for the championship honors. Following up on a World’s Champion of Championship and a blue in the second section of the qualifier earlier this week, CH A Step Of Time and owner Luanne Kilday were given a unanimous support of the judging panel to return to the winner’s circle with Debbie Foley greeting them in center ring. Perfect Vengeance had a flawless ride to pick up the reserve tricolor with Kaitlyn Grom in the saddle. Third place went to the blue ribbon winner of the first section of the qualifier, Kalarama Co-Ed with owner Misdee Wrigley up. CH Lady Maya and Barbara Goodman Manilow captured the fourth place ribbon in a very deep class.
The junior exhibitors raced down the ramp and into the ring with their road ponies. It was a mother-son tag team, as Jeb Boyd captured the blue unanimously with Heartland Painted Creation. Debbie Foley trains this team for Jeb’s mother, owner Luanne Kilday. Kelsey Herbert catch-drove Heartland Carolee to the reserve for James Dellinger.
The final class was the Missouri-Kansas Five-Gaited Amateur/ Junior Exhibitor Championship. Qualifier winner, What’s The Whoopla, and Karen Coup returned to capture the tricolor. Heir’s Sugar ‘N Spice and Rachel Kufeldt took home the reserve honors for Carol and Gary Mandernach.
Saturday Evening
Announcer Peter Fenton opened the evening on a somber note. The passing of two remarkable horsemen, Tim Lydon and Edward Frickey, was announced and a moment was taken in memory of these two great men. It was also revealed that veteran ringmaster Vern Serex would be retiring after the close of the American Royal Horse Show.
To ready the crowd for the coming attractions of the evening, the champions and reserve champions from the Challenge Cups, Saddle Seat Equitation Championship and the USEF Medal finals returned to the ring for an honorary presentation. Each one made a trip around the ring to display their great accomplishments of the week and over their entire Saddle Seat Equitation careers.
The Fine Harness Championship only brought three back, but that was all it took to get the crowd excited. To the audience’s approval and unanimous vote of the judges World’s Grand Champion CH Callaway’s Copyright was crowned the national champion with John T. Jones on the lines for Fox Grape Farm. In Bold Print and Mike Barlow park-trotted up for the reserve championship. Simbara’s Sweet Lorraine and owner Kelly Mount were picture perfect for the third ribbon.
Six ladies rode their three-gaited horses for the national championship. All had numerous titles to their names, but after the horses were stripped and the cards turned in, it was four times in a row for CH Pas De Deux. Rosemarie Fernandez was up for the ride in her mare with Rob Byers greeting them in the saddle. Taking back the reserve honors for Christy Weaver Gantley were Strawberry Pie and trainer Danette Musselman. Michelle Hartman carried out the yellow in a very competitive class on Royal Sweet.
The leg pumping road ponies flew around the turns in their open national championship. Wait & See’s Rio Lobo with Gib Marcucci in the red and blue silks drove into the winner’s circle for Kevin and Cindy Ireland. Heartland In A Minute dug in and pulled away with the reserve championship with Jimmy Miller in the bike.
The Amateur Five-Gaited National Championship took to the ring next, much to the delight of the crowd. It was a unanimous decision of the judging panel and the crowd agreed as Swish racked into the winner’s circle with a proud Carol Hillenbrand on board. Trainer John Conatser met his team in center ring. Last year’s winner, CH Boo!, and owner Barbara Goodman Manilow earned the reserve in a hard fought class. Misdee Wrigley’s catchy bay horse, Lakeview’s Rare A Phi came up for the yellow ribbon, with Callaway’s Banner Headline and Janet Kellett rounding out the top four.
Six elegant fine harness horses entered the ring with their amateur drivers to see who would be named the national champion. The ladies winner, CH Kalarama’s New Sensation, claimed the tricolor with Mary Gise driving the honors back to Hollow Haven’s stalls. The bold, black Harlem’s Santa Fe won the qualifier and returned for the reserve championship with Susan Bartlett in the buggy. Margo Baird and CH Cary’s Moonraker made a poised team to garner the yellow streamers in a nice class of harness horses.
It was a unanimous decision to make it two in a row for CH Sammyshine. Cydni Simmons was up for the ride to take the honors back to DeVore Stables. The pony that thinks he’s a horse: King Crimson picked up the reserve with a catch ride from Whitney Bennett.
The Three-Gaited National Championship was called to the ring next with six quality entries. After the rail work, each horse was stripped and presented to the judges individually for further evaluation. The state of California dominated the class as all three of the top winners hailed from the Golden State. Judged as the best was Lace’s Last Tango with Jim Lowry in the irons for Tri Color Ventures. Boston Legal, winner on this class for the last two years, captured the reserve honors with Tre Lee up for Belle Reve Farm. CH Rejoice was as elegant as ever with William Field in the saddle for Dr. & Mrs. Donald Petit.
Some of the country’s top park horses entertained the crowd as they vied for the Three-Gaited Park Championship. Lime Twisted Gin defended his qualifier win and wore the tricolor out for Jackie Stred with Clark Clouse in the irons. Ya Ya rose above the rest to earn the reserve with Dena Lopez in the saddle for Elizabeth Shatner and Dorothy Anderson. Andy Freseth directed the third place winner with His Supreme Reflection for owners Robert and Marilyn Gaiswinkler.
The road horses always bring the audience to their feet. Big Red got everyone going, including the judges. Raymond Shively drove this speedy chestnut to the national championship and also earned the inaugural Don Lester Perpetual Trophy. Renegade and Larry Bacon raced away with the reserve honors. Eclipse slowed down just long enough to pick up the yellow championship ribbon with Stephen Deutsch in the bike.
A ring full of junior exhibitors came in with their five-gaited horses to try their hand for the national honors. Justin Cowley gave it all he had on Colonel Hoss and it paid off. Clark Clouse greeted them in the winner’s circle as they claimed the tricolor for Tri Color Saddlebreds and an appreciative audience. CH Callaway’s Independence Day earned the championship last year, and this year made a great show for the reserve streamers with Laura Skinner up. Brittany McGinnis earned the yellow ribbon on Carolina Cat, and Sunken Treasure with Lindsey Shields were right behind for the fourth place.
The evening was winding to an end, but the excitement kept building for the final class of the night. The Hackney ponies made an appearance for their national championship. In unanimous fashion, Dun Haven Radiant Spirit garnered the tricolor with owner Carol Hall on the lines. Gib Marcucci kept a watchful eye on his team. Jimmy Robertson was at the whip for the reserve championship with Lady Juliet for Iris James.
The highly anticipated Five-Gaited National Championship finally entered the ring with eight horse and rider teams. The crowd got behind their favorites, cheering as each horse made great pass after great pass. Tension rose and excitement built as call judge Lewis Eckard put them through their final gaits. Horses were stripped for conformation evaluation and brought individually into the spotlight. When riders mounted back up, all that was left to do was wait as numbers were called out in reserve order. It would be a memorable night for Melinda Moore as her back number was called out. She rode Hollett Farm and Stable’s Memorize to the tricolor where she also received the UPHA Tom Moore Perpetual Trophy. Tears came to Moore’s eyes as she was handed her father’s memorial trophy.
Jenny Taylor was thrilled with her ride on the gelding winner, Beringer Red, to capture the reserve national honors for Fred and Phyllis Rhue. The mare winner and popular team of Pucker Up and Robert Gardiner claimed the third place honors in the deep class for Jonelle Chovanec Gardiner. Melissa Moore congratulated her sister, Melinda, as she rode out with the fourth place ribbon on Twice Charmed for North Corporate Properties.
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