UPHA American Royal – Thursday Show Coverage
Friday, November 17, 2006
Thursday Morning
Only two came in to start the morning in the Country Pleasure Driving 38 Years and Under class. Hometown Commander returned to defend his 2005 title with a unanimous vote by the judges. Kevin Ingram drove for Delton Farms under Steve Old’s guidance. Autumn Hunt had In Due Time in fine form to carry out the reserve.
The junior exhibitors took to the ring next with their Missouri-Kansas owned five-gaited horses. The Cunningham captured the judges’ attention to earn the blue with Stephanie Lynch up. Allison Osburg jockeyed Callaway’s Bellwether around the turns to take the reserve.
The younger division of junior exhibitors displayed their three-gaited country pleasure horses in the 14 years and under section. Mollie Kregor rode her recently acquired The Petite Princess into the winner’s circle with Rob Byers meeting her in center ring. Surfin Safari surfed to the reserve with Rachel Machamer in the saddle for Horizon Saddlebreds.
Exchanging the bike for the saddle, the road horses raced around the ring with their jockeys. Riding out of the class of four, PTO and Lance Williamson sped into the winner’s circle for Melinda Moore. Racing out with the red ribbon was Eclipse and Carolyn Brock for owner Stephen Deutsch.
For the past four years, CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny has dominated the Country Pleasure Driving 39 Years and Over class. The shiny bay mare made it five in a row this morning as she and Nancy Anderson unanimously returned to the winner’s circle with Andy Freseth there to greet them. Reserve in the competitive class went to Callaway’s Better Than Ever and Corrine Stith. Milo Jones directs this team.
The elegant gray gelding, CH A Magic Surprise, made the victory pass in the Junior Exhibitor Western Pleasure with Jessica Moctezuma up for the unanimous decision. Trisha Pickering earned the red ribbon with Caldera for Martha Grimes.
Thirteen show pleasure horses marched in for the first championship of the week in the Missouri-Kansas section. CH Treasured Memories wore the first tricolor awarded with owner Linda Roos on board. Max Ciampoli directed this team to the winner’s circle. Chris Kaplan was thrilled with her reserve championship honors on CH A Step In Time. Taking the yellow tricolor back to Stephens College was Mandy Martin and Santana’s Restless Heart.
Seven world and national champions entered the ring for the Amateur Fine Harness class. The refined black mare, Harlem’s Santa Fe, wore the blue ribbon back to Cedarwood Farm’s tack room with Susan Bartlett on the lines. CH Cary’s Moonraker and owner Margo Baird were as elegant as ever to capture the reserve award with Pat McConnell heading the team. Simbara’s Sweet Lorraine rounded out the top awards to take the yellow ribbon with Kelly Mount in the buggy.
Only one came in for the Missouri-Kansas Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited class. Last year’s winner, Callaway’s Sunday Edit, returned to the winner’s circle, but this time with a different rider. Morgan Brison made the winning ride for parents/trainers Bob and Tonya Brison.
Making the trip all the way from Scottsdale, Ariz., It’s Good Karma topped the Show Pleasure Driving 38 Years and Under class. Owner Julie Greenbaum Belgrad was the driver under Roman Marcos’s direction. Very Presidential earned the reserve ribbon with Barbara Hendrickson on the lines for Larry V. Gilpin.
The Amateur Three-Gaited Park class had to be split with its growing popularity. Twelve quality entries came in for the first division and wearing the blue ribbon back to the barn was Kalarama Co-Ed. Larry Hodge met owner and rider Misdee Wrigley in the winner’s circle. Topping out a class of top notch horses were Desert’s Untouchable Memories and Lauren McMichael for CBA Partnership. The yellow ribbon went to Long Distance and owner Mimi Bahcall.
The second section also had twelve riders and their park horses. It was a tough call as all three of the top ribbon winners had also won their section in the park division at Louisville this year. CH A Step Of Time brought the blue back to Silverbrook Stables with owner Luanne Kilday on board. Kaitlyn Grom came all the way from New Jersey to capture the reserve on Perfect Vengeance. CH Lady Maya and Barbara Manilow picked up the yellow ribbon out of the quality-filled class.
Nine arrived for the call of the Junior Exhibitor 15-17 Country Pleasure class. Piano Man and Lori Jordan were right on to claim the blue ribbon and take it back to Cedarwood Farm. Following her sister’s lead from the previous class, Tara Grom captured the reserve on Uwharrie’s Patriot Sage from Revelation Farms.
The junior exhibitors brought in their pleasure driving Hackneys with five nice entries. Will Mayo was ecstatic when his number was the first to be called out. Mayo drove Motown to the winner’s circle with Mike and Kathy Barlow waiting to greet him. Heartland Equalizer and Beau Rash made a beautiful drive for the reserve award.
The Three-Gaited Pony class was next with three entries. Brittany Balagna tipped her hat to the judges when her number was called out as the winner. She directed Tip Of The Hat down victory lane to take the blue ribbon back to Center Pointe Stables. S.S. Catch My Act was in good form to pick up the red ribbon with Taylor Young in the saddle.
A large class of Show Pleasure Driving 39 Years and Over came through the gate next as the Thursday morning session wound to an end. Making the final pass was Kathy Capsuto driving her Dancing Up A Storm LCC. Nancy Lassiter was head over heels when her number was announced as the reserve winner out of this nice class. She guided Callaway’s Head Over Heels back to Milligan Stables with the red.
The five-gaited ponies took to the ring next with three entries. Repeating their 2005 win, CH Sammyshine and Cydni Simmons returned to the winner’s circle with trainer Tammy DeVore cheering them on. Revival Fire and Kelsey Herbert brought the reserve award back to her father Chuck Herbert’s Cedarwood Farm tack room.
Thursday Evening
As it has been for many years, Thursday night is set aside for the UPHA Classics. The write-up on these talented three-year-olds and their trainers will follow in a separate story.
But to complement the young horse classes, the historic Missouri-Kansas Tom Bass Memorial Five-Gaited Stake entered the ring. The crowd cheered for their favorites as each horse made a pass. When the cards were turned in, Katie Coup and Reedann’s Steppin Out were announced as the winners. Coup rode for the Mary White Trust of Wichita, Kansas. Brenda Benner was close on their heels for the reserve aboard Callaway’s Blue Blood. Teresa Freyer owns this bold-moving horse.
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