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UPHA American Royal – Tuesday Show Coverage



 

Tuesday Morning

 

As is tradition at the American Royal, Tuesday is devoted to the Missouri-Kansas classes. The morning started off with the fine harness stake for Missouri-Kansas owned horses. Chris Kaplan drove her Lady Vol out of the line up to accept the blue ribbon award. Harlem’s Proud Mary park trotted out of the ring with the reserve with owner Ann Curl on the lines.

 

The Missouri-Kansas Country Pleasure class had six nice entries. Betts Coup, from Mike Roberts Stables, earned the trip down victory lane on her Magikal Marissa. As Promised and Barbara Johnson took home the red ribbon.

 

The Open Hackney Pony class was next with four high stepping entries. Doc Sullivan made the final lap with Larry Bacon in the buggy for Art and Gaye Birtcher. Carol Hall was at the lines of her pony, Dun-Haven Radiant Spirit, for the reserve placing.

 

The Missouri-Kansas owned three-gaited horses took over next with four entries making the gate call. La Matrera wore the blue ribbon back to Hollett Farm and Stables with Mandy Martin in the saddle. Bravia, with co-owner Mark Hulse up, captured the reserve for Francis Montgomery.

 

Ten entries appeared in the ever-growing western country pleasure division. For the second year in a row, Autumn Hunt rode into the winner’s circle on her In Your Honor. Mapleridge Rare Event and owner Sue English jogged out of the nice class with the red ribbon.

 

The Missouri-Kansas horses took to the ring again in the five-gaited show pleasure section. William Woods University students claimed the top two spots. The Great Gazoo and Alex Willie-Irmiter were called out first for the blue prize. I Found My Champagne with Erin Kilray in the saddle carried the reserve back to Fulton, Mo.

 

Heartland Expectation rose up to all expectations as he and Karen Frickey topped the Harness Pony Open class. Nacho Mamma and Christy Weaver Gantley made a beautiful drive for the red ribbon.

         

Six open five-gaited horses stormed the gates for the Missouri-Kansas class. Stepping out from the line up to wear the blue was Reedann’s Steppin Out with Katie Coup in the saddle for the Mary White Trust. Reserve in the nice class went to Hillcroft Fringe Benefit and Robert Stezovsky for Kent and C.B. Eastman.

 

The three-gaited show pleasure horses with junior exhibitors entertained the crowd next in the Missouri-Kansas section. Show Me The Town showed everyone what he had to take the blue back to Mark Hulse Stables. Megan Hulse was aboard for the win. The red ribbon was awarded to Four Alarm and Lauren Woodruff for owner Mary Zion.

 

Beginning their bid for a national championship, the stallions took to the ring in the Will Shriver Open Five-Gaited Stallion class. Kalarama’s All Time High was announced as the winner after giving a crowd-pleasing performance. Merrill Murray was in the saddle for the Catron family.  The big moving Callaway’s Extra Extra claimed the reserve for owner Spencer Mains with trainer Melinda Moore in the irons.

 

The last class of the morning was devoted to the yearlings. Four entered for the American Saddle Horse Breeders of Missouri Yearling Sweepstakes. Mountjoy’s Vixen caught the judges’ eyes, and handler Joe T. Smith led the yearling into the winner’s circle. Mountjoy’s Vixen, owned by David Mountjoy, is by Fox Creek and out of Ultimate Premier. Picking up the reserve prize money was Winsdown Fifth Avenue. James Vantrease showed this yearling for owner Dede Disbrow.


Tuesday Evening

 

Tuesday night opened with the Missouri Breeders Challenge Weanling Stake offering a total purse of $38,000. The weanlings of this class must have been sired by stallions whose services sold at the Missouri Breeders Challenge Stallion Service Auction in 2004. Twelve babies entered the ring, and coming away with the $14,000 prize and a unanimous vote of the judges was I’m Connected with Mayo Moctezuma on the lead for Hickory Knoll Farm. This flashy colt is by The Last Don and out of Albelarm Impulse. Lucky For You picked up the reserve and prize money of $9,000 with Ellen LaMont presenting her colt.

 

Next in the ring was the Missouri-Kansas Amateur Three-Gaited class. The judges made the unanimous decision to send Callaway’s Halley’s Comet and Jessica Curl to the winner’s circle. Bob Brison directed this team to the blue.  She’s Poison and Cortney Lynch earned the red ribbon for Robert and Robin Lynch.

 

Five ponies charged into the ring for the open roadster class. It was reigning World’s Grand Champion Free Willy and Georgia Blevins who raced into the winner’s circle with another unanimous decision of the night.  Wait & See’s Rio Lobo with Gib Marcucci on the lines sped to a competitive second.

 

Some of the country’s best gaited mares trotted and racked on the green shavings with their lady riders up. For the fourth year in a row, CH Amusing was called out as the winner with a unanimous decision. Sarah Byers was up for Edna Dix. CH My Chanel and Dr. Owen Weaver made a grand show for the reserve ribbon.

 

The bugle call announced the arrival of the open three-gaited park horses. Twelve entered the ring but only one could leave with the blue. Lime Twisted Gin made the final pass with the blue ribbon and medallion. Clark Clouse was up for the winning ride for Jackie Stred. In a deep class of first-rate horses, four-year-old Supreme Reflection and Andy Freseth rode up for the reserve. Jeff Councilman’s Tax Man made a strong show for the third place with Lance Williamson in the saddle.  The beautiful dark chestnut The Woodsider and Jackie Tanner entertained the crowd to take home the white ribbon.

 

The Missouri-Kansas owned horses got to show off again in their three-gaited show pleasure division. CH Treasured Memories and owner Linda Roos made the winning show. In the reserve spot, Santana’s Restless Heart took the ribbon with Mandy Martin up for Stephens College.

 

Just one came in for the Fine Harness Mare class. Taking the blue ribbon back to Highland Park, Ill., was The Social Butterfly with Bret C. Day on the lines for Hy Horse Farm.

 

The lady riders returned to the show ring, but this time with their geldings. Called out first from the line up for the second year in a row was the popular choice of CH Callaway’s Born To Win with owner Gayle Lampe in the saddle.  CH Walterway’s Remember Me and Ceil Wheeler racked out of the ring with the red streamers.  Misdee Wrigley picked up the third place with CH Title Bound.

 

The Open Three-Gaited 15.2 and Over class entered the ring with seven topnotch horses. New York’s Perfect Gift and John Conatser carried home the blue ribbon and medallion for Betsy Thomas.  The reserve ribbon was picked up by Tre Lee on Boston Legal for Bell Reve Farm.

 

Thirteen teams entered for the Adult Three-Gaited Country Pleasure class. When the work was done, it was last year’s winner, CH The Shadow Knows, to ride back into the winner’s circle with owner Linda Meyer up. Barbara Goodman Manilow made a flawless ride on Top This for the reserve win. Cheryl Friedman Allison and CH The Billy Bob made a nice show for the yellow streamers.

 

The amateurs rode their 15.2 and under three-gaited horses onto the green shavings. Out of a class of world and national title holders, was CH An Heir About Her. Sarah Rowland rode her mare to the unanimous decision for the second year in a row. Gypsy’s Say When took home the reserve place to Carthage, Mo., with Andrea Nicole Perry in the irons.

 

The modest-sized Kemper Arena ring filled to the brim with ten go-for-broke open road horses. Making even the most veteran bystanders a little nervous, thankfully everyone was on their best behavior. Turning on the speed to come away with the unanimous blue ribbon was reigning World’s Grand Champion Big Red. Raymond Shively was in the bike to take the victory pass.  Larry Bacon guided the reserve place horse, Renegade. 

 

The final class of the night was devoted to the open gaited mares.  Six came in and the first to leave the line up was Pucker Up. Robert Gardiner was in the saddle for Jonelle Chovanec Gardiner. Lakeview’s Rare Lady earned the red ribbon with Merrill Murray in the saddle for Lakeview Farms. Melissa Moore and Twice Charmed racked out with the yellow ribbon.

 

 

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