UPHA/American Royal - Friday Matinee
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Straight Guy completed his great 2011 campaign with the Mo/Kan Country Pleasure Championship to open proceedings on Friday. Also a winner on Tuesday in the qualifier, The Straight Guy is teamed up with Lauren Greenwald for the William Woods crew. Sarah Track joined them in the winner’s circle for the second time this week. By For What It’s Worth, Straight Guy is out of a Phi Slama Jama mare. Rochele Cochrane matched her two reserve wins from 2010 with two more in 2011, piloting Santana’s Star Status to the Reserve Championship. At 16 years young, Star Status is by Sultan’s Santana and out of Reach For The Stars, by Penny’s Superior Stonewall.
It was a battle of the veteran team versus the newcomers in the 14-17 Show Pleasure National Championship. Maya Manilow and The Majestic held down the fort to win a National Championship for the third straight year. The Majestic loves Kemper Arena, where he is now five-for-six on his career, including his last five trips down that long chute. By Supreme Heir and out of Shady Bay Lady, The Majestic is a powerful chestnut gelding, with all sorts of hinge and curve to him. Maya puts him to work for the Skyline Stables team and Barbara Goodman Manilow. They were twice Reserve World’s Champions this year and twice World’s Champions the year prior. Fire It Up and Drew Taylor Hewitt made their first show together, as DT continued to assert herself as the top catch rider in the business. The talented young lady certainly delivers every time she goes through the gate, and she did not disappoint for the Lowry Stables crew and James Orr. A Reserve World’s Champion in the Adult division with Deborah Visser up, Fire It Up is owned and bred by Wrapped In Rainbows Farm. The five-year-old gelding is by their Capitol Fire and out of Annie Up. Just a note, Drew Taylor still has two junior exhibitor years left! Jessica Cloud and CH Tax Man wrapped up their first season in the older age bracket with a third-place prize for Jack Magill Stables.
Gypsies Tramps And Thieves continued his winning streak and completed an undefeated season with Shannon Garcia. The William Woods team has dominated the Mo/Kan events this week, winning once again here in the Mo/Kan Amateur Five-Gaited Stake. By Gypsy Santana, this bay gelding is out of The Divine Enchantment. Reserve twice in the Open Mo/Kan classes last year, Americana’s Standing Ovation was reserve twice this year as well with Kirk Osburg. Trained by Mike Roberts Stable, Standing Ovation is by Reedann’s Eclipse and out of a Sultan’s Americana daughter.
Showing for just the second time under saddle, Mr. Lucky Man looks to be the next in the line of great Road Pony Under Saddle winners to come out of Majestic Oaks. An entry of Joe and Patrice O’Brien, Mr. Lucky Man was captained once again by Cheyenne Mabey, one of the go-to catch riders for the Majestic Oaks folks. They made their debut with a win at Mid-America Mane Event. Lucky Man was the Amateur Road Pony 50”-and-Under Reserve World’s Champion with Toni Nastali and the 14-17 Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with Trey Watson at the lines. Today he captured the AHHS Road Pony Under Saddle national title. Hope Hatchitt earned the Reserve National Championship with Navigator. Mike Herron owns and trains this one out of his Adel, Iowa home base. This team is also in its first year showing under saddle.
Caroline Cherry has been a Reserve World’s Champion in her age group for the last four years. She captured a unanimous victory in the 13-and-Under Saddle Seat Equitation class today. Peter Fenton commented on the plethora of trainers and instructors attached to this one, as she took Steel’n A Dream to the winner’s circle. Scott Matton, trainer of the bay gelding, came to the ring, as did Caroline’s Kentucky-based instructor, Cindy Boel. Parents Jim and Helen Cherry also were in attendance to cheer Caroline on, making it four professional horsepeople behind her win today! Kaitlyn Creekmore made a great show with Something Is In The Heir to take reserve honors back to Hollow Haven. With a plethora of world titles to her credit, Kaitlyn has one more year remaining in the 13-and-Under division. She will be one to watch in the coming season.
Rusalka took top honors in the Mo/Kan Three-Gaited Stake, as Zach Duffy returned to the winner’s circle for the second year in a row. This time, however, he was the ground man, as Kirk Osburg made the tri-color round of honor aboard the chestnut son of Adriatic. Brenda Benner’s cheering section was loud in reserve, as she showed Majestic’s Starry Starry Night to the Reserve Championship. Long part of the Brenda Benner string, Starry Night is owned by Susan Courtney. She is by Simply Majestic and out of Anacacho’s Desdemona.
Nashville Cat and Rose Marie Wheeler have dominated the Junior Exhibitor Hackney Pleasure Driving division this year, going undefeated, culminating with their AHHS Hackney Pleasure Driving Medallion National Championship this afternoon. Yet another National Championship honor went back to Majestic Oaks, this one for owners Lisa McMackin and Charlotte Goodman. Lisa is of course a new proud grandma, as her daughter and one of the Majestic Oaks trainers is Holli Hayes. A year ago it was Shannon Ella making her junior exhibitor swan song to win this same class with Nashville Cat. Rose Marie drove to not only this national title but also two World’s Championships in 2011, sweeping the division. She had to beat her former pony to take the top spot as Seamair Dear Sir was the Reserve National Champion with cute-as-a-button Olivia Schumacher driving for the Kierson Farm cheering section. Rose Marie was Reserve World’s Champion of Champions with this longtime star in 2009. Olivia made her first drive with the Dun-Haven Awesome Creation product just this past July and has come a long way in these last few months under the direction of Mike and Jessie Richardson. Zach Meyer drove another veteran of the pleasure pony division, Pacifico’s Standing Ovation, to third for Brown-Anderson Farms and Hollow Haven.
The 14-15 Equitation class also had a unanimous winner. This one went to Abby Mutrux and Lemon Shake-Up WRF. Trained by DeLovely, Abby was the Pleasure Equitation Triple Crown winner just a year ago and took the NHS Good Hands National Championship just last month at Mid-America Mane Event. The Missouri-based rider has been Reserve World’s Champion in her age group the past two years. Jenna Winquist picked up the reserve prize in this deep field of nine, riding Tango Till Dawn under the Knollwood banner. Jenna also handles the riding duties aboard CH Freaky Links.
Three Point Shooter followed up his tri-color success of a year ago with even more this year, winning the huge Park Pleasure Championship with Andy Freseth once again riding for Thomas R. Brock Jr. By Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of CH Kalarama’s New Sensation, Three Point Shooter swished this one with all three first-place votes. He has won six of his seven classes on the year since winning the UPHA Park Pleasure Classic National Championship in 2010. Reese Richey also brought a junior horse in to take the reserve tri-color. The top two from the Junior class came back to take the Open Park Pleasure Championship. These reserve honors went to Park Avenue Diva, a Callaway’s Guy Park daughter owned by Patricia Dozier. She is out of Diva La France, by Supreme Heir. She was the ASR Four-Year-Old Park Pleasure Sweepstakes National Champion in Indianapolis. Third in this big class went to Marty McFly and Mark Utoft, with fourth award going to Jack Magill with Desert’s Supreme Dream.
In the 16-17 Equitation class, it was Taylor Newton taking her age group here for the second year in a row. Last year she was the 14-15 winner. Winning age groups is nothing new for Taylor. She was World’s Champion in her age group every year from 2005 to 2009! It was a battle of Champion Equitation horses in this one, as CH EQ A Sweet Sensation took Taylor to this win for Sugar Knoll Farm. In reserve was none other than CH CH EQ CF First Light Of Dawn with Caitlin Donohue. Whether you’ve known him at the barn as “Danny” or “Forbes,” you’ve known a true champion of the Saddlebred breed. He may be the only horse to carry both performance and equitation “CH” titles, and if he’s not the only one, he is part of an incredibly select group. Caitlin herself has been a star all year with Bourne Supremacy, taking the NHS Good Hands Reserve National Championship for Skyline Stables.
The AHHS Road Pony Medallion National Championships were loaded once again this year, with the 13-and-Under division showing first. Kirstie Buerkley has been in this class every year since 2007. She showed her fourth different pony in five years of competition, yet she has never finished lower than third! In 2007 and 2008 she took the National Championship with the great Dun-Haven Grandiose. In 2009 it was a Reserve National Championship for Kirstie and Surprize Surprize. After finishing top three a year ago with Regal’s Special Effort LF, Kirstie was back this year, still amazingly enough in the 13-and-under ranks! Today she was at the lines of Heartland Breaking News to win the national title for Kay Marschel. The two-time defending 13-and-Under World’s Champion of Champions CH Cappuccino finished with the Reserve National Championship honors. Ashley Creekmore drove this longtime favorite for her grandfather, Thomas R. Brock Jr., and the Hollow Haven banner. Andy Freseth headed them up in the line. This cute team took both their classes in Freedom Hall this season. Cappuccino is one of the grand ambassadors of the Hackney breed, teaming with young drivers and putting on quite a show but in a safe and secure fashion. Kirstie Buerkley’s last two partners in this class were third and fourth. Regal’s Special Effort LF was third for the second straight year, this time with Rose Marie Wheeler driving for SGF Winning Ways Farm. Surprize Surprize was fourth with Caroline Rainbolt Forbes at the lines for the Rainbow Princess Farms.
Three of the top four entries in the Five-Gaited Pleasure National Championship carry the “CH” prefix denoting them as champions of the Saddlebred breed. But it was the upstart, new to the division this season, that took the title of “National Champion.” Callaway’s Gabrielle has been coming along nicely this season under the direction of Dena Lopez. The Caramac daughter put it all together today with Jamie Wise Lanier to take the last lap with the tri-color in tow. Gabrielle is out of Callaway’s Angel’s Touch, by Sultan’s Collector’s Item. Debra Hoffman had her best ride yet with CH Mojo, getting trainer Ray Krussell all worked up on the rail as he called out instructions. By Santana’s Charm and out of Sadie’s Lady, Mojo looked right at home in the adult ranks after serving as a World’s Champion in the junior exhibitor division this year as well as the Junior Exhibitor Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. CH Quidditch swooped to grab the golden ribbon in third, with Janet Thompson serving as owner, rider, trainer and seeker. CH Callaway’s Ariel was fourth with Stacey Kipper up for Sondra Kipper.
Rachel Kufeldt made a great comeback ride aboard Strange Brew to take home the Mo/Kan Amateur Three-Gaited Stake. Trained by Bob Brison, Strange Brew was also the winner of this class in 2010. By Roseridge Heir, he is out of a Worthy Son mare. Cindy Harris moved up one spot with HS Daydreams Come True to take the Reserve Championship for trainer John Wallen. By Sir William Robert, Daydreams Come True is out of A Daydream Believer, making him a full brother to some of the top young stars in the business.
Mackenzie Hall finished off a dream season with CH With Bells On, winning the 13-and-Under Show Pleasure National Championship for Mill-Again Stables. Her cheering section went wild again, just as they did for her qualifier win on Wednesday and her 13-and-Under World’s Championship in Freedom Hall. Today, organist Stacy Beam got Christmas started way too early, playing “Jingle Bells” for the victory pass. Morgan Mulligan made the ride today for the Reserve National Championship. Owned by Michelle Mulligan, it was Gospel Song taking the reserve tri-color. By Sultan My Sultan and out of Rosa Parks, this Minnesota-based entry is trained by Marie Bouvet. CH Keeper Of The Stars and Grace McDonell finished in third, with Thunder Gone Wild and Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes fourth.
The AHHS Road Pony Medallion 14-17 National Championship would be high up on the list of the best pony classes of the week. It was absolutely loaded with top quality entries. Majestic Oaks completed their sweep of the AHHS Medallions today with the National Championship tri-color here, as Heartland Curtain Call took the last bow with Lindsay Jones driving under the direction of Rich and Maureen Campbell. The 14-17 Reserve World’s Champion, Curtain Call is by Heartland High Tech, an important pony in Majestic Oaks history and a former Hackney Pony World’s Grand Champion. Lindsay also won the award for Most-Neon Silks. Max Kaplan capped off what seems like a 20 year junior exhibitor career with the Reserve National Championship. The longtime pony driving star was at the lines of Late Nite’s Basic Impact. Mike Roberts headed them up, just as he did long ago with Max and Seamair Dear Sir, also a Reserve National Champion here today. Twice a winner in the 14-17 division at Louisville this year, Basic Impact has been a star for Max, giving him a great final campaign as a youth driver.
Scotty Brooks Bruggeworth completed an undefeated season with Viva Flamenca, defeating nine young lady riders in Phase II of the UPHA Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup Finals National Championship by a unanimous vote of the judges. Lexington Champion, World’s Champion of Champions, and now the National Champion, Scotty has been a source of great pride for the DeLovely team and parents Dr. Scott and Annika Bruggeworth. He made it 14 for 14 with his black mare in 2011. Hallie Ricci has followed in the footsteps of her walk-and-trot-winning big sister, and there are still more Ricci girls to come! Hallie today earned her biggest title to date, winning the Reserve National Championship. Teamed up with Callaway’s Coraleen, who also carried sister Joanna to many a blue ribbon ride. Jessie Richardson headed up the Kierson Farm-trained entry for her round of honor. Also in the Top 10 were Gwyneth Hamrah, Payton Walker, Harriet Townsend, Emily Vicari, Delaney Fitzgerald, Monet Harrison, Remi Adams, and Katie Palmer.
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