UPHA/American Royal - Saturday Matinee
Monday, November 26, 2012
Maya Manilow kicked off the Saturday morning session by completing the sweep of the Five-Gaited Pleasure National Championships for the Manilow girls. She rode Just Heavenly for the Junior Exhibitor National Championship for Skyline Stables. Maya’s mom, Barbara, rode Most Outrageous to the adult title just yesterday. Also the winners of their qualifier, Maya and Just Heavenly have been great all season long. Just Heavenly is by CF First Night Out, a popular stallion for the Goodman/Manilow family. She is out of CH Reedann’s Phinery. Holding the placings from the qualifier, Count The Money was the Reserve National Champion with catch rider Abigail Mutrux. With one National Equitation Final left ahead of her in the afternoon, Abby added this top performance to a very long day indeed. Count The Money is owned by Jack Boos and trained by Lowry Stables. Just a four-year-old, he was ridden to a Junior Five-Gaited win at St. Louis by Jim Lowry. No Fear and Drew Taylor Hewitt finished third for Doris Crumpler and Silver Brook Stables, followed by CH Desert Supreme Kid and Maddie Morgan for Mercer Springs.
Chuck Herbert has a nice youngster in an intriguing cross, Amanyara. This beautiful filly has shown in a number of divisions this year, settling here in harness as a winner two classes in a row. The Three-Year-Old Fine Harness winner is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of a mare that has taken innumerable victory passes in this ring, CH-EQ Amandari. Edward W. Elliott Jr. owns this one, with Chuck Herbert driving. Third in the UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Championship on Thursday night, Tempt Me was reserve today, once again driven by Tiffany Wheeler for Sally McClure Jackson. Another chestnut filly, Tempt Me is by Dorian Wild Temper (SA) and out of Marty Jones, by Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man. Her second dam is Aisling’s Treasure, formerly teamed with Sally Jackson for a Reserve World’s Championship.
Long a contender in this division, Perfect Offering earned his first National Championship to go with world titles previously won. Mitchell Tunstall rode him to this Road Pony Under Saddle Championship for Gaeton Lorino and Majestic Oaks. They were Reserve National Champions last month at the AHHS Road Pony Under Saddle Medallion Finals. The 2010 National Champion in this division, Tachycardia is a little bundle of energy, romping to the Reserve Championship this time with Ariella Silber up for Kourt Jester Morgans and Cater Stables. A son of Romeo’s Prince LF, his first moment of fame came as the Four-Year-Old Road Pony World’s Champion in 2007.
Two horses have won the Country Pleasure Driving Championship here at the Royal since 2002. Both were bred by Missouri’s own Callaway Hills. The first was the timeless Callaway’s Pretty Penny, winner from 2002 to 2009 with Nancy Anderson. The other has now won three straight National Championships for Susan Aschenbrenner and trainer Amanda Simpson. This is the upright chestnut gelding, CH Callaway’s Cumulus. This remarkable team was beaten just once on their 2012 campaign, that coming in the Country Pleasure Driving World’s Championship. Otherwise, it was 18 for 18! CH Conway has come fully into his own in this new division, earning the Reserve National Championship with Mike Bletsoe at the lines for McDonald LLC and Lance Hayes Stables. They were twice winners at Wisconsin Futurity following their Reserve World’s Championship in their Louisville qualifier.
Qualifying to come right back here for the National Finals in 2013 were the UPHA 10-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup riders. Best of these today was a new face for 2012, Reagan Campbell. Showing The Mystery Machine in her first year out of Academy, Reagan has been right at the top all season long, including a World’s Championship in her split of the 10-Year-Old Walk-and-Trot class. Top 10 in the Finals yesterday, this was her tenth win of the year for trainers Bill and Lisa Waller. The World’s Champion of Champions from the 9-10 division, Cara DeForge was reserve here in this one. Also finishing her first year out of Academy, Cara also made the Top 10 yesterday. She won the always competitive NEHC Walk-and-Trot Finals last month and was reserve in her Louisville qualifier. A product of the Kierson Farm Riding Program, Cara is teamed with Rosewood’s Potpourri.
What an incredible career it has been for the 16-year-old wonder, Impress My Daddy. Also the sire of a winner this week, he was the Harness Pony National Champion today with Patrice Watson O’Brien at the lines for Joe and Patrice O’Brien and Majestic Oaks. Sired by the great Mr. Hawkeye, he is out of Albelarm Distinctive Lady, making him a full brother to World’s Grand Champion Nabucco. Backstage Pass earned the Reserve National Championship with Andy Freseth driving for Susan James. They were champions at Blue Ridge and twice winners at St. Louis.
A horse that makes all other horse trainers jealous is one of the all-time great kids’ horses, Callaway’s Winning Number. Now the teammate of Wil Rowland, Winning Number has that big eye and bright look about him that always turn heads. He puts his head in just the right place and never seems to take a step out of line. The 13-and-Under Country Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions from 2009 to 2011, Winning Number is by CH Callaway’s Born To Win. And he’s just 11 years old! Ally Offerdahl was reserve twice this week with The Devil You Say, an entry of David and Carly Offerdahl. This one is by Harlem’s Friendly Conversation and out of a Merchant Prince mare. This team was put together just midway through this season, with good results. They have been top three in every class they’ve shown in so far.
How about a salute to the cross of Undulata’s Nutcracker and Supreme Heir mares? They took the top two spots in the Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited class, with the winner being one of the highlights of the show. Let’s take it one farther and make it Nutcracker and walk-trot mares by Supreme Heir. First in this Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited class went to Nuttin’ But Style and Jacqueline Beck. This park trotting machine is out of CH Heir Style, a Three-Gaited Pony and Three-Gaited Show Pleasure World’s Champion in her day. Jacqueline rode for the Williams Family Trust and Visser Stables. Ridden to a Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Reserve World’s Championship by Neil Visser, Nuttin’ But Style is an excellent fit for Jacqueline. St. Nick EGF was the Reserve National Champion in the UPHA Three-Gaited Classic, finishing reserve here today as well with Scott Wendt riding for Ever Glades Farm. Also by Nutcracker, St. Nick is out of the great CH An Heir About Her. St. Nick was a winner here last year in Two-Year-Old Fine Harness with Doc Raun.
CH Sprinkles and Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes made their debut in the gaited pony division here this week, winning twice for Rainbow Princess Farms and DeLovely. The spotted mare just keeps rocking right along with Eleanor. This was the ring where they made their legendary performance to win the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited National Championship in 2010 in an absolutely loaded class of much older riders. CH Billy Jewel and Austin Hazelwood, twice winners at Lexington this year, were Reserve Champions for Clara McCool and Cater Stables. Billy Jewel has long been a star of this division, with his dark chestnut color and blonde mane and tail flowing as he flies down the rail.
It was a battle of the qualifier winners in the Show Pleasure Driving National Championship, with the defending champion taking top honors back to Lowry Stables. It was the reigning World’s Champion of Champions taking this tricolor prize, as CH A Cinderella Story and Karrie Graham were the top call for Karrie Graham and Dwaine Kinderknecht. What a team these two have made over the past four seasons, a testament to the training of Jim and Fay Lowry. This was their 36th victory pass together. Just two years removed from her UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Championship, CH Irresistible Design has become one of the most beautiful and highly competitive contenders in this division. Driven to the Reserve National Championship today by Elizabeth James Lipscomb, she is by Designed and out of I’m Irresistible Too, by Attache’s Born Believer. These two traded prizes at St. Louis, where Irresistible Design took the tricolor back to Hollow Haven. This team earned two Reserve World’s Championships this year in Freedom Hall. Third in what was a highly competitive division once again this year went to Gypsy Gentleman and Sarah Wise, a second in the top three for sire Gypsy Santana. Front Row Frankie and Debra Hurst were fourth for Martin Cockriel.
The 13-and-Under Country Pleasure Reserve National Champion a year ago, Star Sighting earned a National Championship today with Erin Rae Beever in the ASHA Junior Exhibitor Country Pleasure Driving Challenge Finals. It was back to back harness wins for the Lowry Stables team. Star Sighting is by Con Heir and out of Beat The Odds, by Attache. Such A Sport was reserve here with Delaney Fitzgerald driving for Thomas, Laurie and Delaney Fitzgerald. Trained by Jonnie Surland, Delaney was Top 10 in the Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup Finals yesterday.
Misty Marie is two for two with Sena Bowling, winning the Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited class today for Amie Rowe. Another top youngster by Desert’s Supreme Memories, she is out of a King Of Highpoint mare. Misty Marie was reserve at Lexington, after being selected by Amie earlier that month. Reserve World’s Champion in the ASR National Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Futurity, Beaucoup Of Blues earned reserve today for Robert Gardiner and Katherine Hansil. By CH Call Me Ringo, he is out of Make It Magic, dam of World’s Champion A Dream In Color.
Looking like a giant version of his younger self, William Nalty was the champion in the Three-Gaited Pony Stake with Another Hot Summer Night. Owned by Medarys Garcia, Another Hot Summer Night showed with William for the first time this week. This one has been showing as a walk-trot pony since 2006. Williams’s step-dad, James Nichols, pinned the tricolor on. Lynne Martin was the Reserve Champion aboard My Precious Gypsy. This daughter of Gypsy Santana is out of My Precious Tears, by Courageous Admiral. She is owned by Katie Bowen.
Even with a remarkably light for the division four entries, the 14-17 Country Pleasure National Championship had some big time players. The tricolor went to CH Highpoint’s Grandee and Vanessa Patch. Directed by John Whalen, this was their fourth championship win of the year, as they took the tricolor round of honor at J.D. Massey, Asheville, and Roanoke. The Reserve National Championship went to Hannah Houske and De La Hoya. Winners of their Louisville qualifier in what was a dream sequence of a week in Freedom Hall for the Lone Star Stables team, De La Hoya and Hannah were champions at Lexington earlier this year.
The third of six straight junior exhibitor classes on the schedule, the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Park tricolor went back to Skyline Stables, as Maya Manilow took her second victory pass of the day, this one with The Majestic. New division, same results in Kansas City, as this team won the 2010 and 2011 Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure National Championships. It is not a new division for The Majestic, however, as he was the 2006 Three-Gaited Park World’s Champion of Champions with Tom Thorpe. Hannah Houske got a short hold to make the quick change from Country Pleasure to Park, making a great show for a second consecutive Reserve National Championship win. She and Cloverleaf Master And Commander are new to this division, having debuted to a blue at NTASHA Fall Classic this fall. They were reserve twice this week, once again directed by Milo Jones and Koren Mercer. Master And Commander is by Zovoorbij Commander In Chief and out of a CH Man On The Town mare.
Following on the heels of Sallie Mason Wheeler’s two wins at ASHAV, Catherine Wheeler had her work cut out for her this week at the lines of Heartland Fire And Rain. She responded in a big way, driving the entry of Ceil and Kenny Wheeler to two wins, including this Junior Exhibitor Road Pony National Championship for Majestic Oaks. Fire And Rain is by Heartland Code Of Honor and out of Heartland Summer Romance. A 13-and-Under Road Pony World’s Champion now four years in a row, CH Cappuccino was the Reserve National Champion with Ashley Creekmore driving for Thomas R. Brock Jr. and Hollow Haven. They were also reserve earlier in the week in their AHHS 13-and-Under Road Pony Medallion class. This team earned a Reserve National Championship here a year ago as well to go with their three Louisville victories together.
Started in Academy this year? Eh, why not canter at the Royal? It doesn’t hurt when you just won the UPHA 10-and-Under Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup National Championship the day before. With still a year left in 10-and-under, Ainsley Budzinski is taking her talents to the cantering ranks, winning her debut in 10-and-Under Equitation with Oh What A Feeling. “Little Bud” rides for Knollwood Farm.
The stage was set for the final event of the afternoon session, the place of honor held by the USEF Saddle Seat Medal National Finals. With all the dignitaries and luminaries of the USEF in place to make the presentation, it came down to two girls seeking the final jewel of their respective Triple Crowns. Both Hunter Chancellor and Abigail Mutrux had won the NHS Good Hands National Championship and the UPHA Challenge Cup National Championship over the past two seasons. They now stood together with Mark Turner, Todd Miles and Lillian Shively to await the crowning of the National Champion. It would be Hunter’s day today, and really her year, as she went undefeated on the season in equitation, claiming this final jewel aboard CH-EQ Imagine My Surprise. She has truly been impeccable, finishing her 16-year-old season as Lexington’s Senior Equitation Champion, Louisville’s Senior Equitation Champion, the NHS Good Hands National Champion and the USEF Saddle Seat Medal National Champion. It has been the Hunter and Abby show all year long in the Saddle Seat Equitation division, with these two taking just about every top honor that is awarded. Abby was twice reserve in Freedom Hall, finishing out her year with a UPHA Challenge Cup National Championship and now this Reserve National Championship. She still has one year remaining in a remarkable junior exhibitor career. She has certainly come a long way since her walk-and-trot days when she was rewarded for good rides with cookie dough! Courtney McGinnis was third to complete the DeLovely trifecta, followed by Emily Chapman, closing out her junior exhibitor career with one of her best ever performances in fourth. Tayler Walters was fifth, followed by Allison Schuh, Macey Miles, Lexie Friedrich, Juliette Dell, and Kailin Baechle.
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