UPHA/American Royal - Thursday Afternoon
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday morning was once again the domain of the UPHA Senior Challenge Cup, as Phase I of this National Championship competition featured 17 entries.
It was a fifth win in a row for Callaway’s Cumulus and Susan Aschenbrenner as they drove to the blue in the Country Pleasure Driving class, the first event on Thursday’s matinee schedule. The class was sponsored by Bob and Nancy Anderson in honor of 2009 winner CH Callaway’s Pretty Penny. Amanda Simpson was the winning trainer of this double winner from Mid-America Mane Event and St. Louis. Amie Rowe drove the jet black star, Lady’s Great Night Out, to the red ribbon, directed by Wes and Sena Bowling. They were reserve in this class a year ago and returned to take the Reserve National Championship on Saturday.
In from Colorado, the 13-and-Under Country Pleasure winner was Undulata’s Paper Doll, with Brandi Parker riding for Lookout View Equestrian Ranch. Sired by The New York Times, Paper Doll is out of CH Sultan’s Flight. It was the seventh consecutive win for the blaze-faced chestnut, dating all the way back to Colorado Classic. Winner of the Adult qualifier here in 2009, CH Sir Winston C was the reserve winner in this one with Morgan Billig getting the catch ride for Nancy Ehle and the Kierson Farm team. Morgan put a great ride on the World’s Champion.
Making a solo performance, All Glory was the Roadster Under Saddle winner with Elizabeth Shatner up for Belle Reve. Peter Fenton let the crowd know about a very special program, as All Glory is going to be featured by the Breyer company as one of their model horses. Proceeds from the sales of this special model horse will benefit the veterans of our great country.
An interesting addition to the show lineup this year, Western Pleasure Owner to Ride was up next. Reserve in the Shatner Finals this year, Independent Asset was the unanimous winner in this class. Claudia Gardner Sipp was aboard as always for Stonewall Farm. Kenny Smith headed up their victory jog. It was the winner of the Shatner Finals finishing in reserve here, as America’s Lass left with the red ribbon. Suzanne Bradshaw was the owner/rider here.
As always, the Missouri-Kansas Three-Gaited Show Pleasure Championship was split into Adult and Junior Exhibitor sections, with the young riders coming to the ring first. With only three entries, it was Talladega Red heading to the winner’s circle once again with Sara Baker being greeted by Sonny Sutton. An entry of Ronald and Lori Baker, they were winners of the qualifier as well. Who Needs Mama moved up a spot with Lauren Fitzpatrick to earn reserve for Stephens College.
The Adult split of Mo/Kan Pleasure also featured a repeat winner, as Danielle Benson made a second trip down victory lane with My Paramour. Winner of the Adult qualifier, My Paramour is by Supreme Heir and out of a Penny’s Superior Stonewall mare. Designed To Shine kept the top two intact from the qualifying class, as it was Betts Coup carrying out the reserve ribbon once again. Obviously by Designed, this one is out of You Look Radiant, by Radiant Sultan.
An interesting class to have in the middle of the Thursday afternoon session, the Amateur Fine Harness horses were up next. It’s Dan The Man squared off once again today with the only horse that has ever beaten him. His lone loss was avenged today, as he and Anna Marie Knipp put on a display of park trotting precision for a unanimous win. Nicole Harrison was the winning trainer. She has done a masterful job with this son of It’s Hammertime, preparing him for Anna Marie Knipp. James the Man was reserve today, as James Miller drove Heir’s Treasure to the red ribbon for Hillcroft Farm and Kalarama. The reigning Amateur World’s Champion of Champions was reserve in this class a year ago as well. He has made incredibly impressive shows all season long.
The first split of Show Pleasure Driving went to another Dan, as CH Candle Dan was the winner with Jayne Romano at the lines. Two classes, two "Dans" and six first place votes, as this one was also a unanimous decision. The reigning National Champion was also a qualifier World’s Champion in Freedom Hall this past August. He looked every bit the part again today under the direction of Jan Lukens. Just a four-year-old, Roberta Belle earned reserve honors with Kathy Capsuto Walker driving. By Sir William Robert, this former Reserve World’s Champion is out of Kathy’s great harness mare, CH Dancing Up A Storm LCC, by Tornaado.
CH Perfect Vengeance held serve, as the reigning World’s Champion of Champions took on a top notch field of Amateur Park horses and came away with the blue ribbon. Tara Grom once again made the spectacular ride for Robert and Kim Grom and the DeLovely team. Her first pass into the ring got her number written down straight atop the cards, and she carried that momentum all the way down victory lane. Twice a winner in Freedom Hall this year, "Ace" and Tara have taken nine victory passes in 10 trips to the ring this year. No stranger to this winner’s circle or green shavings in general, CH His Supreme Reflection was reserve today. Jacqueline Manzo was again the rider for Kimberly Jones under the direction of Tom Sworm. The two-time defending Amateur Park National Champion, His Supreme Reflection was also the World’s Champion of Champions in the division in 2008 and 2009. Jason Gershman and Phillip Martinelli took top three honors for Maribelle Granger and Northern Tradition Farm, while Major Buck and Emily Abbott were fourth for Kathryne Stief.
Abby Mutrux was the catch rider of choice for The Petite Princess. Rainbow Princess Farms is the owner of record, while DeLovely serves as the winning trainer. A Reserve World’s Champion with Caroline Rainbolt Forbes this year, Petite Princess was the National Champion here in 2008 and 13-and-Under World’s Champion of Champions that year as well. The current 14-17 Country Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions, CH CF First Light Of Dawn, finished reserve today with Maya Manilow riding for Charles H. Goodman. The storied resume of this grand gelding in Freedom Hall has already drawn to a close, and one class remains in his Kemper Arena career. CH Teuschers and Rebecca Boorstein were a strong third for Equilateral Enterprise and the Lowry Stables banner, while Sir Andrew and Dakota Reiser finished up in fourth for Chris Reiser.
It was the boys that reigned supreme in the Junior Exhibitor Hackney Pleasure Driving class, with Zach Meyer taking top honors with the great Pacifico’s Standing Ovation for Brown-Anderson Farms. Zach was also at the lines for a World’s Championship drive in his Louisville qualifier. Carrying on the family tradition, Zach follows in the footsteps of his grandpa, Bob Anderson, who was many times a World’s Champion with this very same pony. Garrett Weiler was reserve in this class for the second year in a row with Honest Impression. He was also reserve at Louisville as the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions for Amy Weiler and trainer Mayo Moctezuma. The crowd always loves Garrett whether he is riding or driving.
Coming back from a third-place finish in their qualifier, Robert Stezovsky and Lilly Pulitzer were the Missouri-Kansas Park Champions. By Merchant Prince, Lilly Pulitzer is out of a Bi Mi Sultan’s Wine mare. Rachelle and Natalie Stezovsky both ran out to meet Robert in the winner’s circle for Kathy Vance. After Eight is consistent in his placings here finishing second in Kemper Arena for the fourth straight time. He was reserve in both Mo/Kan Park classes in 2009 with Stacey Myers. This time it was Lauren Greenwald up for William Woods University.
Kristen Cater told Dominique Bowlen to ride like it was the Super Bowl, and she took heed to those words, winning a unanimous victory with Powerful Tango in an absolutely loaded Three-Gaited Pony class. An entry of Alex Bowlen, this was a breakthrough performance for this team that is always in the money. They were on fire today, rocking back and strutting their stuff down the rail. And they had to be at the very top of their game to take on this class. Reserve honors went to CH The Attache Orchid and Hunter Chancellor. Owned by Steven Chancellor and trained by DeLovely, Attache Orchid was the 14-17 World’s Champion and the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions this year. The top team was strong as always, finishing reserve today. Third in the class was the reigning World’s Champion of Champions, Manhattan’s Irish Cream, with Dylan Hines riding for Yvonne and Rick Hines.
My Stiletto’s conversion to the driving ranks has been a great one, and that transition continued today with a blue ribbon drive in the second split of Pleasure Driving. Smith Lilly and Mat Lightner ran to the winner’s circle to meet driver Janet Sterba, who was driving for her daughter, Katy. Katy will soon wrap up her service in the Peace Corps in Senegal, Africa. Her overjoyed and excited mother took the trip down victory lane today in a well-filled split. Kenny Wheeler made the catch drive at Louisville for a Reserve World’s Championship. The reserve winner left the ring without a blue ribbon for the first time all year. This was World’s Champion of Champions CH A Cinderella Story. Karrie Graham drove to the red under the direction of Lowry Stables. Her first 12 trips to the ring ended up in victory passes. This was the fourth reigning World’s Champion of Champions to leave the ring without the blue ribbon in tow on this afternoon’s session.
Tyler DeVore hasn’t teamed up with CH The Champagne Lady since 2007. He hasn’t forgotten how to get the job done for owner/trainer/mom Tammy DeVore, as he won the final class of the day, Five-Gaited Pony. "You’re gonna have to ride!" yelled Tammy DeVore as Tyler came by the gate the first time. Tyler dug in and sent the former World’s Champion stroking down the rail for a blue ribbon performance. The Reserve World’s Champion of Champions, Mango Momma, was reserve with Foster Roberts up for Joe E. Johnson. The bay mare has teamed well all year long with the talented Mr. Roberts.
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