Skip to content

UPHA/American Royal - Thursday Evening



A total of six ponies competed in the opening event of the evening with $6,600 in prize money awarded. Chip Wise has a star in the new UPHA Hackney Pleasure Driving Classic National Champion, Charmed Masterpiece. By Truly A Masterpiece and out of Extremely Charmed, by The Extremist, Charmed Masterpiece won for the eighth time in nine trips to the ring in his young career. The only blemish on his record came at Louisville this year, where he was the Junior Hackney Pleasure Driving Reserve World’s Champion. Kelsey Herbert has a new pleasure pony to show, yet another great one in her long string of top ponies. Winner at Mid-America Mane Event, Heartland Macho Man was the Reserve National Champion here on Classic night. By Heartland Equality, Macho Man is out of Heartland Summer Serenade.

It was a $9,100 payday in a field of 21 as the UPHA Park Pleasure Classic National Championship once again lived up to its billing as the biggest and most competitive group on Thursday night. This time it was Callaway’s Cohort taking the biggest piece of the prize money, as Kimberly Hays was the thrilled winner for Tannehill Farms. Todd Graham joined the winning combination in the ring for the round of honor. By Callaway’s Blue Norther, Cohort is out of Smooth Talkin’, by CH The Talk Of The Town. The combination of Andy Freseth and CH Kalarama’s New Sensation almost made it two years in a row to win this class, as a year ago it was Three Point Shooter taking the top spot. Tonight, Andy settled for the Reserve National Championship with Nina Campbell. By Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man and out of New Sensation, Nina Campbell is owned by Hollow Haven Farm. Almost a solid chestnut, this mare has a great future ahead of her. Jim Stachowski had good crowd support in third with I Am The Storm. Owned by wife Shawn and daughter Ava Stachowski, I Am The Storm is by Sir William Robert and out of CH Dancing Up A Storm LCC. David Cater and I’m Impressive earned fourth for Pamela and Owen Binnie in this crowded field of stars.

Undefeated in his four-year-old campaign, Regal’s Auctioneer LF completed the flawless season with a National Championship in the UPHA Hackney Pony Classic to earn a $2,600 paycheck. Kent Swalla took over the lines after Louisville this year for Kent and Stacey Swalla, making the selection from their good friends at Majestic Oaks and Toni Nastali. Toni had just wrapped up the Four-Year-Old Hackney Pony World’s Championship in Freedom Hall with this son of Dun-Haven Regal Attraction out of a Mastercraft daughter. Majestic Oaks garnered the Reserve National Championship with Heartland Dixie Drummer. Juan Rios was at the lines. By Heartland Equality, Dixie Drummer is out of Heartland Joyful Song, by Sky King. The pony numbers are up slightly from a year ago, with six in this cobtail Classic.

Also completing a blemish-free show season, Costa Nostra was the jet-black National Champion in the UPHA Fine Harness Classic. Melinda Moore once again handled the drive for Fish n Fun Farms. Sired by The Harlem Renaissance, this absolutely beautiful colt is out of The Golden Bough, by The Irish Connection. The Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion hit the ring strong and kept right on going through his victory pass. Jim Stachowski earned a Reserve National Championship here with Born To Believe. Owned by Kimberly Jarvis, this incredibly high-headed and long-necked chestnut gelding is by He’s Born To Royalty. A Reserve World’s Champion in harness as a two-year-old, Born To Believe won the ASR Three-Year-Old Fine Harness Sweepstakes this season. Another of the Undulata’s Nutcracker x CH An Heir About Her crosses, Ever Glades’ Summer Heir was third with Missy Hughes Smith for Ever Glades Farm.

The Todd Graham team took their second National Championship of the night in the UPHA Three-Gaited Classic. Todd himself was aboard this time, riding Callaway’s Make It Easy On Yourself. This chestnut gelding’s name is so long that the class sheet lists his name as Callaway’s Make It Easy On You. That also makes sense, but it’s not complete! By Callaway’s Blue Norther this star is out of Simply Manila, a full sister to World’s Grand Champion walk-trot horse, CH Manila Thrilla. Todd Graham came up one spot short in this class a year ago, finishing reserve with Callaway’s Dancing In The Dark, now the mount of Emma Nichols. Emma also happens to be the owner of Make It Easy On Yourself. She is shaping up to have a very nice collection of young stock. Sired by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of the grand, black harness mare, CH Passion, Passionut was the Reserve National Champion for Steve Wheeler and Stockings N Stripes LLC, the same ownership team behind Break On Through and Laura Michelle Dozer Elliott. This was a third straight reserve win for Steve and Passionut in big money classes. They were Reserve World’s Champions in the ASR Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Futurity, reserve in the ASR Three-Year-Old Three-Gaited Sweepstakes, and now Reserve National Champions in this one. The horse that had topped them in the first two of those classes, MBA’s Revival Of The Blues, was third here tonight, debuting for new owner Annika Bruggeworth and trainer Brian Chappell. The World’s Champion and Sweepstakes winner also took a huge payday as the All American Three-Year-Old Cup Champion.

The UPHA Harness Pony Classic National Championship went back to Majestic Oaks with one of their best pals, Stan Bodnar, making the catch driver for owner and another good friend, Dr. Hank Clemmons. It’s been four wins in five trips to the ring this year for Heartland Thunderation. This bay gelding is by Heartland Equality and out of Heartland Valerie. This marks the first Classic win for Dr. Hank as an owner, and you would be hard pressed to find a better guy and a more excited winner. Beaten by one of his own, Darrel Kolkman was the Reserve National Champion with Heartland Passion. Four-Year-Old Harness Pony Reserve World’s Champion, Passion is by Heartland Code Of Honor and out of Heartland Rhapsody In Blue, producer of Heartland News Leader, the 2010 National Champion in this event.

Next up on this night of UPHA stars was the UPHA Senior Challenge Cup National Championship. It was a DeLovely sweep, as Hunter Chancellor and Alexandra Lawson took the top two spots. Hunter Chancellor and Chanti’s Prayer have been a force in this division, as Hunter has taken on the very best in the business in her 15-year-old campaign. Champion at Lexington, World’s Champion of Champions, and now UPHA Senior Challenge Cup National Champion, Hunter continues to add titles to her ever-growing resume. Reserve National Champion in both this class and the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals a year ago, Hunter has taken some of the biggest prizes in the game this year. Lillian Shively did a happy dance in the ring when Hunter’s number was called out atop the class, joining her longtime rider in the winner’s circle with Todd Miles. As Pete Fenton read Hunter’s UPHA Challenge Cup questionnaire, it was noted that Chanti’s Prayer reminds Hunter of her “awesome sister Ashley Wilson.” Alexandra Lawson also has an awesome sister, and she was certainly proud of Alexandra as she took Reserve National Championship honors. Saddle & Bridle’s Pleasure Equitation Medallion National Champion and the Pleasure Olympics 14-17 Gold Medal winner, Alexandra shows Imagine My Surprise for the DeLovely team. She will cap off her junior exhibitor career on Saturday in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals, having won the 17-Year-Old Equitation World’s Championship this year in Freedom Hall. Also in the Top 10 from DeLovely were Courtney McGinnis, Abby Mutrux, and Jessica Wuesthofen. They were joined by Caitlin Donohue, Taylor Newton, Emily Chapman, Allison Schuh, and Emily Mayer.

Juan Rios has done a lot of driving this week for the Majestic Oaks team, as Holli McDowell Hayes enjoys her brand new baby back home in Kentucky. This one has been his all year long, as Crystal Creek’s Foxnomenal completed a grand first season with the UPHA Road Pony Classic National Championship. The second Majestic Oaks Classic win of the night, this one went to owner Tom Fiedler. Juan and Foxnomenal have yet to be beaten on the year. By Dun-Haven Phenomenal, this one is out of Out Foxed ‘Em. The jet black Koal was reserve once again with Erik Kirsch. By Romeo LF and out of a Dun-Haven Regal Attraction mare, Koal and his owner/driver were also reserve twice at Louisville. This Reserve National Championship was well earned, as Koal looks to be one to watch as he grows up and gets another top-end gear.

Tracy James Rossouw rode both the UPHA Five-Gaited Classic National Champion and Reserve Champion. While yes, this is indeed impossible, Tracy was aboard He’s In Style just a few months ago on those other green shavings to win the ASR Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Futurity World’s Championship for DeLovely. Selected there by Ceil and Kenny Wheeler, He’s In Style made the move to Carriage Lane Farm, where John Conatser took over riding duties. He made a big show tonight to take the Deep Blue son to this National Championship win and a $6,680 payday. Out of She’s In Style, also the dam of The Cat Walk, He’s In Style is a big, bright chestnut gelding. Tracy James Rossouw took the reserve title and $5,000 with her Three-Year-Old Five-Gaited Mare Reserve World’s Champion, Princess Lindsey. By CH Heir To Champagne and out of Pocketful Of Magic, this filly is all sorts of punched up and fixy, never backing an ear. Bred and owned by James Orr and the Wrapped In Rainbows Farm, she now has two big reserve finishes in her young career. Debbie Foley’s entry in this one had Callaway Hills written all over her, but her name is First Madam President. A quick round of research, however, and it is revealed that she is in fact by CH Caramac. But if you really want to know who she looks like, it is her dam, the grand World’s Champion, Undulata’s Georgie Girl. Debbie Foley was the only one to ever show the great Georgie Girl, and she had this young filly looking the part in third tonight. Bob Brison showed I’m All Dressed Up to fourth for Redwing Farm. By Designed, this colt is out of the Reserve World’s Champion gaited pony, Ta Ra Ra Boom De A. 

More Stories

  • Letter To The Editor

    Dear Kentucky State Fair Board,

    My name is Melissa Moore; I am an American Saddlebred, Hackney and Roadster horse trainer. I am a second generation horse trainer whose family is deeply immersed in this equine industry and has been for over 75 years.  

    Read More
  • UPHA Office Moving

    UPHA is relocating to a new address. Kindly update your records with our new location. The postal address is P.O. Box 3728, Midway, KY 40347 and the physical address is 123 East Main St, Midway, KY 40347. Read More
  • From the Desk of Edward R. “Hoppy” Bennett

    Dear Members of The American Saddlebred Community, 

    As predicted, we have received pushback from various members of the Saddlebred industry, namely the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Association (ASHBA).  When we made our decision to replace the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) with Equine Sports Council (ESC), we were aware of and discussed this pushback and moved forward with the changes, knowingly.

    Read More
  • River Ridge Is USEF Lite Rated

    Barbara Dunham, manager of the River Ridge Charity Horse Show, announced that the show has been granted USEF Lite status for its April 24-27 event at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    In response to recent developments surrounding the World's Championship Horse Show (WCHS), the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is pleased to announce the launch of a dedicated webpage to serve as a news hub for its members. This webpage will provide timely updates and information as the situation evolves. Read More
  • Morgan Grand National Update On New Coliseum

    The Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show is one step closer to the beginning of a new era as progress on the new state-of-the-art coliseum in Oklahoma City continues on schedule. Read More
  • Update On Citrus Cup Regional - New Venue and Dates For 2024

    Join in for fun in the sun at Citrus Cup at its new location, the fabulous World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, on April 24-27, 2024. Fay Lowry will be judging all main ring classes. The new revised class schedule includes classes for Morgans, Saddlebreds, Hackney, Harness Pony, Open breed, carriage, ranch riding, and dressage divisions. Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    Many of you received an email today from David Beck, President and CEO of Kentucky Venues, that indicates a decision has already been made by the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) to change the governance of the World's Championship Horse Show from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).  Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) is extending the National and National Amateur Futurity weanling nomination deadline until May 1, 2024... Read More
  • ASHBA Special Release

    The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) has given the Kentucky State Fair Board (KSFB) notice to terminate its 1995 agreement with the KSFB to provide support to the World’s Championship Horse Show (WCHS). The termination notice was hand delivered to the KSFB on Friday, March 15. Read More