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The UPHA/American Royal - Tuesday Daytime



Mo/Kan day started out bleary and gray, with little patches of snow visible around the Kansas City area. However, the Missouri and Kansas entries were on hand to heat things up in Kemper Arena, giving the first session of the UPHA/American Royal National Championship a respite from the cold. First up was the Missouri-Kansas Fine Harness Stake, a talented two-horse event won by I’m A Lucky Charm. Shown for the majority of the year by Zach Duffy in Park, Lucky Charm was back in harness with Mike Roberts at the lines, winning this class for the third year in a row for Middendorf Farms. Marjorie Bain guided Oceanfront Property to reserve for Jess and Marjorie Bain.

Abigail Mutrux kicked off what should be a busy week with a win in the Missouri-Kansas Saddle Seat Equitation class. A DeLovely student, Abby has won this class four consecutive years now. She was Pleasure Equitation Olympics Gold Medalist just last month and looks ready to take on the National Finals here in her final year in the 13-and-Under ranks. The reigning 12-Year-Old World’s Champion, Kailin Elizabeth Baechle earned reserve here. Trained by Fairfield South, this was also a repeat finish from last year.

Rochele Cochrane and her longtime partner, Santana’s Star Status, earned the final pass in the Missouri-Kansas Country Pleasure class. They were second here just a year ago. William Woods picked up reserve with Worthy’s Saint Patty with Aubri Kennamer aboard. By Worthy Son, Saint Patty is out of CH Lady Samantha, by The Mean Machine.

World’s Grand Champion in 2007 and Reserve World’s Grand Champion in 2008, Lord Ovation made a nice solo performance with Larry Bacon to earn the Hackney Pony blue for Brad and Barbara Bacon. By Nabucco, he is out of Sultan’s Silk Stockings.

In the Missouri-Kansas Three-Gaited ranks, Tru Calling topped a nice group, with Greg Haston riding for Lynn Brown. Reserve in the Amateur division last year, Tru Calling has consistently been in the top ribbons all year long. Reserve in Missouri-Kansas Park in 2008, Majestic’s Starry Starry Night was reserve again here, minus the mane. Brenda Benner was the rider once again for Susan J. Courtney LLC.

It was a dark horse candidate that came in from her usual Colorado haunts to take the blue against a field of the best in the Western Country Pleasure business here on Tuesday afternoon, as the dark bay Dark Fantasia took the top spot. Owned and bred by Michelle Beyer, the Unlisted daughter made a pleasure perfect show today. Teamed with Dave Lopez this year, Willie Angel is also a bay, a year older than Dark Fantasia. He earned reserve here today for Dave and Alyssa Lopez. This duo has teamed up for 13 blue ribbon rides so far in 2009.

A Missouri-Kansas winner three years in a row in three different divisions, Take A Guess earned the blue ribbon in Mo-Kan Five-Gaited Pleasure this year with Morgan Brison aboard for Bob and Tonya Brison. Last year, this team rode to the Mo-Kan Amateur blue and tri-color, while the year before that, Megan Nicole Harrison took the Tom Bass Memorial Mo-Kan Five-Gaited Stake. Betts Coup had the defending champion, CH Callaway’s Dealbreaker, looking good in second under the direction of Mike Roberts Stable. They were Champions at St. Louis in September.

The wins continue to pile up in a stellar campaign for Heartland Expectaion. Amateur World’s Champion of Champions with Mary Gise, it was Lynda Freseth at the lines today to win the Open Harness Pony class for Priscilla Gise. The unmistakably elegant pony was once again in her top form today. The Amateur Gentlemen’s Harness Pony Reserve World’s Champion, Seamair Sensation, was reserve here as well with John Wrather driving for Charlotte Wrather.

Kelly Hulse had Scott Pisarik’s gaited horse, El Matrero, in top form to take the blue in the Missouri-Kansas Open Five-Gaited class. Bred to be a gaited horse, he is by El Cortez, the spotted son of CH Chubasco and Five-Gaited World’s Grand Champion CH Belle Elegant. His dam is Rosetown, by the World’s Champion gaited horse Callaway’s Blue Norther and out of a CH Yorktown daughter. Yorktown, with his three World’s Grand Championships, was known to rack a step or two as well. Noble’s Ace Of Hearts was reserve with Zach Duffy up for Tracy and Bob Feller. By Noble Viking, he is out of Breezy Heartbeat.

Second to last class on the afternoon, the Missouri-Kansas Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited Show Pleasure blue went to Soqili’s Sir Galahad. Morgan Brison picked up another top prize in this one for Bob and Tonya Brison. This was just the second show for this new team. Sir Galahad is by Periaptor and out of a Sultan’s Santana mare. Partnered for the first part of the year with mom Jean Mutrux, The Victory Pass hit the ring today with Abby Mutrux in the saddle to take reserve for Marjorie Phelps.

Making it 11 for 11 on the year and continuing their undefeated career together, CH Our Charming Lady and Mary Marcum Orr won the Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class. The reigning twide World’s Grand Champion was her charming self once again today for a blue ribbon performance. She is the picture of Saddlebred grace and elegance in every move she makes for owners Jack and Donna Finch. Recently trimmed and making a debut performance in the walk-trot ranks, Let’s Talk took to his new division nicely with Dena Lopez up for Alyssa and Dena Lopez. They earned reserve. Let’s Talk and Dena were third in the hotly contested Ladies Five-Gaited Gelding World’s Championship earlier this year.

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