A deep and competitive field of six kick-started the Wednesday matinee, with World Turning heading to the winner’s circle with Bret Day for Carroll Robertson Ray. This daughter of The Mac Attack was also the Two-Year-Old Fine Harness winner at the All American Horse Classic. Rocked way back and blessed with loads of athletic ability, World Turning certainly turned heads this morning. Sired by Designed, Annie’s Perfect Design was reserve with Mike Benn driving for James W. Orr. The bay filly made a fantastic debut performance in this quite talented class.
The rivalry was renewed in the Junior Exhibitor 14-and-Under Five-Gaited class, as CH Platinum’s New Look and CH Sprinkles came to the show ring together once again. They traded wins at Louisville, with New Look winning the qualifier and Sprinkles winning the Championship. Here today, it was CH Platinum’s New Look that rose to the challenge, repeating his win from last year with Hunter Chancellor riding for Steven Chancellor. Directed by DeLovely, Hunter in her shimmering silver gray coat made a very consistent, slick-moving performance to earn the blue. The reigning World’s Champion of Champions earned reserve today, as Eleanor Rainbolt Forbes picked up the red ribbon with CH Sprinkles under the direction of Randy Cates. Both of these young ladies put on a show every time they hit the ring, and it is always a blast to watch them perform. Tyler DeVore was in there battling the ladies to take third with Out With The Ladies.
Maguire Hall and CH Catalyst Commander made a stellar start to their final week of the season, winning the Three-Gaited Show Pleasure 18-38 qualifier. This year has been fantastic for Maguire and Catalyst Commander, showing under the direction of Randy Cates. They were World’s Champions in their qualifier and Reserve World’s Champions in the Championship round at Louisville. The video from their victory pass was shown on all of the television sets around the stabling area of the Kentucky State Fairgrounds throughout the week, and it never got old. It was just that impressive. Reserve World’s Champions in the same split that Catalyst Commander won, CH Sultan’s Zorba and Margaret Biggs were reserve today as well. Teamed since the middle of last year, Zorba and Biggs have progressed well all throughout the year, earning a great prize in this deep field. Park Pleasure Champion here a year ago with James Wallen, Heart Of Steel was third with Marsha Jons riding for Wallen Central Inc.
Two-time defending Amateur Ladies Three-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions, Glenview’s Excelalante!, was the unanimous winner in the Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class. Barbara Goodman Manilow made the winning ride once again for the Charles Goodman family. Impossibly long-necked, Excelalante was on top of his game again today. By Designed, he is out of the World’s Champion harness mare Tra La La. Making the trip in from Oregon, Dr. Catherine Gallo rode Intoxicating Heir to reserve. This team is directed by Arcuri Stables, probably the most-traveled show barn of the year. Making possibly their best show of the year to date, Boston Legal and Elizabeth Shatner rounded out the top three under the direction of Bret Day for Belle Reve.
Allyson Ehle continued a great week in Kansas City with a blue ribbon performance in the Five-Gaited Pleasure 18-38 division. Titleist Right Tonight has been at or near the top of every one of his classes on the year. Directed by Kierson Farm, he gave Ally her second win in as many days for parents Bob and Nancy Ehle. Right Tonight was right today, as he puts his head in just the right spot and really looks through the bridle. Moving back and forth between the Pleasure Driving and Five-Gaited Pleasure divisions all throughout the year, CH Will’s No Doubt About It made a great show today for Jessica Timmington, directed by Jared Ratzloff. He shifted into high gear today to earn the red ribbon.
Brittany McGinnis has been coming together with Stravinsky all year long under the direction of DeLovely. It all paid off with two rounds of honor in Freedom Hall and another one here today in Kemper Arena. They won the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited 15-17 class for Fish Creek Stables. Stravinsky never backs an ear and wears his bridle to perfection as he marches down the rail. Freaky Links was a popular reserve with Angela Darrow riding for Russ and Mara Darrow. Directed by Scott and Carol Matton, they were World’s Champions in their split of their Louisville qualifier. That white blaze coming down the rail followed by Angela’s white coat makes for a striking picture.
Making her second show with the superstar junior horse It’s Dan The Man, Nicole Harrison has the Junior Fine Harness World’s Champion of Champions in top form for High Spirits Farm. Brought out at Des Moines by Doc Raun, his pictures were sent via cellphone around the horse show world, letting everyone know that this phenom existed. He went home to Anna Marie Knipp’s farm after Louisville, and Nicole Harrison took over his training, winning with him at St. Louis. He was a standout winner of this Junior Fine Harness class. John Biggins picked up the red ribbon with Steel The Moment for Dr. and Mrs. Homer Beltz. She is by General Steel and out of Callaway’s Glorious Morn, a Will Shriver mare.
In a significantly deep group of horses, Hunter Chancellor stood out from the rest with her white coat and exquisite five-year-old gelding, I’m McDreamy. World’s Champions in their Louisville qualifier, they were back for more today, earning the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited 14-and-Under blue. McDreamy is like a little windup toy, all punched up and marching down the rail. Even when he was lining up for his winning photo, he was still marching in place. Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under Reserve World’s Champion CH An Heir About Her was reserve here as well, this time with Marjorie Townsend up for Ever Glades Farm. This was a repeat performance from last year for An Heir About Her.
The Amateur Five-Gaited Mare class was next up, and it was the Lisa Strickland-trained Most Definitely Diamonds that rode away with the blue. Owner Ellyn Dorsey was aboard for the winning go. They were Amateur Five-Gaited Mare Reserve World’s Champions earlier this year. They have had a sensational first year together. This mare consistently shows with her nose tucked to her chest and powering down the rail. Big and powerful, she is by Attache’s Royal Assets. The Amateur Gentlemen Five-Gaited World’s Champion, Enchanting Memories, was reserve with Carson Kressley up. The beautiful bay mare has an open, lanky way about her that always registers well in the show ring.
A banner week at the Royal continued for Kierson Farm, as Elizabeth Ververeli topped the field in Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure. This flashy chestnut with a lot of white is a new face in the gaited pleasure ranks, having debuted in the division at the Mid-Atlantic Fall Finale just last month. This is Manhattan Whirlwind. In just their fourth trip to the ring together, they look ready to take on all comers. And they certainly had to take on a field of the best, as it was the World’s Champion of Champions in reserve. Sunken Treasure was the red ribbon recipient here with former owner Drew Taylor Hewitt catch-riding for Steve and Peggy Brackett. Also the Championship combination at Lexington Junior League, this tandem was sizzling once again today.
Seemingly the picture of pleasure pony perfection, Mastercraft’s Namesake LF earned a 16th victory pass in the past 17 trips to the ring with Stephany Monteleone. Winning the Hackney Pleasure Driving qualifier under the direction of Abel Vega, this beautiful dark gelding by Mastercraft was a sight to behold. With top catch driver Linda Fischer at the lines, Heartland Breaking News earned the reserve win. A World’s Champion in their qualifier at Louisville, Heartland Breaking News and owner Kay Marschel were on top of their game. Linda Fischer jumped into the cart and didn’t miss a beat, as this was not her first trip with Breaking News.
Louisville superstar Don’t Know Nuttin’ was on display once again today in the Two-Year-Old Three-Gaited class. Trotting nearly to his nose, a fact captured in one of Shane Shiflet’s pictures, Don’t Know Nuttin’ was a golden shining star for Darrell Case and the ownership team of Hallston Manor and Willowbank Farm. By Undulata’s Nutcracker, this colt is out of Spicy Champagne, by CH Heir To Champagne. Reserve World’s Champion earlier this year, Ridgewood’s Wonderful Admiral was reserve here as well with Zach Duffy for Glenda Pugh. Wonderful Admiral is by Admiral’s Dixieland and out of She’s Wonderful, by Mr. Wonderful S.H. Tom Scott, who rode Real Action to the win in this class last year, was third with Just Surprize Me for Rum River Farm.
A product of the Callaway Hills consignment in the fall of 2007, Callaway’s Here’s To Hope was the Junior Park Pleasure winner with Amanda Simpson riding for Dreamacres LLC. By Callaway’s The Gipper, Here’s To Hope is out of Callaway’s Faithfully Yours, by Callaway’s Full Power, a solid representation of the new generation of Callaway Hills stallions. Rob Turner has already taken seven victory passes on the year with Celebrity Son. He was reserve with the Worthy’s Navigator product for Debra Faulkner.
Another DeLovely team took top Junior Exhibitor honors in the 14-and-Under Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class, as CH Brookhill’s King Of Kool went to the winner’s circle with Jessie Wuesthofen riding for Glenn A. Werry Jr. Winning their 10th class in 11 tries, Jessie and King Of Kool took two World’s Championship titles this year. It was a pleasure perfect performance that earned her another blue ribbon today. Another World’s Champion from this year, The Majestic was reserve with Maya Manilow riding for Barbara Goodman Manilow. This big, powerful gelding and his young rider have come together nicely under the direction of Kenny Smith. To illustrate the phenomenal depth of this class, Heir’s Halo and Kaitlyn Creekmore were third for Thomas R. Brock Jr., while First Class Heir and Brianna Meyer were fourth for Brown-Anderson Farms.
Moving up a spot from their finish in 2008, Under Oath and Jacque Nance topped the Five-Gaited Pleasure 39-and-Over class. They were Alabama Charity Champions in their last outing and put it all together today for this hard-earned blue ribbon. A third place finisher in the 18-38 qualifier last year with Margaret Biggs, Intriguing Masterpiece was reserve today with Louise DeBlois. This team is directed by Jan Lukens. Lexington Reserve Champions Cool Down Papa and Kathy Scherer were third.
It was another repeat winner in the Junior Exhibitor Three-Gaited 15-17 division, as CH Ostentatiously picked up this blue ribbon for the second year in a row. He was reserve in the younger age group the year before. Brittany McGinnis was aboard to wrap up her sweep of the 15-17 Five-Gaited and Three-Gaited classes today under the DeLovely banner. Reserve National Champions here last year, I’m Bewitched and Sarah Singer were reserve in this one. They finished third in their qualifier in 2008.
Thunder Cloud Nine, the Open 15.2-and-Under Three-Gaited winner here in 2008 with Darrell Case, was back and in top form for Erin Obenauf to take home the blue in the Ladies Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under division. They were the Amateur Under 2 winners at Lexington Junior League. No stranger to the American Royal winner’s circle, Callaway’s Sunday Edit was reserve with Jennifer Elnicky riding for Mike and Jennifer Elnicky. Traveling from Minnesota, this team put on a nice show in reserve.
Moving on and exhibiting a mature slow gait and rack beyond his years, Mister Hyde racked up a storm to win the Two-Year-Old Five-Gaited class with Tommy Richardson. By Molligny Don’t Worry Be Happy, Mister Hyde is out of City Talk, by CH The Talk Of The Town. A look down his pedigree might give an indication as to why he is so slick-moving. Alfredo Chavez was reserve with Going Look Time, an Attache’s Dream Weaver product out of a Flight Time mare.
Reserve World’s Champions in their qualifier this year, Rebecca Boorstein and Stonecroft I’m Radiant started the final week of their first season together in grand style, winning the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited 15-17 class. A qualifier winner here last year as well, I’m Radiant won the 39-and-Over class with Karrie Graham in 2008. This team is directed by Jim and Fay Lowry. A qualifier World’s Champion and the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions in the 14-17 ranks, Got No Shame was reserve with Rachel Machamer once again getting the call as the catch rider. Trained by Andy and Lynda Freseth, this one is owned by Lynda’s son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Kelly Williamson, along with BRK Equestrian LLC.