UPHA/American Royal - Wednesday Evening
Thursday, November 14, 2013
The four-time Parade Horse World Champion was a winner here for the second year in a row, as Water Water Everywhere took the Parade Horse Open blue with Cheri Wise. The entry of Vernon Wise III and Cheri Wise was trimmed in light tan and orange in high parade style. Marty McFly made a parade debut with Toni Knight Utoft letting her locks fly for owner Deborah Jahn. Deborah had recently driven him to the Country Pleasure Driving Reserve Championship at All American Horse Classic.
Lynda Freseth made another magnificent drive with Our Brilliant Belle, scoring a unanimous win in the Ladies Fine Harness class. Undefeated on the season they teamed up for the Ladies World’s Championship as well for Priscilla Gise and Hollow Haven Farm. The beautiful flaxen mare was also the Champion at Mid-America Mane Event, Blue Ridge Classic, and Asheville. Outfitted with the black harness with the pink stitching, Follow The Sun was the reserve winner here with Annika Bruggeworth driving under the direction of Larry Hodge. Last year’s Ladies Reserve World’s Champion of Champions, Follow The Sun is a jet black son of How Fortunate and Mahvalous Miracle. The black comes from the dam side, as she is by Sultan’s Great Day.
The UPHA Hackney Pony Classic National Champion right here in 2008, CH Heartland Fortune Maker has gone on to a tremendous career. As much of a star as he is for trainer Bob Phillips, his driver is a rockstar. It seems like we write about this every time that she shows, but the crowd makes a point to salute her each and every time she comes to the ring, so why shouldn’t we? Faydelle Schott is the two-time World’s Champion of Champions in this Amateur Hackney Pony division, and she shows no signs of slowing down in her mid-80s. She was the unanimous winner here on Wednesday night. Winner of this class the past two years, Heartland Rough And Ready was the reserve winner here with Toni Nastali once again at the lines. Also a Junior Hackney Pony World’s Champion of Champions and UPHA Hackney Pony Classic National Champion, Rough And Ready has a ton of scope and length to his neck. He is by Heartland Victory and out of a Dun-Haven Bandolier mare.
Molly Codeanne was the best of a field of 14, showing in a 12-entry callback to claim the UPHA Junior Challenge Cup National Championship. As her Triple Crown-winning mom and accomplished horsewoman grandmother cheered her on, Molly headed to the winner’s circle with Zagnut to meet instructor Kristen Cater. Mom and grandma are of course Kate Harvey Codeanne and Lynn Harvey McNamara. Molly set herself up well for this first National Championship win, taking top honors in the NEHC Saddle Seat Medal Finals a few weeks ago, an event open to riders 17 and under. The highly decorated Maisie Benfield was the Reserve National Champion, directed by Cindy Zubrod Boel aboard Highpoint’s Syncopated Rhythm. This was Maisie’s third Reserve National Championship title, having taken this title a year ago as well. She was the 2009 UPHA Walk-and-Trot Challenge Cup Reserve National Champion, coming back the next year to win it all as the National Champion in that division.
Also in this National Top Ten were Kristina Mauro and Rob New York, directed by Ann Speck and Neil Visser; Madison Stringer and Certain Style, directed by Erin Boggs Richey; Maximum Bob and Sydney Young, directed by May Chadick; Nicole Leone and Heir’s Sparkling Star, also from Cater Stables; Lauren Arquilla and CH-EQ A Sweet Sensation, directed by Tom Thorpe; Ainsley Budzinski and CH-EQ Oh What A Feeling, directed by Scott and Carol Matton; Delaney Fitzgerald and Guided By Magic, directed by Jonnie Surland; and Kinslie Dougherty with Monnington Titan, the lone Morgan in the field, directed by Cheryl Manahan. Delaney Fitzgerald was also presented with the first ever Sportsmanship Award. Kent Swalla and Barbe Smith presented on behalf of the UPHA.
It has been a week of reigning World’s Grand Champions holding serve in their qualifiers so far, as Sir Silver Knight got the blue ribbon in the Three-Gaited 15.2-and-Under qualifier. Melinda Moore scored the win for Annika Bruggeworth and Siren Song Stable. By Sir William Robert and out of R.R. Silver Lady, he was also the Three-Gaited Champion at the Alltech National Horse Show last month, helping promote the breed. Robert Gardiner and VHF Belle Epoque got a nice salute from the crowd in reserve. “Sweet Pea’s” win in this class a year ago provided the horse show world with this video. This will be her final show, as Robert will retire her following the Three-Gaited National Championship on Saturday night, a class she has won twice.
It was the 2012 Three-Gaited World’s Grand Champion taking the next victory pass, as Platinum Moon and Hunter Chancellor won the 14-17 Three-Gaited class for Steven E. Chancellor and the DeLovely team. A year ago, Hunter debuted with Platinum Moon in this class, winning it then as well. This team earned the 14-17 Three-Gaited World’s Championship this year in a spectacular workout. CH Swing An Singin was a popular reserve winner with Catherine Wheeler up for Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. The Mercer Springs-trained entry was the winner of her split of the 14-17 qualifier at Louisville this year. She was the 13-and-Under National Champion here just last year. Caroline Rainbolt Forbes was up for third with Watermark’s A Kiss For Luck for the Rainbow Princess Farms.
Carol Hillenbrand and Mighty Thor won their sixth straight outing to top the 39-and-Over Three-Gaited Show Pleasure class. Steve Wheeler joined them for the round of honor. The reigning Show Pleasure World’s Champion of Champions was in top form once again tonight to claim this prize for the second time. This was the site of their debut together in 2010, where they also took the last pass. The Park Pleasure Champion here a year ago with Andy Freseth, Nina Campbell was the reserve winner tonight. Susan Estes was the rider for Ted and Susan Estes and the Hollow Haven team. Champion at Asheville and Blue Ridge, Nina Campbell is by Belle Reve’s Renaissance Man and out of CH Kalarama’s New Sensation.
The Junior Fine Harness blue went back to Lowry Stables with Talk Is Money. Jim Lowry made the winning drive for Tri-Color Ventures. Scott Perrelli and Fay Lowry headed up the full brother to Let’s Talk. The Junior Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding World’s Champion is by Sir William Robert and out of Soft Spoken. A winner here last year in the UPHA Fine Harness Classic National Championship, Renaissance Man’s Medici was reserve tonight with William Shatner driving for Belle Reve Farm. The Autumn Hills-trained entry was shown here a year ago by Steve Wheeler to the National Championship. Bill has been at the lines all season, including the Amateur Gentlemen’s Fine Harness World’s Championship. It was three reigning World’s Champions in the top three, as Bret Day drove Tory Burch to third for Elizabeth Ghareeb.
Robert Stezovsky joined the winning entry in the Mo/Kan Amateur Five-Gaited class, as Just Outrageous was named the winner with Emma Stanfield. A juvenile rider showing against the adults, Emma was the Junior Exhibitor Reserve Champion at St. Louis with this horse. This one is by Attache’s Royal Assets and out of Outrageous Fortune E.V.S. Shannon Garcia picked up reserve honors aboard Gypsies Tramps And Thieves. This veteran bay gelding is by Gypsy Santana and out of The Divine Enchantment, by Titleist. They were winners of this class in 2011 for William Woods University.
It was all in the family in the 13-and-Under Five-Gaited class, as cousins Sallie Mason and Rose Marie Wheeler took the top two spots. Sallie Mason was the winner tonight with CH Callaway’s Born For This. Smith Lilly and Andrea Wolkoff headed up the victory pass for the entry of Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. The gray mare was the winner of this class the last two years as well, but with a different rider. Those two times it was sister Catherine Wheeler making the winning go. Rose Marie Wheeler earned the reserve prize with Bono for aunt Karen Mayer. Trained by Grey Ridge Farm, Bono was the 13-and-Under World’s Champion of Champions this year. The big chestnut gelding puts his chin on his chest and struts down the rail. The Cover Story and Laura Plant were third from High Caliber Stables, with Heir Comes The Man and Mackenzie Hall in fourth for Mill-Again Stables.
It was a unanimous win for Sugarland in the Amateur Road Pony class. Elisabeth Goth drove the Midwest Charity Best In Show to the blue ribbon here. The top prize went back to Majestic Oaks, just as it did this year in the Amateur Road Pony World’s Championship. Sugarland has that rare combination of speed and grace that make him one of the very best the division has seen. Lindsay Jones was the ecstatic reserve winner at the lines of Heartland Curtain Call. Trained by Kent Swalla, Curtain Call was the Amateur Champion at both Mid-America Mane Event and St. Louis already this fall. These two were reserve in this class a year ago as well. In just their second year out of juvenile competition, they were the 2011 AHHS 14-17 Medallion National Champions.
It has been a good start to the week for Jacqueline Beck, as Glenn T. Werry cheered her on to yet another victory pass. This one came in the Ladies Amateur Five-Gaited class with the picturesque gray mare, Divine Asset. Trained by Neil Visser, Divine Asset was the Ladies Amateur Mare World’s Champion this year and the Ladies Amateur Reserve World’s Champion of Champions. These two earned the Ladies Five-Gaited Mare win here last year. Laurel Nelson made a great show with Imperiaptor to grab the reserve prize. Mitch Clark directs this longtime team. This was the first time since 2009 that the chestnut gelding has shown in the gaited ranks, having won the 2011 Open Three-Gaited Park World’s Championship and the 2012 Amateur Three-Gaited Park Reserve World’s Championship. My Rosalita and Barbara Goodman Manilow were up for third from Skyline Stables, with He’s Born To Lead and Holly Nichols in fourth from Cascade Stables.
From the Fine Harness Mare ranks, it was Vienna Waltz putting on one of her best shows to take the top spot with John Conatser at the lines. Owned and bred by Joellen Fisher Blount, she is by Undulata’s Nutcracker and out of the prolific broodmare and harness winner, Tornaado’s Tidal Wave. Twice already a World’s Champion, this was Conatser’s debut drive with the big chestnut mare. This year’s Fine Harness Mare World’s Champion was up for the red ribbon in second. Lisa Strickland once again drove Roselane’s Clemency for Ready for the Limelight LLC. This one is by Sir William Robert and out of World’s Champion Callaway’s Clemency.
Hunter Chancellor finished her qualifiers three for three in her swan song, winning the Junior Exhibitor Park class with CH I’m McDreamy. She put it away with a strong second, second-way trot for owner Steven E. Chancellor and the DeLovely team. Hunter’s shiny silver formal coat and black pants and hat offset the bright chestnut gelding, one of her longtime partners. The 2012 World’s Champion of Champions followed the 2013 World’s Champion of Champions, as CH Let’s Talk was the reserve winner with McGee Bosworth turning in a great ride tonight. The entry of Pair of Jacks Stables is trained by High Caliber Stables. This was the second of the Sir William Robert x Soft Spoken cross to show tonight, each earning a great prize. Blake Crim got a big shout from the crowd in third aboard CH High Heat. The “Fun Size” Blake rode hard in his debut performance, delighting the Kansas City faithful.
Brookhill’s Glam Slam was the Ladies Three-Gaited Over 15.2 winner, as Elizabeth Ghareeb put together a great ride for Grey Ridge Farm. The black mare has twice been a World’s Champion and was the winner of this class in 2011 as well. Bret Day and Derek Wooderson headed up the victory pass for the River Ridge, Madison Classic, and Gasparilla Champion. Purchased after the chestnut gelding’s World’s Championship win this year, The Rhumba was the reserve winner here tonight with Christy Bennett aboard for Bennett Farms LLC. This was a third consecutive red prize for Christy and The Rhumba, as they were twice reserve at Kentucky Fall Classic as well.
Ice Man was the winner in the Roadster to Wagon class. James Nichols drove the Cascade Stables entry to the top prize. Ice Man was the Amateur Roadster to Wagon Reserve World’s Champion this year. Last year’s winner, Last Call, was up for second, driven by owner Raymond Shively. Last Call was the winner of the Roadster to Wagon Open qualifier this year at Louisville.
It was another win for Carriage Lane on Wednesday night. CH The Daily Lottery and Gabe Deknatel were the unanimous victors in the Amateur Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding class. These two were winners of this class in 2009, 2010, and 2011 as well. The reigning Amateur Five-Gaited World’s Champion of Champions was headed up by John and Tammie Conatser, making a tremendous show for their seventh victory pass of the year. World’s Champion in this class the past three years, Fort Chiswell’s Royal Kiss put his athleticism on display in reserve for Elisabeth Goth. From the Visser Stables, Royal Kiss is by Callaway’s Northern Kiss and out of World’s Champion Royal Memories. He and Elisabeth were the Open Five-Gaited National Champions here in 2011. Finest Hour Spent and Danny Cummins finished third, followed by crowd-pleasing Mark Of Perfection with Jessica Curl.
Winner of this class for the third straight year, CH Crystal Creek’s Commander took top honors with owner Sandra Surber at the lines. A grand lady, Sandra made the unanimous winning drive in a royal blue coat to match her blue ribbon. She won her split of the Amateur Ladies Harness Pony class at Louisville this year. Commander is also the two-time defending National Champion in this division for Majestic Oaks. Heartland Queen Of The Road and Susan Olcott drove to the red prize. Susan was outfitted all in royal blue with the flashy flaxen chestnut mare. The reigning Amateur World’s Champion of Champions is trained by Mike Hylton.
It was Melinda Moore night tonight, as she captured another major win, taking the Five-Gaited Gelding class with CH Attache’s Crown Royal. Another of Annika Bruggeworth’s top entries, Crown Royal was the Five-Gaited Champion at the Alltech National Horse Show and the Five-Gaited Gelding Reserve World’s Champion. The chestnut gelding with all sorts of chrome moves like a freight train in an “open horse” style. Stewie Griffin made another consistently strong show to take second with Todd Graham up for Tannehill Farms. Second in the Five-Gaited Gelding class at Lexington this year, Stewie Griffin is by Designed and out of Callaway’s Goodness Gracious. Wicked In A Winning Way and Tom Thorpe finished third for BRK Equestrian LLC.
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