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Wednesday Highlights from The American Royal



Wednesday’s daytime session saw some busy riders and some stunning performances in well-filled, competitive classes. Travis Van Zetten was a good example of both, as he rode CH Teuschers to a unanimous victory in the 18-38 Pleasure class and then came back two classes later to take second with Hero’s Jumpin Jack Flash in the Five-Gaited Pleasure 18-38 division. In between those two classes, a star-studded Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class hit the ring. Big winners from all across the country battled it out for the top spot, but CH Manila Thrilla and Theresa Vonderschmitt set themselves apart as the blue ribbon winners. Emily Abbott made a fantastic catch-ride aboard Callaway’s Where There’s A Will to win the 18-38 gaited pleasure class for Barb and Emily Scharpf.

The DeLovely team was plenty busy during this session, as Hunter Chancellor and Platinum’s New Look set the tone for the day with a win in the first class of the day, 14-and-Under Five-Gaited. Christina Collis and Show Baby Show earned the last pass in the 14-and-Under Three-Gaited class, while CH The Last Straw and Kaitlin Whatley closed out the day with a red ribbon finish in 15-17 Show Pleasure. The McGinnis girls shone bright, as Brittany topped the 15-17 Three-Gaited ranks with Ostentatiously, while Courtney was reserve with Bouffant in the first split of 14-and-Under Show Pleasure. Callie Smith was in working hard in reserve with She’s Gone Blonde in the Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure.

Winner of that Junior Exhibitor Five-Gaited Pleasure class was another busy young lady, Angela Darrow. She had another great catch-ride aboard Cool Down Papa to win the blue for Kathryne Stief and trainer Jim Lowry. A few classes earlier, she left as the reserve winner with her own Freaky Links. Stonecroft Rumor Has It and Alexa McWilliams took the last pass in that one under the Premier banner.

Barclay de Wet made a show to remember with Callaway’s Winning Ways to leave the ring with the blue in the Amateur Five-Gaited Mare qualifier. John Biggins and Peanut Butter avoided trouble in a big field of 18 Junior Park Pleasure horses to find the winner’s circle for Carolyn Melka.

John Conatser took wife Tammie Conatser’s coaching to heart, coming off the rail second way and making a big show with Respectfully Yours to top a nice class of Junior Fine Harness horses for Bill Clem. Stephany Monteleone and Mastercraft’s Namesake LF emerged as the blue ribbon winners from the Hackney Pleasure Driving division, while Dakota Reiser continued his catch-riding career aboard Santana’s Gypsy Gal to win the first section of 14-and-Under Show Pleasure for Shawn Stachowski. Shamrock’s Asagi and Brianna Meyer won the second section for the Hollow Haven banner.

Farra Baker and Meet Mr. Big worked through the traffic to win the Five-Gaited Pleasure 39-and-Over class for Susan Ely, while Simbara’s Heir Fair and Kim Cowart bested the field in the Ladies Three-Gaited 15.2- and-Under class for Tim Shea.

CH Ninety Eight Degrees made the last pass of the daytime session with Katherine Randall aboard in the Show Pleasure 15-17 division.

The evening session once again featured well-filled, competitive classes. It started on a somber note, as there was a moment of silence before the first class to honor the passing of Monty Wallen, who was killed in a car accident earlier in the week.

The much-anticipated Five-Gaited Gelding showdown was the nightcap for the evening's slate of classes. In another showdown between Gelding World’s Champion Bravo Blue and World’s Grand Champion CH Breaking News, Peter Cowart and Breaking News broke through for the win for Megan McClure and Beth Arndt.

Taylor Newton took the UPHA Junior Challenge Cup National Championship back to Sugar Knoll with A Sweet Sensation, while Belle Owen was up for the Reserve National Championship for DeLovely.

Swish and Carol Hillenbrand made it three years in a row winning the Amateur Five-Gaited Stallion/Gelding class with another smooth, consistent, animated performance. CH Colonel Hoss was reserve with Justin Cowley.

Lady Vol set the stage for the evening with another floating, prancing, primping performance with Chris Kaplan under the direction of Mike Roberts and Zach Duffy. This is a mare that you absolutely must see to understand her way of going, as she seems to just levitate across the arena, barely touching the ground.

Bret Day and Last Man Standing were the last to leave the ring in a field of 12 Park Pleasure horses. This is an entry of Fischer Sisters LLC. This four year old is by CH Man On The Town and out of the great-producing mare Dream A Dream, producer of such horses as A Daydream Believer. Speaking of Daydream Believer, one of her great colts was in to win the Fine Harness Stallion/Gelding class with Misdee Wrigley Miller. This was none other than Castledream, Amateur Ladies World’s Champion this year. Another top performance led to another blue ribbon.

A nice field of five competed for the Amateur Road Pony title, with World’s Champion of Champions Calvin Hobbs taking the top spot with Kevin Ingram at the lines. Stat and Dr. Chip Pugh made a great performance in reserve.

The Under 2 horses filled out the second half of the Three-Gaited National Championship field, with Thunder Cloud Nine and Darrell Case staking their claim to the title for Olen and Linda Wilford. World’s Champion from the division VHF Belle Epoque was reserve for Robert Gardiner.

An absolutely thrilled Karrie Graham made her way to the winner’s circle with Stonecroft I’m Radiant in the Show Pleasure 39-and-Over class. Jim Lowry met her there to join in the celebration. This was just their second show together under saddle, having showed the rest of the season in Pleasure Driving. Scott Robinson made the red ribbon ride with CH So Audacious for Bradleys Stables of Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Seamair Simply Awesome continued an impressive season with John Wrather, winning the Amateur Hackney Pony class over Heartland Candidate and Sandra Surber. Dun-Haven Phenomenal and Kathryn Nichols were the top entry in Amateur Harness Pony competition. They went to the winner’s circle with another power-packed performance for the Majestic Oaks banner.

CH Callaway’s Merry-Go-Round and Christy Bennett really put it all together tonight to make one of their best performances together, winning the Ladies Three-Gaited Over 15.2 class.

These are some of the highlights of Wednesday at The American Royal. For complete results, click here.

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