by Diana Davidson

DENVER, Colo.- The 2006 edition of the Circle J Yearling Futurity took center stage on Friday night, July 7, at the National Event Center during the 48th annual Circle J Regional Morgan Horse Show.

The Circle J Yearling Futurity is an innovative program designed to promote the breeding of outstanding quality Morgans and reward breeders, and it was clearly evident that both are happening in this year's competition. A two-tier prize money system was once again in place. This payout is designed to reward breeders who purchase the stallion services at the extremely successful Circle J Stallion Service Auction. This year's competition was officiated by Scott Thacker, Bernard Parker and Jane Morrell.

This year's field of 10 enthusiastic yearlings was on the small side, but was certainly competitive and entertaining. The 10 entries represented seven different sires with five of the entries being auction get. The preliminary competition featured the yearlings entering the ring one at a time to be viewed at the discretion of the judges. The entire field of ten was then eligible to return for the final round of judging. Following a short break featuring the entertainment of the live band from the upstairs lounge, the top ten entries from the first round were brought back into the ring and were presented as a group. When the tabulations were all in hand the results were announced in reverse order beginning with tenth place. As announcer Larry Handy worked his way down the list, handlers, owners and spectators could feel the excitement mounting. When only three yearlings remained, the prize money began to escalate. Kingsgrove French Elegance represented her sire Futurity French Command as an auction get as she earned the third place honors along with a check for $7,000. Gerry Rushton handled the lead on the well-named filly bred and owned by Dolores Nickel and out of her Fletcher Banjo John daughter Kingsgrove Elegante.

A pair of grand youngsters hailing from The River’s Edge faced off in center ring as they awaited their tricolor sashes and championship checks as the Circle J Yearling Futurity Reserve Champion was announced as MLF First Aflaire. This promising filly made a grand showing with Bob Kellert on the lead for breeder John Lonetti of Meadowland Farm. The daughter of World’s Champions Liberation First Star and MLF Gayla Aflaire collected a check for $7,500 as a non-auction get.

This left the champion alone in the spotlight as another oversized check for $30,000 was brought into the ring. The announcement was then made that the unanimous 2006 Circle J Yearling Futurity Champion was Noble Wishes. This was indeed a dream come true for owner/breeders Teri Jacobsen and Jean Jones.

Noble Wishes’ dam, Everlast Foolish Wishes, was herself the product of a Circle J Futurity Auction breeding. Although, she did not end up competing as a yearling, Jean Jones and Teri Jacobsen crossed the daughter of Three Wishes with Nobility. They wanted to line-breed with the Noble Command line, and Jacobsen had watched Nobility show years earlier and chose him for the mare’s first breeding. Jones and Jacobsen have gone on to purchase three more Circle J Futurity Auction breedings and are sold on this program and are very excited about the results so far!

This was also a great night for trainers Bob Kellert and Mary Cockriel as they earned an additional $2,500 as the handlers of the champion and reserve champion. It was also a daily double for George Schott of Maine Event Morgans as he earned $2,500 as the owner of the sire of both the champion (Nobility) and reserve champion (Liberation First Star) at the time the services were donated.

Circle J Futurity Chair Marilyn Esteb and the entire committee were thrilled to present a grand total of $57,000 in prize money in the 2006 Circle J Yearling Futurity. Plans are already underway for the next Circle J Futurity Auction to be held January 13, 2007, with another great Colorado weekend planned. Many of the top-breeding stallions have already been committed to the auction with more to come. If you are interested in taking part in the auction and would like to have the stallion you would like to breed to donated, contact Marilyn Esteb to see if the stallion's service can be obtained. The 2007 auction will go on to produce the entries eligible to compete in the 2009 Circle J Futurity.


2006 Circle J Futurity Yearling Championship Results
(place - number - name - sire - dam - trainer - owner)

1 92 Noble Wishes - Nobility - Everlast Foolish Wishes - Bob Kellert - Teri Jacobsen/Jean Jones

2 96 MLF First Aflaire - Liberation First Star - MLF Gayla Aflaire - Bob Kellert - Meadowland Farm

3 100 Kingsgrove French Elegance - Futurity French Command - Kingsgrove Elegante - Gerry Rushton - Dolores Nickel

4 131 Ultras Indulgence - Ultras Special Agent - Carlyle Decadence  -Stephen Smith - Stephen Smith

5 63 Cadence Allure - Ultras Special Agent - CHF Rapture - Phil Fountain - Cadence Farm LLC

6 94 AMHF Armani - Mizrahi - Noble Event - Bob Kellert - David & Cindy Vogels

7 98 Deammaster Kiss This - CCR's Outrajus Corajus - Kiss N Tell - Gerry Rushton - William & Connie Myers

8 97 Take Me Higher - CCR's Outrajus Corajus - Med-E-Oka French Riviera - Stacy Hennessy - Underground Partnership

9 93 MWR Who’s Your Daddy - HVK Courageous Flaire - Episode One - Vincent LeMaster - Vincent LeMaster

10 7 Spirit Lake Prediction - HVK Courageous Flaire - GC Inspired Trust - Julie Troup - Barbara Ebbert

Circle J Futurity Yearlings Championship

Judges’ Cards – Final Round