10/13 Morning Congress Champions Include Pait, Crothers, Erickson, Johnson, Smith, Robertson, and more

By: Brittany Bevis

It’s been a busy day at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, and the two disciplines that have been at the forefront couldn’t be more different. In the Celeste Center, high flying Quarter Horses took to the sky for Over Fences classes. First,  Jessica Johnson rode DGS Vintage to a win in Level 1 Working Hunter for owner, Robin DeGraff.

“I bred his mom, and I bred his dad,” Degraff says. “His dad is DGS Vestastic, and he’s by Vested Pine and out of Krymsun Hot Invite. The mom is DGS Indyspirational, so she’s by Indian Artifacts and out of Viva Valentina, and every one of Valentina’s babies out of Chief has been at least Congress Top 5 or higher.”

“Luke” is a five-year-old gelding that has been under the guidance of Jessica Johnson for some time now. Earlier this year, he was crowned a NSBA World and Reserve World Champion. He was also named the High Point Open Horse at the show.

DeGraff is a horse industry veteran, but she’s been away from the show scene for a while. “My husband died last October, so it’s been a year, and it’s been a different year for me. I think he was riding with them…”

The Reserve Champion was Chuck Briggs with Al Lad Dan. Third was Jessica Johnson with Cloaked In Honor. Fourth was Chuck Briggs with Al Amaze You. Fifth was Lainie DeBoer with Undressed N Radical.

In Progressive Working Hunter, Jerry Erickson rode Awesum Blue Skies to a win. “Blue” has been in the barn for a year and a half. Jerry says his owner, Bobbi Raub, who lives on a ranch in New Mexico, is going to delighted to hear the news of her horse’s win.

“She just loves him. She’s never seen him show, but she’s going to the World Show to watch and that will be the first time. She has been really good and allowed me to do whatever I think the horse needs. Sometimes, she volunteers things I didn’t even think he might need. She really thinks the world of him, so this will be a very nice treat for her.”

Jerry explains that the Progressive division has helped to give Blue some confidence after a year of competing in the Green division. “He’s a really good jumper. He’s a little bit intimidated by the jumps sometimes, so that’s why last year I showed in Green because I thought he needed an extra year to mature. That’s why the Progressive division is so great, because it gives them an extra year to mature.”

The Reserve Champion was Linda Crothers with Al Wayz On Your Mind. Third was Jessica Johnson with Cloaked In Honor. Fourth was Ryan Painter with Thrift Shop. Fifth was Jessica Johnson with Miss American Pi.

Finally, our Equine Chronicle cover boy, Al Wayz On Your Mind and one of his favorite people, Linda Crothers, were named the Congress Champions in Junior Working Hunter. Earlier in the day, they also placed Reserve in Progressive Working Hunter. Later on today, his owner, Gerri Leigh Pratt, is very excited to see how the gentle giant performs in the Congress Open Hunter Classic.

Meanwhile, over in the Coliseum, Tom Robertson led Most Appealing Dream to win Performance Mares. The Reserve Champion was Jeffrey Pait with Do Ya Dream Of Me. Third was Wade Parks with She Had Me At Hello. Fourth was Luke Castle with Shes Showin Off. Fifth was Jason Smith with Gracious.

Then, Jason Smith led Bittersweett to win Yearling Fillies for Susan Darr. Susan has had “Dani” since she was a weanling, and she’s been with Jason for the past ten years. Dani is by I Gotta Cool Secret and out of a Mister E mare.

“She was just so beautiful standing in the stall that there was no other one that even compared to her. She looks just like her mother. She has a great personality, and she’s good to work with. She’s an all around good horse. She’s beautiful inside and out.”

This is the first time that Dani has competed at the Congress and she’s taken a win. Susan will hope to repeat that performance when she shows the mare in the amateur division later in the week.

Reserve was Tom Robertson with Stella Finest Rose. Third was Dewey Smith with Sheza Premadonna. Fourth was Ted Turner with Shez Got Ya Lookin. Fifth was Mike McMillian with TNR Cali Cool.

Jeffrey Pait led Shes That Radiant to win 2-Year-Old Mares. Reserve was Tom Robertson with Apleezing. Third was Joe Engle with Pretty Charming. Fourth was JT Mitchell with Caught Ya Lookn. Fifth was Rose Santos with TB A Classic Secret.

Winning 3-Year-Old Mares was Luke Castle with Creeola for Dan Fox. Reserve was Ted Turner with Shez Pure Elegance. Third was Dewey Smith with Blue Ribbons N Lace. Fourth was Jeffrey Pait with ER A Secret Fox. Fifth was Joe Engle with Partee Down Kid.

Dan purchased Creeola last year from Jason Smith. She’s a Mr Elusive mare, and Dan simply loves her personality. “She definitely got her height from her daddy, and she’s a really sweet mare. I showed her last year, and this year, and she’s going to the World Show. I just switched over to John Shepard for training her, and he’s done an awesome job in just 30 days, and Luke did an awesome job of showing her.”

Winning Aged Mares was Jeffrey Pait with Can’t Touch Her Guns. Reserve was Tom Robertson with Baby Im Worth It. Third was Ross Roark with Scarlet O Harra. Fourth was Jason Smith with Wisshes. Fifth was Dewey Smith with Equities.

To round out the day, not only did Jeffrey Pait have the Grand Champion Mare with Shes That Radiant, he ALSO had the Reserve Champion Mare with Cant Touch Her Guns. Stay tuned to www.EquineChronicle.com for a video interview coming soon.