Morning Winners at AQHA World Show Include Salamone, Finkenbinder, Roark, Frye

By: Brittany Bevis

Today is a very busy one at the 2015 AQHA World Championship Show. Underway this morning in the Jim Norick Arena are Halter classes. Winning the Yearling Fillies was Tim Finkenbinder with Shangri-La. The Reserve Champion was Ted Turner with Entrigue. Third place was Steve Ferguson with Intended Too. Fourth place was Brian Ellsworth with Be A Diva. Fifth place was Luke Castle with Lalicious.

In the 2-Year-Old Geldings class, Ross Roark led Coos Me In The Dark to a win. The Reserve Champion was Andy Staton with Hey Coach. Third place was Joe Engle with SS Rampage. Fourth place was Ted Turner with Mattlock. Fifth place was Rick Baker with BPF Telatommy.

Over in the Performance Arena, 20-year-old Arizona native Gabriella Salamone rode The Best Cookie to win her first gold trophy at her first Amateur/Open World Show in L2 Amateur Horsemanship. Gabriella rode her 8-year-old gelding, “Elvis,” to a big win this morning, under the guidance of trainer Jim and Deanna Searles. Then, this dynamic duo turned right around and went in the L2 Western Pleasure in the very next class and placed tenth.

“It was really hectic, and it’s really a different discipline,” Gabi says. “In one class, I’m flying around in the extended trot, and then in the next I’m jogging, but he handled it really well. Also, it kind of gets rid of the nerves to keep moving.”

“I thought it was a really great pattern, and I’m glad it was the same as the L3 preliminaries. I’d already been practicing it for a few days; I had a good feel for it; and I’d already shown it once. I knew what I wanted to improve upon and really nail this time.”

Gabi’s favorite parts of this particular pattern were Elvis’ strong trot corners and precise turns. “I think his jog around the corners is really strong. In this pattern, I really wanted to go for my extended trot, because that wasn’t as strong in my level 3 preliminaries. I think we definitely improved upon it.”

The Reserve Champion was Brittany Boyd with Don’t Skip My Charms. Third place was Sarah Ammons with Ginnin. Fourth place was Shelly Germaine with Leaguers Finale. Fifth place was Taylor Brown with Absolute Best Asset.

In the very next class, L2 Amateur Western Pleasure, Ashley Frye rode It’s A Good Pleasure to a big win. The Reserve Champion was Courtney Chown with Chum Machine. Third place was Lacy Watson with RR Magical Moonlite. Fourth place was Samantha Hide with Moonlite Hotrodder.

Fifth place was Tash Schultz with You Bet Ima Batman. Sixth place was Brittany Morgan with Huntin For Fun. Seventh place was Jamie Oakley with Flashy Looking Touch. Eighth place was Kili Crawford with Chasing A Dream. Ninth place was Alexandra Chavez with Hot Lopin Goodbar. Tenth place was Gabriella Salamone with The Best Cookie.

Ashley’s win aboard five-year-old “Trapper” serves as a belated birthday present, because she turned 21 on Tuesday, just two days ago! This evening, she plans to share a celebratory cocktail with her father and horse trainer, Scott Frye.

“We’ve had Trapper since he was two years old, and my dad won the Intermediate 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure on him at the Congress,” she says. “He’s so broke. You could literally show him out of his stall, if you wanted too. He’s not an extreme horse, but he’s so correct and soft. He’s a pretty easy horse to show.”

Just a few weeks ago, Ashley and Trapper placed tenth in the Non Pro Maturity and 14th in Amateur Western Pleasure at the Quarter Horse Congress. Tomorrow, the team will compete in L3 Amateur Western Pleasure. Looking forward to next year, they’re hoping to add Western Riding as another event.