Tami Thurston and Good Will Huntin Win 2-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Ltd.

By: Brittany Bevis

The returning Congress Champion from 2013 was once again victorious in the 2-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle limited division this afternoon. Last year, Tami Thurston piloted Best In The Moonlite to a win in the 2-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Stakes. Today, she was in the irons of Good Will Huntin for owner Cathy Corrigan Frank. The team received a check for $2,497.20 for the win.

The Reserve Champion was Farley Sliss aboard Sleep Alilbit Longer. Coming in third place was Beckey Schooler with Sleeping Blaze. Fourth place was Keith Miller with Al Bet Cha. Fifth place was Carmen Mayabb with Certifiably Good.

Thurston certainly knew she had the horsepower to pull out another win today. However, she never imagined she would be named Congress Champion two years in a row.

“My cup runneth over,” Thurston says. “Pinch me; wake me up! He is a lovely horse, but I kind of almost feel like I had my turn already, so to come back and do it again… I’m just in shock.”

“He’s a dynamic horse, and he’s so much fun to ride. He’s got that presence, and he’s so beautiful. I’m a sucker for white [markings]; I know some people don’t like it, but when one trots in like that, you can’t miss them. I just think he’s got so much presence.”

Thurston has been working with trainer Shane Pope throughout this summer and has been able to ride and show the Good I Will Be-bred two-year-old several times. Coming up next at the Congress, Thurston will pilot “Jimmy” in the open division finals of the class next week.

2-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Ltd.

1-Good Will Huntin/Tami Thurston

2-Sleep Alilbit Longer/Farley Sliss

3-Sleeping Blaze/Beckey Schooler

4-Al Bet Cha/Keith Miller

5-Certifiably Good/Carmen Mayabb