Two-Year-Old Western Pleasure Stakes/Futurity Titles Go To Jay Starnes and Aaron Moses
Jay Starnes is greeted at the gate by his son Logan Starnes.
By: Brittany Bevis
After the 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle Futurities had been completed at the Congress, it was time for a change of pace with the Two-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Stakes and Limited Futurity. First up, Jay Starnes piloted A Lazy Holiday to a win for Andrea Rowland; the pair received a $4,066.62 check for the win. Coming in Reserve was Dave Archer with A Rage In Good Time for Kelley Mundrick. Third place was Katy Jo Zuidema with Honolulu Babe.
Starnes and “JD” have been successfully campaigning at major horse shows across the country all summer and have been racking up the titles. JD is a gelding by Lazy Loper and out of Rowland’s show mare, Shes On Holiday.
“He’s fun to show,” Starnes says. “‘I’ve shown him all summer, and we’ve won at the Tom Powers Futurity, the BCF Two-Year-Old [at the NSBA World Show], and tied to win the NSBA World Show, but lost the tiebreaker.”
Big trophy for a little boy!
Thus far, non-pro rider Alexa Rowland has competed with JD here at the Congress and qualified for the 2-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure finals that will take place on Wednesday. Following the Congress, Kristy Starnes will step aboard JD to show at the AQHA World Championship Show.
When asked what he likes best about this particular horse’s movement, Starnes credits his smooth cadence and “Steady Eddie” demeanor. “He has a good flow about him,” he says. “He’s really good over his top line, and he’s very consistent. He doesn’t change a lot.”
Aaron Moses gives For One Knight Only a good scratch for a job well done.
Next up in the 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity limited division, Aaron Moses rode the Roberts family’s new acquisition, For One Knight Only, to a big payday of $9,752.60. The Reserve Champion in the class was Brad Ost with Red Label for Charlie Cole and Jason Martin. Third place was Josh Robertson with Ms RL Flashy Goodbar for Olivia Hoecker.
Just a few days ago, non-pro rider Hillary Roberts rode “Sid” to a win in the non pro version of the class. Later on in the show, both Roberts and Moses will compete again in their respective non pro open and open divisions.
Moses describes the 2-year-old gelding by Invitation Only as a horse that gets better with each ride. “He’s a horse that’s just gotten better all year long, the more you ride him,” he says. “He shows as good as he can. He goes in there and does his job. He is a sweepy mover with a good top line.”
2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Stakes–
1- A Lazy Holiday/Jay Starnes- $4,066.62
2-A Rage In Good Time/Dave Archer- $2,927.97
3-Honolulu Babe/Katy Jo Zuidema- $2,114.64
4-No Doubt Im Trouble/Maggie Grandquist
5-Best Game In Town/Angie Rigdon Cannizzaro
6-Cool Lady Lopin/Gil Galyean
7-Maid U Look/Kyle DeFreece
8-Hez Lopin Lazy/Aaron Moses
9-Man What A Diva/Kristy Starnes
10-She Will Be Hot/Jennifer Stein
2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity limited-
1- For One Knight Only/Aaron Moses- $9,752.60
2- Red Label/Brad Ost- $7,021.87
3- Ms RL Flashy Goodbar/Josh Robertson- $5,071.35
4- Play On/Claire Binkowski
5-HP Surely Im Sleepy/Darren Putnam
6- Dodge Da Bullit/Justin Wheeler
7- Im The Dude/Jamie Zuidema
8- Hot Illusions/Brain Rastall
9- Cool Huntin Lady/Adam Smith
10- Skips Sparkling Hot/Marc Pile
