10/14 Morning Congress Champions Include Robertson, Wellhouse, Turner, Roark, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

Halter classes for today at the Quarter Horse Congress started off with Performance Halter Stallions, a class won by Ted Turner at the lead of True Blue Bayou. Reserve was Ross Roark with Incognito Sirprize. Third was Gretchen Mathes with Figured Im Invited. Fourth was Jonathan Meilleur with I Am The Party. Fifth was Brian Bennett with DGS Vintage.

In Yearling Stallions, Tom Robertson led Irrefutable to a win. Reserve was Ross Roark with Bigger Dreams. Third was Jason Smith with GLS Uptown Secret. Fourth was Michael Booker with Giannis Malibu Bay. Fifth was James Wagner with Kidscoolsifiedstyle.

Tom Robertson led Evinceble to win 2-Year-Old Stallions for Scott Trahan. Reserve was Tim Finkenbinder with I Got Cool Luck. Third was Chris Byrd with The Image Consultant.

The owner of Evinceble, Scott Trahan is extremely pleased with “Vince’s” performance today and is excited for the future. “He won the World in Amateur and Open, as a yearling, and he won at the Congress as yearling, so he’s pretty accomplished already,” Trahan says. “He’s by Mister Elusive, and his mom is a really great, N/N multiple champion Halter horse, Ladies N Lace, out of the great mare, Deja Vu, so he’s really breed to the hilt.”

“Conformationally, he’s as good of a conformation stallion as this industry has seen in a long time. He’s so balanced and has stayed that way the whole time. Christ Arentsen foaled him out, and he stood up right away and was so level. He’s 16.2 hands now, and he makes the perfect silhouette. His shoulder is situated back, he has a beautiful, long croup, and he has good hocks.”

Vince has already bred 15 mares in 2019 and, at the conclusion of the year, he will head to Kim Dean’s facility in Gainesville, Texas to stand at stud. “She’s a real pro and has been doing this for a long time, and I feel, under her leadership, hopefully this horse will have a good long life.”

Ross Roark led Intended To Be to win 3-Year-Old Stallions for Ricardo Rejon. Reserve was Dewey Smith with Whoisit. Third was Ted Turner with Romeiro. Fourth was Rick Leek with Escort. Fifth was Barry Byrd with Whiskey For My Mocca. Ross Roark then led Secret Diablo to win Aged Stallions, also for Ricardo.

Joaquin Delon, who works for Ricardo Rejon, explains that Intended To Be is a Paint Horse, Quarter Horse, and a Palomino, and this year he’s won all three major breed championships. “He’s by Intensions and out of a Golden Gunslinger mare. He’s double-papered AQHA/APHA. He won at the Paint World two weeks ago, and then he won at the Palomino World and was Premiere, and he just won at the Congress.”

Tim Finkenbinder helped Joaquin find this stallion and, in addition to his confirmation, Ricardo loved his coloring. Ricardo also had another winner at the show today. Ross Roark led Secret Diablo to win Aged Stallions.

The Grand Champion Stallion was Evinceble, led by Tom Robertson for Scott D. Trahan. The Reserve Grand Champion Stallion was Intended To Be, led by Ross Roark for Ricardo Rejon.

Over in the Celeste Center, Maeve McLoughlin rode Blue Illusions to win Level 1 Amateur Equitation over Fences. Reserve was Cindy Triscari with Every One In Awhile. Third was Christie Grafford with Stretch Limo. Fourth was Anna Ahlers with One Bold Invitation. Fifth was Emily Trapp with Kiss My Blue Asset.

In 13 and Under Equitation Over Fences, Denim Wellhouse rode Naturally Immortal to a win. Reserve was Hannah Jackson with Moxie Girl. Third was Paisley Chamberlain with Sonnys Hot Fantasy. Fourth was Maggie Britt with Minute Maximus. Fifth was Liberty Pennington with Romantic Lass.

12-year-old Denim Wellhouse rode 8-year-old Naturally Immortal to win her first Congress Champion title in her favorite class. Denim competes under the guidance of her mother, Jenny Wellhouse, and Linda Crothers.

“Sometimes, it’s a lot of pressure; because, my trainer is my mom, and I want to impress her and have her be proud of me,” Denim says.

Denim has been showing since she was six years old and she’s thrilled to win her first Congress Champion title. Earlier at the show, she won the NSBA division of 13 and Under Working Hunter. “It feels good, because I’ve had him for a long time, so it’s nice to finally win something.”

Now that she’s won her first Congress Champion title, Denim is looking forward to getting a dog, specifically a French Bulldog here at Puppy Alley.