Morning Champions at APHA World Show Include Saubolle, Ost, Roark, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

This morning’s classes at the APHA World Show kicked off bright and early with the 4 and 5-Year-Old Trail Sweepstakes. James Saubolle was in the saddle of Pop Sensation to take the win.

James has had his eye on the 5-year-old gelding by Zippos Sensation for some time now and was only recently able to seal the deal. “We purchased Chester in January of this year from Carly Parks,” James says. “I watched this horse all last year and begged her to sell him to me, and I kept getting a no. In the fall, I reached out again when I wanted to purchase a horse for a longtime client of mine, Libby Collins, because we were adamantly looking for a strong Trail horse.”

Luckily, his wish came true and Chester came to join Elite Show Horses. Next year, he will begin his all-around career with Libby, with a focus on Trail.

“He’s a little spooky and quirky, and I think that helps all Trail horses really stand out with a lot of good expression,” he says. “He always analyzes the poles, sometimes to a fault, but when calculated correctly it makes him a very careful Trail horse. There were a lot of tight trot overs in today’s pattern, and that’s his speciality because he goes very slow and is very snappy. He has a lot stay and is very responsive. When you show him, he’s very light.”

The Reserve Champion was Justin Watkins with Just Enuff Shine. Third was Carly Parks with Hunting Blue Skies. Fourth was Carly Parks with Cowboy Guns Blazing. Fifth was Ryan Painter with While U Were Asleep.

Winning Solid Paint Bred Weanling Mares was Chris Arentsen with SW Bet Sheza Legend. Reserve was Luke Castle with Talk To My Agent. Third was Kelley Stone with Transcending Heirs. The winner of Yearling Mares was Chris Arentsen with Plum Pretty Virtue. Reserve was Fred Tabor with Brooks Obsession. Third was JT Mitchell with Shez Stylistic Too.

Brad Ost rode Al Of A Sudden to win the 3-Year-Old Trail Sweepstakes. “Tulsa” is a double-registered RL Best of Sudden gelding out of an Allocate Your Assets mare. He was purchased by the Preston family at the NSBA World Show as a yearling, because of his striking resemblance to their beloved, multiple World Champion gelding, who recently passed away, Brokers Lucky Kid.

“This was only his third Trail pattern ever, and we kind of decided to do it last minute,” Brad says. “At first, his focus on the poles would scare him, but that translated into him honing his skills and becoming more aware of his legs. I have to put him in the right spots, but he can figure it out when he gets there. I thought about showing in a hackamore today, but I thought I would have better steering in a snaffle and then still have the ability to put him on a loose rein and show him.”

Last night, Tulsa was fifth in 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure and he placed in the Top 10 in Green Trail earlier this week proving his mettle as a future all-around horse.

“He has such a good look and great ring presence that we all love, so I think he will be great at whatever he does, whether it’s Performance Halter, Showmanship, or Horsemanship, but our big hope is for Western Riding.”

Reserve was Julie Schmidt with Best Made Machine. Third was Shannon Vroegh with The Batt Boy. Fourth was Chad Christensen with Make It Rain. Fifth was Karen Qualls with Icanbreakheartstoo.

In SPB 2-Year-Old and Older Mares, Ross Roark led Seretta to a win. When Alicia Baxley first saw the pretty mare, she was hooked.

“Don Roberts raised her, and we bought her at the beginning of this year,” she says. “She’s by I Gotta Cool Secret and out of an Execute daughter. When I first saw her, I fell in love. I’m one of those huggers and kissers. She walked in the barn and wrapped her neck around me and gave me a big hug. I couldn’t get past that beautiful eye and head, and I was done. She has so much potential.”

Currently in training with Jimmie Hardin, Serretta was led to the win by Ross Roark. “They both showed like a million dollars. That mare never moved, and she was first across the board. She loves seeing herself on the videotron.”

Serretta is double-registered and Alicia has plans to start showing at AQHA events next year. “She won at the Youth World with my grandson, Shane Burch, and my husband hopes to qualify her for the Select World.”

Reserve was Jarrell Jackson with FG Very Classy. Third was JT Mitchell with Espionage. Fourth was Joshua Larman with Star Six Venus. Fifth was Kerry Aycock with A Star Kid.

The 3-Year-Old Mares Champion was Luke Castle with Her Intention. Reserve was Jarrell Jackson with So What About That. Third was Ted Turner with HCF Baby Darling. Fourth was Colleen Kilpatrick Riedl with Sugar N Spice Girl. Fifth was Christyn Unzueta with Obviously A Playgirl.

The winner of Aged Mares was Tim Finkenbinder with Red Hot N Stylish. Reserve was Ross Roark with TNR Say Grace. Third was JT Mitchell with KR Lone Star Lola. Fourth was Ray Barton with Secret Blessing. Fifth was Scott Hanson with Stylish I Am.