Grand National Triumphs—Headlining our winning entries was Locutus (Astronomicallee x Essex Primetime), who came home with the crown of Reserve World Champion Junior Gelding and Reserve Grand National Champion Two Year Old Gelding for breeder/owners Don & Denise Wetmore of Papillion, NE. Briar Oaks Good Vibrations (HVK Vibrance x Penncrest Dyna Pepper) turned in two strong performances in the Park Saddle division to be Reserve Grand National Champion Park Saddle Mare, and finished Top Five in the World Park Saddle Championship for breeder/owners Denny & Toni Maunder of Weathersford, TX. Keepsake's Miss Scarlet (Ebony Souvern x Aspenglow Sakura) was very competitive in the four year old pleasure division for Lynette Husmann of Washington, MO. Scarlet finished sixth in a large Grand National English Pleasure 4 Yr Old Mare class, and was also third in the Grand National Pleasure Driving 4 Yr Old Mares.

Keepsake's Miss Scarlet

Jubilations from the Jubilee Regional —Rae's Ruby Soho (Issues 'N Answers x Hartland Artistry), a stunning redheaded weanling filly bred and owned by Erin Briggs of Union, MO, strutted her stuff to win the Open Weanling Filly class and she was also a strong 3rd in a large class of Futurity Weanling Fillies with Brian Hadley on the lead. Locutus (Astronomicallee x Essex Primetime), a big, tail-flagging youngster bred and owned by Don & Denise Wetmore of Papillion, NE, won his 2 Yr Old Gelding class and then went on to be crowned Junior Champion Gelding. Aries Patton (CCR's Outrajus Corajus x Morgan Flairchild) was Reserve in the Two Year Old Stallions In Hand for breeder Jeanne Thomas of Fredericksburg, TX.

Aries Patton

Illinois State Fair features large classes and good quality—Lakee First Impression (Pensive Flashback x Techno Bailey's Comet), in her second year of performance, stepped up to take the Champion Junior Horse English Pleasure honors and was also Junior Pleasure Driving Champion for the second consecutive year. Just for good measure, she was also Reserve Open Pleasure Driving Champion for breeders Lani & Larry Prater of Illinois. Briar Oaks Rock My World (Liberation First Star x Ryan's Caprice) was a star for owners Denny & Toni Maunder of Weatherford, TX, taking a very impressive Reserve out of 18 in the Open Hunter Pleasure class.

Congratulations—Charm & Innocence (Pot of Gold x SMS Arielle) was selected by Debbie and Dennis Haas to be their companion on the beautiful trails of Wisconsin. Happy trails!

Briar Oaks Rock My World

2009 Midwest Charity Winners —Keepsake's Miss Scarlet (Ebony Souvern x Aspenglow Sakura), was reserve in English Pleasure Junior Horse and Reserve Champion Open English Pleasure, in her saddle debut for Lynette Husmann of Washington, MO. Scarlet showed her versatility by also taking 3rd in the Pleasure Driving Junior Horse qualifier. Briar Oaks Rock My World (Liberation First Star x Ryan's Caprice), captured a solid Reserve in the Open Hunter Pleasure qualifier with Brian Hadley aboard for owners Denny & Toni Maunder of Weatherford, TX. "Roxy" also carried Jodi Hadley to a strong 4th place finish in the Ladies class. Brian was back in the irons for a 4th in the Championship. Briar Oaks Good Vibrations (HVK Vibrance x Penncrest Dyna Pepper) made two good showings in the Park Saddle qualifier and Championship, winning both in fine style for the Maunders with Brian Hadley up.

News from the UPHA Chapter 5 Show in Kansas City—Keepsake's Miss Scarlet (Ebony Souvern x Aspenglow Sakura), in her first appearance of 2009, topped the Junior Pleasure Driving class in grand style with Brian Hadley on the lines.

Congratulations to Ledyard Farms, William Haines, on his purchase of Dutch-Mor's Joy (Astronomicallee x Pompp And Pazazz), a stunning 2006 daughter of two World Champion producing horses. Alicia Fraser of Scottfield Stables represented Mr. Haines in this sale. Nelson Gingerich of Dutch-Mor Stables, Bloomfield, IA was the former owner, Brian Hadley agent.