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Tom
McCutcheon & Major Jesse Win
Fiesta in the Park Open Maturity
The
inaugural Fiesta in the Park began with a bang on Wednesday August 28
with the Fiesta Maturity. Tom McCutcheon, Aubrey, Texas, and Major Jesse
drew up in the first group to make a 224-point run. The high score held
for the remainder of the class and Tom took home the championship. The
Open Maturity, a competition for 4-year-old horses, was a headline event
that gave one-year’s use of a 2005 four-horse aluminum Featherlite
trailer from Kentucky Lake
Trailer Sales of Calvert City,
Kentucky, along with a check for $3,775.
“I drew up early so I knew I would have to go pretty hard
because there were a lot of good horse and good riders afterwards,” Tom
said following his win. “I felt like it was going to take a 24 or 25 to
be the winner and my horse felt good everywhere.”
Major Jesse, by Major Vaquero and out of Jesses Affair, has
impressed Tom since day one. The horse has placed in the top 10 at each
competition he’s shown at, including the NRHA Futurity, the NRHA Derby
and the NRBC, but championships seemed to evade him, until now.
“I was glad to jump up and put some kind of a major title on
him,” Tom said. “He’s just easy and consistent and he can plus-one any
maneuver. He has the ability to do a lot and he’s easy to show.”
Tom’s schedule at the Fiesta didn’t end after the Maturity.
He is competing with three horses in the Adequan®/USEF Open
Championship, which takes place Saturday evening.
Sam Smith, Belle Center, Ohio, earned the reserve
championship riding Miss Brim Star for Veronica Phillips.
Shannon Fowler, Lebanon, Indiana, and Lil Jewel picked up
the Intermediate Open win with a 220. Tyler Baumgardt owns Lil Jewel, by
Lil Ruf Peppy and out of Dots Jewel. Shannon and the horse also finished
fourth in the Open and won the Limited Open for total Fiesta earnings of
$2,867.
In the Non Pro Maturity, Lisa Cover, of Ardmore, Oklahoma,
rode Mr Chocoholic for the first-place check of $1,677. Lisa and the
gelding, by Chocolate Chic Olena and out of Lady Bee Great, posted a 219
for the win.
“He walked in and got low and just waited. He circled really
well, came back really well and he spun really well in both directions,”
Lisa said of her run.
The only thing Lisa wasn’t completely comfortable with was
her stops.
“He can really stop, but I think I could have gone a little
bit harder; I could have been a littler more aggressive,” she explained.
“I actually think I got in his way.”
Lisa bought “Holic” last November during the NRHA Derby
through her trainer, Troy Heikes. She said the gelding really fits her
because of his great mind, athleticism and tremendous personality.
Sarah Johnson, Gainesville, Texas, and Fancy Red Short Oak,
owned by Sarah’s father, Craig Johnson, picked up the Non Pro Reserve
and Intermediate Non Pro championships. By Short Oak and out of Fancy
Roanie, Fancy Red Short Oak marked a 217.5 to take home total earnings
of $1,744.
Kentucky reiner Lyndsey Jordan rode Rooster Sugs to the
Limited Non Pro Championship. Lyndsey marked a 212.5 to earn $350 with
the horse by Gallo Del Cielo and out of Sugs Gay Annie. The pair also
finished fifth in the Non Pro and third in the Intermediate Non Pro for
total earnings of $1,210.
In the Prime Time Non Pro Holly Casey, from Mansfield,
Georgia, and Tuffys Lil Gun scored a 203.5 for $309. By Lil Ruf Peppy
and out of Miss Sissy Gun, Tuffys Lil Gun also placed fifth in the
Limited Non Pro for an additional $92.
The Fiesta continues tomorrow at 8 am with the Novice Horse
Open and runs through Sunday evening at the historic Kentucky Horse Park
in Lexington, Kentucky. For information on the Fiesta in the Park,
contact Pro Management at 580-759-2572 or visit www.fiestainthepark.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Abby Whitaker
Cheryl Magoteaux
Pro Management
Media & Public Relations
13181 US Highway 177, Byars, Oklahoma 74831
405-238-9893 (at Show) Fax: 580-759-3999
E-Mail:
abby@magoteaux.com
Cheryl@magoteaux.com |
