Long before there was a Park Pleasure designation for flat shod horses, California had Park Pleasure classes for padded horses minus the action device. Included in the Trainers’ Show schedule with “West Coast” as part of the class description, the longtime star of that division, Captain Joe’s Reward, continued his reign supreme with Adrienne Cappuccio doing the honors for her mom, Harriet Cappuccio.
Flat Shod Park Pleasure had standout talent in every category. The Open Three-Year-Old event saw the Mike and Marilee Moran property, Flash Of Rain, in the winner’s circle with Manuel Rodriquez in the irons. The Four and Under Open Specialty blue was accepted by Gen’s Lady Fair and Jamey Thompson for owner Nadea Watt. Another Watt-sponsored property, Bad News Gold Hard Cash, dominated the Western classes with trainer Trish Wooten riding to the Open Three-Gait and Open Specialty wins with his owner doing the direction for the Amateur Specialty premier blue for the pair.
Patriot Score and Brianna Dotson were called to accept the Park Pleasure Junior Rider trophy for the More Family ownership, while Demara Nuzum and her Score Triple Sevens topped the Novice class to follow up their Amateur Show win. The Guylene Ozlanski-sponsored Countdown's Cordell Walker prevailed in the Amateur Specialty Stake event with his owner at the controls, and in the Open Stake with trainer Jamey Thompson up.
The Lite Shod competition spotlighted some of the best pleasure stock in the country. Double Java and trainer Manuel Rodriquez made another winning ride for the Open Three and Under honors, with Java returning later under Marcy Drummond’s direction for a strong Amateur Specialty Stake performance to extend his winning streak with two more titles. Mark and Marcy Drummond are the proud owners. Wendy Shaw and WC Pushin’ For Pleasure, who were called to the Open Four-Year-Old honors, represented the Bill and Betsy Marzinzik backing with their blue ribbon performances.
Another Shaw-trained entry, the venerable Mama’s Hands, heard his name called on four occasions; Western Amateur Specialty with Brittney Ellis, Novice Specialty with Megan Rodriquez, and in the Junior Rider and Trail Obstacles classes with Shayna Shaw. Janis Brown is the very generous owner of the tried-and-true roan gelding. Also closing out with four titles to her credit was the legendary WGC Genius’ Dixie Chick, who claimed the Amateur Three Gait and Open Three Gait Stake awards with proud owner Sheila Kyle, the English Open Specialty with Danny Wooten, and the Western Open Specialty under Trish Wooten’s direction.
California’s Lite Shod Pleasure stars are sure to be among the top contenders in Tennessee this summer. He’s A Wrangler is the new kid on the block who prevailed in the Amateur Four-Year-Old, Western Amateur, and Open Specialties and the Open Specialty Stake classes with Maggie Moore in the saddle for the Harvey and Maggie Moore ownership.
Pride’s Mega Force and trainer Trish Wooten rode to the English Open Specialty award for the Four J Land and Cattle Company backing, while the veteran Allied Commander landed the Novice and Amateur Specialty blues, thanks to Melissa Washington’s direction for Thomason and Wittick. Rounding out the gallery of winners was the nationally recognized Hit And Run, who had the English and Western Three Gait wins with owner Bill Marzinzik and the Junior Rider blue teamed with Lauren Shaw.
The Trail Pleasure entries were in abundance at the Trainers’ Show, and winning a ribbon in one of the large classes was a real accomplishment. National Celebration High Point Trail Pleasure star, To Die For!, was front and center for the Western Amateur Specialty tie, thanks to Shayna Shaw’s expert direction for owner Janis Brown. Papa’s Queen Lady and Summar Shamma kept their streak alive with wins in the English Amateur Specialty and Junior Rider classes, while Jannie Earhart’s owner-trained Royal Prince Charlie scored the Novice blue with Rebecca Themelis as well as the English and Western Three Gait ties under the ringmanship of the teenaged owner.
The Spotted Saddle Horse events found Scott and Vicki Nelson’s R Luck In Dixie stepping up for the Western Open Specialty with trainer Wendy Shaw in the saddle, and the English Open Specialty and English/Western Open Stake champion, Chief Battle Cry, in the winner’s circle teamed with trainer Manuel Rodriquez for the Hughes and Hofstee partnership.
Courtesy Stables trainer, Raul Puentes, produced and directed the Weanling winner, Command’s Most Wanted, and the Yearling starlet, Memory’s Twist About, for proud owner/breeder, Eva McClure. He also showed Kathy Beard’s stallion, Threat’s Midnight Threat, to the Model Class recognition.
Rounding out the roster of Trainers’ Show winners was the Equitation champion, D.J. Clairville, who trains with Sue Wittick and company for the specialized discipline.