The Walking Horse Championship tie is finally broken! And it wasn’t by one of the six that were in a tie last week. A strong group of horses in all divisions headed to Jackson, Mississippi for what was reportedly their best show ever. And the impact on the High Point Report was felt throughout the performance categories!

The competition in the open championship field was fierce but Joe Cotten and Main Power won both the qualifier and the Walking Horse Championship to win 40 points, which was enough to take the lead.

Also leaping ahead of our six-way field of winners was I’m A Five Star General, who earned third at Jackson to add to his win at Holly Springs to take second place in our High Point Report. Paycheck by MG also topped the field with 24 points earned with a third in the qualifier at Jackson and a prior third in Alabama.

Two Jackson victories propelled Dragonfly to a strong lead in the four-year-old category. Jimmy McConnell showed Dragonfly to dual four-year-old victory passes at Jackson to add 40 points to his point total for a leading 58 points. Highway Robbery is at second in the standings after earning additional points at Jackson with a third and fourth place finish.

The McConnell-Medina team also claimed the top spot in the open mares and geldings category with two Jackson wins for Barracuda. Mary Medina was in the irons of They Call Me Sir, to earn a second place tie in Jackson and a second place standing (54 points) in the high points behind John FK’s Pusher, who currently has 60 points.

Bud Moore also gets to enjoy two top spots this week. The three-year-old star Zulu claimed two reserve honors in Jackson with Knox Blackburn to add to a reserve finish from the Purchase Area show for a total of 42 points to lead the High Point Report.

Suzanne Littell stepped into the irons of amateur four-year-old contender Sky Jam, owned by Littell and Moore, with winning results. They won the amateur four-year-old stallion class at Jackson and returned to a reserve finish in the championship. Added to their points earned at the National Trainers' Show, they are leading the High Point Report with 56 points.

Texas Salsa and Nancy Groover won’t leave Littell and Sky Jam much breathing room. They won both the Amateur Four-Year-Old Mares and Geldings and the Stake to earn their first 40 points of the season and a second place standing in the points race.

Lots of two-year-olds were on hand to compete in Jackson and several made their mark on the points standings with strong showings in Mississippi. Points leader A Flash Of Lightning and John Allan Callaway earned a first and a third place finish this weekend to add to their third place finish at the Trainers' Show. This makes a grand total of 52 points for High Point Report leader A Flash of Lightning for owners C & E Miller Farms.

Knox Blackburn directed On The Line to a first and third place finish in the two-year-old competition to claim 36 points from Jackson. Mickey McCormick and Shock Jock earned an equal 36 points in Jackson with two second place finishes.

A third place finish in Jackson’s 15.2 and Under Mare/Gelding class maintained Tennessee Gen and John Allan Callaway at the top of the 15.2 and under category combined with their first place finish from the Trainers' Show.

Sandra Hodgson and Dr. Perfect managed to hold on to the high point position despite not showing at Jackson. Chuck Cheek and Ultra Copy’s Dark Shadow added 30 points with a third and fourth place finish in Jackson to add to their second place finish at the Alabama Ladies Auxiliary. This puts them only one point behind the Trainers’ Show champions in the High Point Report.

Renee Carlton is another lucky exhibitor to top two high point categories. Carlton and Dumas claimed a second and a third place finish at Jackson to add to their two wins at Starkville and Alabama for a total of 52 points to top the amateur 15.2 and under category. Sandra Johnson and John FK’s Delight made their season debut a winning one to earn two Jackson wins and 40 points.

Carlton also topped the amateur three-year-old category with Fame Seeker. They earned a second and third place finish at Jackson to take the lead. Brenda Bramlett and Jazzed Up, and Lee Wall and Master of Jazz tied for a reserve point standing with Bramlett earning a second and third place finish in Jackson, while Wall earned a first and fourth place tie. Caresse Mills and Willie Mays aren’t far behind with a first and a fifth place finish in Jackson.

There’s a tight points race going on in the amateur two-year-old ranks. David Warner and JFK’s Evening Legend won the Amateur Two-Year-Old Stake at Jackson and were fifth in the championship to add to their fourth place Trainers' Show finish and to top the category with 46 points.

Second, third and fourth earned 41, 40 and 38 points respectively. They are Key Whiz and Tommy Vinson, who earned a second and a fourth place finish in Jackson; Lee Wall and Shakin For Cash, who won and earned a reserve finish in Jackson; and Jaclyn Tillman and The Lady Hawk, who earned two reserve finishes.

James Vernon and Gen’s Super Stroke continue to set the pace in the High Point Report. Showing in seven classes at five shows already, Vernon and Super Stroke earned a second and fourth place finish in Jackson to continue their reign at the top of the High Point Report. Insomnia and Keith Johnson won’t sleep until they make it close. They earned a win and a reserve in Jackson to earn the second highest 76 points.

Another frequent shower, Michelle Walker and Spellbound Generator earned a grand total of 56 points from their fourth and fifth place finishes in Jackson plus three wins from Starkville, Holly Springs and Purchase Area.

Hard Promises and Hollis Anthony maintained the lead in the 11 and under age group with a fourth place finish in Jackson. Kristopher Ausburn and Inside Track won in Jackson to bring their point total to 38 points, only two points behind the leader.

Joel Johnson added another win to his Walking Pony repertoire with Olympic Encore. The Jackson win added to their Trainers' Show win to give them a point total of 40 points to top the walking pony category.

By the time this paper goes to press, the Gulf Coast Charity will be well underway. As another double point show sometimes offering qualifiers and championships, look for this show to have another drastic effect on the leader board!