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 Finals of 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 Reining 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 parents, Craig and Lyn 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 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.
