The first four days of competition at the 33rd Paso Fino Horse Association Grand National Championship Show are now in the history books. The very first class of the show, Pleasure Schooling Four-Year-Old Fillies had a total of 48 entries and Dictadora de Flat Rock, ridden by Shaw Laney and owned by Paul and Ali Casey, topped the class.

Fifteen national champions were crowned on the first day and 17 the second. Competition on Monday included the very first Pleasure Amateur Owner Geldings For Gold class, won by Antonete de Salsipuedes, ridden and owned by Show Chair Stephanie Livingston. Two more Amateur Owner Geldings for Gold classes will be held this week, one Fino and one Performance. The winners of each Amateur Geldings for Gold class will receive a saddle from Josber International. Other classes held Monday include the Pleasure Amateur Owner Mares class, won by Armonia QC, ridden and owned by Moira Judas Smith, and the Performance Amateur Owner Stallions class, won by Evangelio, ridden by Julio Perez, Jr., and owned by Lori and Julio Perez Jr.

Day three of the competition hosted the first championship class of the show. Villano de La Clara, owned by Denise Boorman and handled by Cese and Pat Figueroa, topped the class of outstanding stallions to top the Bellas Formas Stallions and Colts Championship. The last class of the Tuesday evening was the exciting Performance Amateur Owner Mare class, won by Maraquita La Rosa Tres, ridden by Alexia Love and owned by Davis Love, III. The Performance Geldings For Gold winner for the second straight year was Artillero Arroyo Maraca, owned by Dick Miller and ridden by Jorge Suarez. The very first Amateur Owner Geldings for Gold class was held on Tuesday. It was the Pleasure division and the winner was Antonete de Salsipuedes, ridden and owned by Livingston.

Day four saw the crowning of more national champions. In a tough Pleasure Mares and Fillies Championship, Coloso's Musica PM, owned by Paul E. Mercer and piloted by Bill Minter, took top honors. For the second straight year, Primrose Path Experimento, owned by Primrose Path Farms and ridden by Brenda Jo Moore, was crowned champion in the Fino Amateur Owner Stallions and Colts Championship.

Thursday's action will include the Pleasure Amateur Owner Mares and Fillies Championship, The Fino Amateur Owner Geldings Championship, the Performance Amateur Owner Geldings Championship and the Pleasure Stallions and Colts Championship, in addition to the first youth classes of the competition.

In addition to competition with amateur, youth and open divisions, clinics and youth activities, the event features a trade fair with more than 50 vendors selling tack, gifts, clothing, jewelry, trailers and even RVs.

The competition continues through Saturday, with classes starting at 8 a.m. each day. For complete results visit the PFHA web site at www.pfha.org.



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