Paige Johnson Sweeps Amateur Owner/Junior High Division with Amagedon 3 and Chiron S at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show

Lexington, KY- The sun was shining down on The Kentucky Horse Park as the Kentucky Summer Horse Show came to a close today. The feature jumper class was the Amateur Owner/Junior High Classic. Paige Johnson and Chiron S, owned by Salamander Farm of The Plains, VA took top honors.

Johnson and Chiron S went double clear with a time of 33.002 seconds. "It was a nice course, it definitely had some complicated things about it. The water line was very careful because you are coming in off a short turn, so if you have a horse who's a little spooky at the water, you might get caught there. After the water you're always a little bit flat, or a little bit getting run away with so you lose a little bit of control. Going to that big, tall oxer in the corner is a big test. The last line was really complicated, big oxer toward the in gate, liverpool, lots of distractions," explained Johnson. "You feel better after riding it, which good courses do. You learn something."

In second place, with a time of 34.913 was Julia Lourie and Vivaldi, owned by Spy Coast Farm of East Setauket, NY. Third went to Shakira, owned and shown by Jennifer Waxman of Chagrin Falls, OH, completing the course in 36.097. Coming back to pick up the white ribbon was Paige Johnson aboard Quibble N. The duo was the last to go double clear and completed the seven-fence jump off in a time of 42.131 seconds. "There is no jump big enough for him," said Johnson.

Fifth place went to Sherra Harison and Showtime, owned by Bright's Creek Holdings LLC of Columbus, NC. The pair finished in a time of 35.765 with a rail at fence 11b. Rounding out the jump-off in sixth place was Olyna, owned and shown by Gabrielle Stern of Riverwoods, IL, with a time of 35.010 and eight jumping faults.

The class came to a close around 11:30 am with the championship and reserve championship ribbons being awarded to Paige Johnson. Johnson swept the class with the help of champion, Amagedon 3 and reserve champion, Chiron S.

"I got Chiron S right before Florida. It's very hard to move up in Florida because the courses are set for the top riders. I've done Florida, Kentucky Spring, Lake Placid, and Kentucky Summer with him, so we actually haven't shown that much. He has so much potential, he's so much fun to ride," Johnson smiled, "It's so nice to have a horse that has that heart." Johnson plans to take her time with her new horse, Chiron S. "I'm young, he's young, and I really just want to get a good relationship going. We're starting to figure each other out. We're able to go fast in jump-offs, we're really starting to click."

Although Johnson did not make it to today's jump-off aboard Amagedon 3, a win in the first class and a second in yesterday's class was enough to clinch the championship. "Amagedon is more green, he's so careful, he never wants to make a mistake," Johnson articulated. "This is the first time we've done the highs in a while and this was a really nice height for him. It was big enough that you're testing him but comfortable enough that he felt like he could do it."

Earlier in the day, championship and reserve championship honors were awarded in the low amateur owner/junior jumpers. Marque Cincotta aboard Chappie, owned by Centennial Farm of Palmetto, FL garnered the championship prize. Happy Hour, owned and shown by Jessica Leto of Foxpoint, WI was awared reserve champion tricolor.

The Kentucky Summer Classic starts August 6, 2008 and concludes Sunday, August 10, 2008.  The $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, part of the Hagyard Challenge Series, will take place Thursday, August 7, beginning at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, August 9, at 6:00 p.m. the show will host the $40,000 RV Sales of Broward Kentucky Classic Grand Prix, a member event of the AGA Grand Prix Series. Both classes will be held in the spacious Walnut Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park.

For more information on the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

CLASS: HIGH A-O/JR JPR CLASSIC II 2a LEV 7

1 967 CHIRON S PAIGE JOHNSON SALAMANDER FARM 0 0 0 73.719 0 0 0 33.002
2 274 VIVALDI JULIA LOURIE SPY COAST FARM 0 0 0 74.008 0 0 0 34.913
3 723 SHAKIRA JENNIFER WAXMAN JENNIFER WAXMAN 0 0 0 74.044 0 0 0 36.097
4 971 QUIBBLE N PAIGE JOHNSON SALAMANDER FARM 0 0 0 76.056 0 0 0 42.131
5 308 SHOWTIME SHERRA HARRISON BRIGHT'S CREEK HOLDINGS 0 0 0 75.474 4 0 4 35.765 6 212 OLYNA GABRIELLE STERN GABRIELLE STERN 0 0 0 73.737 8 0 8 35.010
7 721 OUTLINE JENNIFER WAXMAN JENNIFER WAXMAN 0 1 1 78.403
8 530 FIREWATER ALICIA GAMBOA WCEC LLC 4 0 4 70.122
9 968 AMAGEDON 3 PAIGE JOHNSON SALAMANDER FARM 4 0 4 70.510
10 65 TRIXY 5 SAMANTHA TUERK SAMANTHA TUERK 4 0 4 72.457
11 907 KRUIMEL JESSICA LETO JESSICA LETO 4 0 4 72.702
12 66 MAGIGUE DES VAUX SAMANTHA TUERK SAMANTHA TUERK 4 0 4 72.893

CLASS: LOW A-O JPR CLASSIC II 2a LEVEL 5

1 76 CHAPPIE MARQUE CINCOTTA CENTENNIAL FARM 0 0 0 72.017 0 0 0 25.853
2 909 HAPPY HOUR JESSICA LETO JESSICA LETO 0 0 0 75.565 0 0 0 26.453
3 703 PERFORMANCE COLORADO COLIN SYQUIA SHADOWFAX Fm 0 0 0 76.959 0 0 0 27.484
4 276 TANAVELLE JULIA LOURIE SPY COAST FARM 0 0 0 77.639 0 0 0 27.943
5 1051 JULIUS AMY JENNINGS AMY JENNINGS 0 0 0 76.255 4 0 4 27.891
6 472 WALL E RAE MARIE KENNEDY RAE MARIE KENNEDY 0 1 1 78.518
7 1000 SERENA DANIEL VASCONCELOS DANIEL VASCONCELOS 0 1 1 78.614
8 682 CALIMBA SANDY GREGORY SANDY GREGORY 0 2 2 79.535
9 855 ARISTIDE CLAUDIA BILLUPS CLAUDIA BILLUPS 4 0 4 72.017
10 351 IRON MICHAEL BURNETT MICHAEL BURNETT 4 0 4 73.304
11 290 CREATA CHRISTINA KELLY BARBARA KELLY 4 0 4 74.559
12 391 LUCKY SOLITAIRE ROBIN SWEELY ACORN HILL FARM 4 0 4 74.903

Photo Credit: Paige Johnson pilots Chiron S to the in the Amateur Owner/Junior High Classic at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Photo By: Kenneth Kraus/PhelpsSports.com