FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

Karen Healey Stables Has Big Wins at Memorial Day Classic Horse Show; Samantha Harrison Takes Hunter Derby, Shelby Wakeman Receives Blues at Devon

Burbank, CA - May 29, 2008
Karen Healey Stables, which is based in Westlake Village, CA, had a stellar week of competition at the Memorial Day Classic. They won big classes and challenged in the equitation and jumpers at the competitive show. Top equitation rider Shelby Wakeman of Westlake Village traveled across the country to compete at the 2008 Devon Horse Show and brought home huge wins.

Facing some of the best equitation riders in the nation, Wakeman and her mount San Francisco won sections of two huge classes, the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search and the ASPCA Maclay. They also finished sixth in the WIHS Equitation and seventh in the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal class, presented by Becker College.

At the Memorial Day Classic, Samantha Harrison of La Canada, CA, and her horse Triple Lutz were the winners of the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby over 30 other competitors. They won in the two round format and led the class in scoring over both trips. Sixth place in the derby went to Michelle Morris and Eventual.

In the $25,000 Memorial Day Classic Grand Prix, assistant trainer Kasey Ament rode two clear rounds and finished in second place on W.C. Swing, owned by Carol Bird. It was W.C. Swing's grand prix debut. Ament and W.C. Swing were the first to go clear in the opening round of the grand prix, which had 30 entries. Only four advanced to the jump-off, and as the first in the ring, Ament set down a clear, smooth trip that netted them second place at the end of the class.

The Memorial Day Classic Equitation Challenge was a fun and interesting class for the riders this past week. Navona Gallegos and Yvette Lang-Einczig of Karen Healey Stables (KHS) teamed with top young professional Nick Haness. There were 27 teams of 3 riders each, and after two rounds of competition, the Gallegos/Lang-Einczig/Haness team finished in second place. Third place went to the team of KHS riders Tina DiLandri and Katie Gardner with professional John Bragg.

In the Amateur-Owner Over 35 Hunters, Tammy Chipko of Westlake Village, CA, and her horse All That are currently leading Zone 10 and are second in the nation in points. This past week, they added even more of a lead with a championship in the division. They also won the Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic. Second in the classic and second in the Zone 10 standings is Chipko on her second horse Amnesty, who also got good ribbons in the hunter division last week.

KHS riders dominated the equitation classes at the Memorial Day Classic. In the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search class, Sophie Benjamin took first place on Cabo Z. Michelle Morris was third, while Gallegos was fifth. DiLandri and Mr. B won the WIHS Equitation Classic, while Benjamin was third, Morris was fourth, Samantha Harrison was fifth, and sister Haley Harrison was seventh. Morris moved up to win the ASPCA Maclay, and Samantha Harrison was second on a young equitation horse, Regatton, owned by Karen Healey. Hannah Bibb was fourth in the Maclay, while Holly Dickinson finished seventh and Demi Stiegler was eighth. Benjamin was second in the USEF Medal and Morris was fourth.

Dickinson rode to the blue ribbon in the Rosewood Medal, while Stiegler finished second in the THIS medal. Stiegler finished fifth in the CPHA Medal, while Haley Harrison was seventh. Benjamin received third in the WCE Medal and Jocelyn Neff was sixth.

In the CPHA Foundation class, there were 47 entries. Tina DiLandri and Mr. B triumphed for first place, while Samantha Harrison was second on Regatton. Harrison picked up the reserve championship in the Equitation 14-15 division after they finished first, second, and third in the classes.

Gallegos was the champion of the Equitation 16-17 division on Contendra. They won two classes in the division. In the Equitation 36-50 division, Lang-Einczig and Jaded finished first, third, and fourth.

After a two year absence from the show ring, Yvette Harris returned to pick up competitive ribbons of third in the Novice Equitation 18 & Over, fourth in the Maiden Equitation, and fifth in the Limit Equitation over fences classes.

More ribbons decorated the tack room at the Memorial Day Classic from the jumpers at the show. Lauren Kay and her new horse Damiro 21 helped out the blue ribbon contingent when they won two classes in the Young Jumper 7 & 8 Year Old division. They finished third in the remaining class.

Alex Block and Kool Shoes took home two wins in the Modified Junior/Amateur Jumpers, which gave them the championship in the division. In the same division, Juliana Ball and Sjapoo finished second. In the 1.20m Jumpers, Ball and Sjapoo finished second in the first class of the division, were second in the 1.20m Jumper Stake, and finished fourth in a third class. They were coached by assistant trainer Amanda Ballew. On her second horse Philadelphia, Ball was second and third in the Children's Jumpers.

Ament and Golden Flip, owned by Donna Neff, won a 1.30m Jumper class. Golden Flip and Jocelyn Neff were third in the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, while Carol Bird finished sixth with Mambo. Also in the low division, Chipko and Lottie finished second and fifth. Katie Gardner and her mount Action G finished second in the 1.30m Jumpers, and they were third in the $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. In the high division, DiLandri and Chanel 292 won a class, while Samantha Harrison and Santika were second in a class and seventh in the Classic. Riding her new horse Acrobat, Navona Gallegos picked up two fourth places in the high division and eight place in the classic.

Karen Healey Stables will compete next at the Oaks Blenheim June Classic I Horse Show on June 4-8, 2008.

Shelby Wakeman and San Francisco, winners of sections of the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search and ASPCA Maclay classes at the 2008 Devon Horse Show. Photo © 2008 Ken Kraus/PhelpsSports.com. This photo may be used free of charge only in relation to this press release.

return to top | back to press page

Phelps Media Group, Inc. International MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Wood for Phelps Media Group, Inc. at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com PMG Press Releases are available at http://www.phelpsmediagroup.com