The Finale Championship of the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, welcomed the five top-placed horses after two days of preliminary competition to compete for additional honors before an enthusiastic crowd at the Kentucky Horse Park and a worldwide audience watching via livestream.
A panel of judges who watched the entire day of competition ranked the ten winners to determine the overall Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, sponsored by Churchill Downs. When the points were tallied, the honor went to She's A Bold One, trained by junior Jenna Denver of Imlay City, Mich.
She's A Bold One is a 2018 chestnut filly bred in Kentucky by Downtown Bloodstock Partnership. By Midshipman out of the Strong Contender mare Bold Contender, She's A Bold One is unraced, but was in race training and last ran a timed work on Jan. 12, 2021.
She's A Bold One's route to earning the Carolyn Karlson Trophy took her through Eventing. She finished fifth in the preliminary round, netting Top Junior honors as well. The pair also finished fourth in Dressage and took home the Top Junior prize in that discipline as well.
Entering the Finale on a blank slate, She's A Bold One lived up to her name, demonstrating a bold, forward ride through the indoor course of show jumping fences and cross-country portables. The filly's adjustability and quality of gaits were apparent, moving her decisively into the first-place position. The pair then returned for Dressage, finishing second in a very close field.
She's A Bold One and Jenna Denver in the Eventing Finale
“It's surreal still,” said Denver after accepting the trophy. “But I'm so happy. She went straight from Eventing right to Dressage, and she did that very well, and I think that stands out. At home, it's a balance of dressage and jumping, but I focus on the overall fitness of the horse. I think that's really important for both disciplines. She's my first Thoroughbred I've trained myself completely — it feels really good and it's a really good achievement that I've produced my own horse.”
The People's Choice Award, sponsored by Achieve Equine, was determined by text-in popular vote open to both in-person and livestream attendees. This award was given to Prince of New York, trained by Chris Bennings, the winner of Show Jumper as well as second place in Show Hunter. Prince of New York is a 2016 dark bay/brown horse bred in New York by Clark O. Brewster; he made eight starts with two wins for total earnings of $40,256 with his last race on Aug. 31, 2020. By Cairo Prince out of the Olmodavor mare Ocarson, Prince of New York was a $100,000 yearling purchase from Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, consigned by Hidden Brook.
People's Choice Award winner Prince of New York. With L-R: Kirsten Green, RRP executive director; Chris Bennings and Prince of New York; Hanna Hartman, Achieve Equine director of operations; Erin Halliwell, TCA executive director
Thoroughbred Makeover Finale Results (in order of go):
Eventing, sponsored by Phoenix Performance Products: She's A Bold One and Jenna Denver (junior) Show Jumper, sponsored by Excel Equine: Prince of New York and Chris Bennings (professional) Show Hunter, sponsored by Beyond the Wire: Racing Ace and Amanda Gomez (professional) Field Hunter, sponsored by Masters of Foxhounds Association: Mike Mike and Cameron Sadler (amateur) Dressage, sponsored by PTHA's Turning For Home: Buckeye Warrior and Holly Zecchin (professional) Polo, sponsored by United States Polo Association: Anna One Anna Two and Bushwood Polo (team) Freestyle, sponsored by New Start: Supreme Irene and Monique Cameron (professional) Barrel Racing, sponsored by SmartPak: Not Gonna Happen and Brooke Frederick (professional) Competitive Trail, sponsored by Godolphin Lifetime Care: Hieronymus and Isabel Wells (junior) Ranch Work, sponsored by Triple Crown Feed: Dont Ask Kinmon and Alice Beckman (professional)
Preliminary competition in all ten offered disciplines at the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is now complete and the stage is set for Saturday's Finale Championship.
This year marks a new format for preliminary and Finale competition: the five top-placed horses in each discipline will proceed to the Finale, but will start on a fresh score, rather than combine scores with preliminary marks. Preliminary placings for the top 10 in each discipline overall as well as in the amateur, junior and team divisions will be awarded on Friday evening at the return of the Awards Party. Special awards, sponsored by state breeder associations and private individuals, will also be awarded at this time.
The Thoroughbred Makeover continues on Friday with the TERF Makeover Master Class, featuring polo professional Jorge Vasquez working with participants through flat work exercises to introduce green horses to the sport of polo. The Master Class will livestream for free at TheRRP.org/livestream starting at 9:00 AM. The Makeover Seminar Series, sponsored by TheHorse.com, begins at noon with webinar format available for free at TheRRP.org/seminars.
Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) Championships kick off on Friday and run through Saturday in western disciplines plus dressage. Learn more at tjctip.com.
Let's get to know the preliminary winners of each discipline. Full results and scores for all disciplines can be found at TheRRP.org/makeover-results.
Not Gonna Happen and Brooke Frederick
Barrel Racing: Not Gonna Happen and Brooke Frederick Commissioner – No Fun, by Denman (AUS)
2019 gelding bred in Louisiana by J. Adcock & Hume Wornall
Unraced
Not Gonna Happen might not be Brooke Frederick's first Thoroughbred she's retrained, but he's her first Makeover horse. Encouraged by her sister Jessica, who won the 2021 Barrel Racing discipline at that year's Thoroughbred Makeover, Frederick entered the unraced gelding. While he was initially intended to be a resale project, he'll be part of her family now for the foreseeable future. After a solid horsemanship test, Not Gonna Happen ran the second fastest time on Wednesday and the fastest time on Thursday.
“I'm really proud and happy to have him,” said Frederick, a professional from Magnolia, KY. “He wants to work. He wants a job. He takes everything with such grace and pride, and he's been so easy. He was loping the barrel pattern within two weeks.”
Diggin For Dough and Toni Harmon
Competitive Trail: Diggin For Dough and Toni Harmon Teuflesberg – All Bronze, by Desert Warrior
2018 mare bred in New York by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, LLC
11-0-0-1, $9,961
Makeover veteran Toni Harmon, an adult amateur from Harvard, IL, has a strong history in both the Competitive Trail and Ranch Work disciplines, though her Ranch Work performance on Wednesday with Diggin For Dough did not go as planned. What impressed Harmon the most, however, was how confidently Diggin For Dough moved forward and came back for Thursday's Competitive Trail performance, laying down a confident performance to win the discipline.
“She's sensitive, but she's super brave and willing,” said Harmon. “There were things on the course she and I had never seen before, but she did everything so well. She is such a trier — we haven't been able to practice any water and she went right through. She's like all of the Thoroughbreds I've had: just so special. I never want any other kind of horse.”
Buckeye Warrior and Holly Zecchin
Dressage: Buckeye Warrior and Holly Zecchin Majestic Warrior – Hap Cat, by Van Nistelrooy
2016 gelding bred in Ohio by Robert A. Reeves
18-2-0-4, $43,819
Initially looking for a resale project, Holly Zecchin, a professional from Metamora, MI, scrolled past Buckeye Warrior's listing through New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program when she was looking for horses; the gelding was rehabbing from a fractured tibia. Something drew her to the horse, however, and just a few days later, she picked him up, having never even seen a trot video. Whatever intuition guided Zecchin to Buckeye Warrior proved sound when the pair laid down a series of impressive tests in the Rolex Arena on Wednesday.
“He's just a fabulous individual,” said Zecchin. “I can't express how sweet and trainable and wonderful this horse is. He rises to every occasion — I've never had a horse like him. I've had wonderful horses but this guy tries so hard and never puts a foot wrong.”
Sapphire Surprize and Cynthia Faherty Napravnik
Eventing: Sapphire Surprize and Cynthia Faherty Napravnik Weigelia – Leroys Jewel, by Leroidesanimeaux (BRZ)
2018 mare bred in Pennsylvania by Jean Mary Walter
Unraced
Family traditions run a little bit different in the Napravnik family: Rosie won the discipline in 2019, Jazz won it in 2020, and now Cynthia Faherty Napravnik, a professional from Monkton, MD, has won the preliminary eventing in 2022. With strong performances in all three phases, Faherty Napravnik piloted Jean Walter's Sapphire Surprize to the preliminary victory.
“Jean Walter is a wonderful lady and a very good horsewoman,” said Faherty Napravnik. “Sapphire Surprize is super smart and super scopey. She has just gotten better and better, and I'm just so proud of how she's turned out. I had hip surgery this year, and I was out for a couple of months, so when I came back we got strong together. She's a great horse to train — I can't ask for more from a horse in training for just a few months.”
Lucian and Jazz Napravnik
Field Hunter: Lucian and Jazz Napravnik The Factor – Miss Pavarotti, by Pavarotti
2018 gelding bred in Maryland by Dr. & Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau
10-1-1-0, $29,313
Jazz Napravnik and Lucian's commanding lead to clinch the Field Hunter preliminary win belies the fact that it's a miracle Lucian is here at all: one year ago, he was in the ICU at New Bolton Center fighting an intestinal infection, followed by a bout of laminitis. His owners, the Horneffers, were firmly in the horse's corner, refusing to give up on him — “they knew how special he was,” said Napravnik. Rehabilitation took a long time, but his training for the Makeover started in earnest in May.
“It's not only that he's here with us,” Napravnik, a professional from Monkton, Md., continued. “But that he's here at the Makeover, and to win this discipline is incredible. He absolutely deserves it. He's a unicorn horse.”
Supreme Irene and Monique Cameron
Freestyle: Supreme Irene and Monique Cameron Intidab – Kissesforcaroline, by Five Star Day
2017 mare bred in Wisconsin by Don L. Redden
15-0-2-1, $9,800
Performing a Wizard of Oz-themed routine, Monique Cameron, a professional from Hackett, AR, and Supreme Irene charmed both the audience and the judges to claim the preliminary win.
Cameron was unavailable for comment at press time.
Yireh and Courtney Asdourian (catch ridden by Esteban Matuz)
Polo: Yireh and Courtney Asdourian (catch ridden by Esteban Matuz) Well Noted – Physical Delivery, by Majestic Warrior
2018 mare bred in New York by Angel Montanez
2-0-0-0, $675
Courtney Asdourian, a professional from Baltimore, MD, started Yireh for the Thoroughbred Makeover early in the year and continued to develop the mare's training until Asdourian's pregnancy forced her to find a catch rider. She reached out to fellow polo trainer Esteban Matuz to take over the ride.
“The horse is very natural and has everything she needs to develop into a great polo horse,” said Matuz through an interpreter. “She has a great mind and moves fluidly. I'd like to thank Courtney for allowing me to show her.”
Dont Ask Kinmon and Alice Beckman
Ranch Work: Dont Ask Kinmon and Alice Beckman Skylord – Trigger Fish Lane, by Petionville
2017 gelding bred in Indiana by Scott Arnold
19-3-3-3, $67,700, stakes placed
A lifelong sport horse rider who worked her way into the racing industry, Alice Beckman, a professional from Dry Ridge, Ky., has the unique position of having started her Makeover mount when he was just embarking on his racing journey — and then piloting him to two of his wins as his jockey for his last seven starts. She and Dont Ask Kinmon are now embarking on Beckman's first Thoroughbred Makeover and entered the Ranch Work as an opportunity to grow and learn; the pair also competed in Dressage.
“Honestly, I didn't expect this at all,” said Beckman of the pair's preliminary win in Ranch Work. “I've never ridden western before and it was a learning process for me and the horse, and I just wanted to have fun with it. I wanted to come and give him a good learning experience — this is more than I was expecting for my first Makeover!”
Racing Ace and Amanda Gomez
Show Hunter: Racing Ace and Amanda Gomez Upstart – Remembermefondley, by Van Nistelrooy
2018 gelding bred in Kentucky by John R. Penn
5-0-0-0, $2,540
Amanda Gomez made her last trip to the Thoroughbred Makeover in 2017 when she was still a junior. Now returning as a young professional from Norco, CA, she laid down two beautiful trips in the Stonelea Ring with Racing Ace to take a commanding lead in the Show Hunter discipline in the very first division on Wednesday morning.
“I've had him for about eight months now,” said Gomez of Racing Ace, who last raced in February of this year. “When he came off the track, he was just special — so quiet and so easy. I knew from that moment from that first ride that he was going to be really, really nice. I've taken the time slowly to put a good foundation on him and he's coming along so well. This is actually his first show ever — but he showed up and let everyone know what he's made of!”
Union Charm and Alyssa Kelly
Show Jumper: Union Charm and Alyssa Kelly Union Rags – Sadler's Charm, by Honour and Glory
2016 gelding bred in Kentucky by Castlepark Farm, LLC, John Karakourtis & AF Thoroughbreds
7-0-1-0, $6,730
Adult amateur Alyssa Kelly of Eldersburg, Maryland is making the most of her trip to Kentucky with Union Charm: not only did the pair win the preliminary round in the Show Jumper, but they're also entered in dressage in the Thoroughbred Incentive Program Central Region Dressage Championships later this week. That cross-training has been key to his success, said Kelly.
“It really helped for the format of this competition that we've done a lot of dressage for his flatwork,” said Kelly, referring to the portion of the Show Jumper discipline that tests each horse's flatwork training. “He has a nice even canter and he's super careful; he fixes my mistakes and helps me out! He's always been game for just about anything we throw at him, whether it's a hunter show or dressage or show jumpers. He has a good personality to go with the flow.”
The 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America on Oct. 12-15, is the banner event of the Retired Racehorse Project, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to driving demand for Thoroughbreds after racing.
The world's largest and most lucrative retraining competition for Thoroughbred ex-racehorses, the $100,000+ Thoroughbred Makeover is open to horses in their first year of retraining for a second career after retiring from racing. Horses compete in one or two of ten disciplines, and the five top-placed horses after preliminary competition return for Saturday's Finale Championships event, starting at 8:00 a.m. The winners of each discipline are then placed by the judges to determine the overall Thoroughbred Makeover Champion.
As part of the Symposium, Friday at the Thoroughbred Makeover includes the TERF Makeover Master Class at 9:00 a.m., featuring clinician Jorge Vasquez coaching horses and riders through exercises to prepare horses for the sport of polo.
The Thoroughbred Makeover Livestream is generously sponsored by Maryland Jockey Club.
Leading a market-based approach to Thoroughbred aftercare, the Retired Racehorse Project educates, inspires, and serves both the racing and equestrian industries to encourage more Thoroughbreds finding second careers in sport and recreation after racing. Learn more at TheRRP.org.
Livestream Schedule of Events: (all times in Eastern)
Friday, October 14:
9:00 AM: Makeover Master Class, presented by Thoroughbred Education & Research Foundation
The University of Kentucky recently broke ground and began construction on a new center for aged horse research. The Linda Mars Aged Horse Care and Education Facility, located on the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment's C. Oran Little Research Farm, will help lead the way on breakthroughs in care for revered older horses, a demographic estimated to make up approximately one-third of the worldwide horse population.
Support from Linda Mars, philanthropist and avid horsewoman, made the facility possible. The college hopes to complete the center by the end of this year.
UK's Aged Horse Research Program was established by Amanda Adams, associate professor in the Gluck Equine Research Center. Adams, who specializes in the care of senior horses, is also an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has established and supports a unique herd of aged horses who have conditions ranging from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, more commonly known as Cushing's disease, obesity, equine metabolic syndrome and insulin dysregulation.
Adams' research program currently encompasses the study of equine immunology and endocrinology in the areas of aging, obesity, endocrine diseases, laminitis and stress. In 2019, Adams was named the inaugural Mars Equestrian Fellow in recognition of her expertise in equine science and dedication to creating a better world for horses. Adams was then tapped to provide mentorship to the inaugural Mars Equestrian Scholar, a doctoral scholarship program designed to engage and train future leaders in equine science. The holistic approach to supporting education and research exemplifies Mars' dedication to improving equine well-being integrating Mars, Incorporated family of equine-related brands and services, including Waltham Science, Antech, Sound, Buckeye Nutrition and Spillers Brands.
According to Adams, the new facility is an important tool helping aged horse research unlock new ways of caring for aging, PPID and EMS or ID horses, conditions that are common as horses age. Additionally, the space will help train the next generation of scientists and will serve as an important resource for the university's equine undergraduate students.
“I am beyond thrilled, and so very thankful to Linda Mars for her love of the horse and for her innovation and generous support and establishment of this new facility,” Adams said. “We couldn't do what we do for the senior horse without the support from Linda.”
While many generally associate the Mars name with the chocolate industry, the family also has significant involvement in the equine industry. Their continued participation includes multiple breeds and disciplines from grassroots involvement to the highest echelons of the sport. Active in horse racing for more than a century, perhaps one of their most famous moments was with a family-owned horse named Gallahadion who charged from behind and won as a longshot in the 1940 Kentucky Derby.
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The legacy of the Ethel V. Mars Milky Way Farm Stable is interwoven into the UK facility with signage depicting the racing silks of Gallahadion, a nod to Mars' desire to continue to make a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of the horse through its entire lifecycle. This continues to the present day with the establishment of Mars Equestrian, a sponsorship division of Mars, Incorporated, whose purpose is to improve the lives of horses, pets and the people who love them.
“We are incredibly thankful to Linda Mars for her continued support of this important program,” said Nancy Cox, vice president for land-grant engagement and UK CAFE dean. “Not only will her gift help advance aged horse care, but it will also be essential in educating the next generation of equine professionals.”
The new facility will feature state-of-the-art laboratory space to support Adams' research program, something the research farm currently lacks. Before this facility, the research team transported samples from the farm to campus for analysis. The new space will allow that research to take place onsite and conduct studies that were previously unfeasible to complete.
The new facility will house teaching and workshop space for 40 graduate and undergraduate students. Additionally, it will offer hands-on teaching potential, with additional space for a horse to be present during the demonstrations.
The space will also be home to the Mars Equestrian Scholar program. The program's current scholar, Erica Jacquay, is a graduate student under Adams. Her research currently includes a nationwide survey on common reasons for transporting horses and management practices associated with different types of travel, particularly for road transportation of three or fewer hours. She aims to determine the impact of short-term transportation on stress and immune function in horses. Through this study, she will research differences in how transportation stress manifests in different classes of horses, including aged horses and horses with PPID, EMS or ID.
Adams said that in addition to supporting the Mars Equestrian Scholars program, the facility will also provide other graduate and undergraduate students an opportunity for additional hands-on horse care education and learning about firsthand and managing endocrine diseases.
This space will also host small public workshops that initially will focus on the care of aging horses, nutrition, management, endocrine diseases and other topics.
“I also want to express my sincere thank you to Dr. Pat Harris, director of science, Mars Horsecare, for her continued support of our aged horse research program, as this collaboration all started with Pat, and there are not enough words to truly thank her for her unending support,” Adams said. “She is the most passionate equine scientist in the industry, and we deeply thank her. My goal is to take our program to the next level and continue to make a difference in the field of equine science and for the equine industry and above all for the senior horse population.”
