Perhaps it’s no coincidence that we just celebrated Cinco De Mayo on Friday, and a horse named Jose’ has been winning classes early this week at The Madness. Up N The Ante, better known in Wade and Carly Parks’ barn as Jose,’ just earned his second 2023 Madness futurity win with Carly in the irons for Lisa and Bill Wilkes.
The team earned the first-place prize Tuesday in the Open Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle, where they earned $625.50, and topped that Wednesday by winning The Luxury Line Three Year Old and Older Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle, with a paycheck of $5,000. Carly also earned the highest placing Limited rider bonus, for an additional $250.
“Wade (Parks) started Jose’ for us, and put such a phenomenal foundation on him, and then when Carly took him over, she’s just picked up where Wade left off,” noted Lisa Wilkes. “They’ve just done an incredible job with him.”
It has been a sentimental journey for Lisa, who had to put down Jose’s dam earlier this year. “That mare, Bettin With My Heart, had given us some great horses, including VS Code Me Lucky, who is an AQHA world champion,” Lisa said. “Jose’ is the only one of this cross, with No Doubt Im Lazy. We have two more of her babies coming, but they are different crosses. He’s pretty special.”
It was also a winning night for the Parks team when B That Girl, a horse that Carly and Wade owned, was the winner of the Maiden horse bonus, earning $1,000 for Wade as the owner. “She’s by All Time Fancy and is an APHA filly that we bred and raised,” Wade said. “She’s a big, beautiful mare and she just did great. She’s going to be Alexa Black’s Non-Pro horse.” The mare was shown by Samantha Alderhold.
Money earners in The Luxury Line Three Year Old and Older Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle included:
Champion/Limited Rider champion – Up N The Ante, Carly Veldman Parks for Mr. and Mrs. William Wilkes, $5,000/$250
Reserve champion (tie) – Best Hidden Agenda, Dawn Baker for Denny and Vickie Strickland, $1,666,67
Reserve champion (tie) – Hot Dig It, Farley McLendon for Rebecca Edward, $1,666,67
Reserve champion (tie) – Super Freek, Jamie English for Kelly Smith, $1,666,67
Fifth – Boy Oh Boy, Keith Miller for Joy Geallis, $750
Sixth/Maiden champion – B That Girl, Samantha Alderhold for Wade Parks, $500/$1,000
The Madness continues through Sunday, May 14. To view complete show results, please visit the Horse Tracker app or go to anequineproduction.com.
