The team of Keith Miller and Carrie Ann Warren kicked off the 2023 Virginia Maiden futurities with a win in the Three Year Old and Older Limited Horse Open Hunter Under Saddle on Thursday with their entry, Boys Are Better, earning the trio $4,028.75 for the win.
It was the third outing for the three year old bay gelding by Good Better Best and out of Huntin Only Blue (Hot Ones One x Blue Couture). “We bought Dusty from Beth Case kind of late in the show season last year, in May,” noted Carrie.
“He was really growing and still figuring things out, so we decided to keep him back for the three year old classes. We took him to Tampa just to ride around, and Keith decided to show him in the Green Hunter Under Saddle at the Gulf Coast. He was the circuit champion in the Green at Tampa, and was reserve champion in the three year old class in Venice.”
“He was really good in the class,” Keith said. “He’s got a great trot that is ground-covering and has a lot of lift to his shoulders, and he canters so soft. His top line is very good, and he’s just happy.”
Keith will continue to show Dusty in the Three Year Old Open and Green Hunter Under Saddle classes, while Carrie will show him in Select Amateur and Three Year Old Non-Pro events. “I’ve only got to show him once so far in the Non-Pro Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle right after Keith showed him, in Venice, and we were reserve,” Carrie said. “I’m excited to get to show him on Saturday in the Non-Pro Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle here in Virginia.”
Taking reserve honors in the class were Hot Dig It (Extremely Hot Chips x Natural Artifacts), shown by Farley McLendon for Rebecca Edwards, earning $3,037.50, and third place went to Smoke N The Best (Good Better Best x Artfully Blazing), shown by Amber Hanson Picard for the Deeds family, $2,010.
The Spring Breakout AQHA and NSBA Show including the Virginia Maiden continues through Sunday at the Virginia Horse Center. To view complete show results, please visit showsbysuzanne.com.
