Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, won two 2006 Select world championships in halter classes on Wednesday, August 30. Im About Class won 3-year-old mares and Shezcopesetic won aged mares. Rita also took home the reserve in aged geldings with Sure Can Dominate.

Im About Class is a 2003 bay mare by Kids Classic Style and out of Im Out And About by What About Mr Bob. She was also a top-10 finisher in 2-year-old mares at the 2005 Bayer Select World.

“We raised her,” said Jim McKillips, manager of Rita’s Meri-J Ranch in South Beloit, Illinois. “I bought her mother in a sale (in foal with her).

“We’re going to put her back in the broodmare band,” he added. “We’ve had a lot of chances to sell her, but we’d just as soon keep those quality mares.”

For now they are headed to the AQHA World Championship Show with her.

Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, won the 2006 Select world championship in 3-year-old mares with Im About Class.

Rita also won aged mares with Shezcopesetic.

“(She has a) tremendous topline and loin, hip and hocks,” Jim said. “She stands up good and straight in her hocks. She’s got a lot of power. Real good on her legs. She’s going to cross good on our studs.”

Shezcopesetic is a 2002 sorrel mare by Securitee Acres and out of Cash N Clue by Obvious Conclusion, bred by the Percott Co. A multiple World Show qualifier and top-10 finisher, the mare was the 2004 Select world champion 2-year-old mare.

“Shezcopesetic is home-grown,” McKillips said. “(We’ve been) very successful with her. She came through the breeding program of the Percott Corporation.”

Her dam, Cash N Clue is the dam of 2 amateur world champions and the earners of 316 halter and performance points in all divisions.

In addition to its halter and performance showing program, Meri-J Ranch stands several halter and western and English performance stallions. They also offer mare care services.

“We’ve got about 400 head up there, a lot of nice mares, performance horses in English and western,” Jim said. “And young studs that have great show records now, that are going to try to be producers.

“We feel real confident that we’re producing the right kind of horses for the industry,” he added.

The farm sends horses to trainers across the country in addition to training in-house.

“I had Shezcopesetic at home and got her ready,” Jim said. “(AQHA Pro Horseman) Ross Roark had (Im About Class).

“I try to pick out some of the guys that are doing good jobs, and I feel confident that they’ll do me a good job,” he continued. “It’s a big team.

“We have a lot of fun doing it; we have a great time.”