SPECIAL NOTE:
2008 AQHA WORLD SHOW TENTATIVE DATES!
NOVEMBER 7-22, 2008 (dates tentative)

Read below for a special recap of this past year's world show.

AMATEUR 2-YEAR-OLD STALLIONS

COOL WIN FOR RITA CRUNDWELL.

BY MEGAN BROWNELL, JOURNAL INTERN

Rita Crundwell leads Acoolest out of the ring after winning the 2007 AQHA world championship in amateur 2-year-old stallions.

Rita Crundwell of Dixon, Illinois, led her fourth horse to a 2007 AQHA World Championship Show title.

Acoolest won amateur 2-year-old stallions after winning last year’s open yearling championship and placing third in amateur yearling stallions.

Bred and owned by Rita, the sorrel is by Coolest and out of Attest by Touchdown Kid.

“I showed his mama, Attest, to three world championships, and it just makes winning that much more special,” Rita said.

Attest won the 2004 Select world championship in amateur aged mares, the 2003 world championship in amateur aged mares, and she was named the 2002 world champion 3-year-old mare. She was bred by the Percott Company of South Beloit, Illinois.

Acoolest’s sire, Coolest, finished twice in the Top 10 at the World Show as a weanling in1988 and then as a yearling in 1989. He was bred by Joe and Carol Nocentino of Huntingdon Valle, Pennsylvania, and is owned by Reata Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas. His winning foals have AQHA Incentive Fund earnings totaling more than $231,000.

“The boys call Acoolest ‘Gringo,’ and I call him ‘Coolest,’” Rita said about the 2-year-old stallion at home. 

“The guys (at home) do the same thing they always do to prepare him – riding, ponying and saddling him. There are many people to thank for his success,” Rita said.

With championships as testament to his conformation, Acoolest has begun his breeding career.

“We’ve already bred mares with him. And we’ll decide later if we’re going to bring him back (to the World Show) next year,” she said.

WINNER STATS Horse: Acoolest Pedigree: 2005 sorrel, Coolest x Attest by Touchdown Kid Exhibitor/Owner/Breeder: Rita Crundwell, Dixon, Illinois Total class entries: 15 Purse: $4,816.05 World Champion Prizes: Custom gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths sterling silver buckle with a 14-karat gold overlay, Cripple Creek Outerwear World Show jacket, Tex Tan halter and matching lead, Justin smooth ostrich Techno Crepe boots, 100 pounds of Nutrena feed, Professional’s Choice products and neck wreath. Total purse and prizes for the 2007 AQHA World Championship Show: $2,634,750.