Burbank, CA - Archie Cox was the first rider in the ring, on Kristin Bremner's Show of Hands for the $10,000 Memorial Day Classic (May 28), but it was his second ride, Laura Wasserman's Quality Time, that took home the top spot with a whopping two round total score of 172. Michelle Decker's Spectacular !Spectacular! with Joie Gatlin in the irons nailed the second spot with a hard-to-beat score of 163.5.

But it was Quality Time whose stunning style and perfect rhythm earned the judge's top marks and walked out with the magnificent Steve Burdick Memorial Trophy. "Laura Wasserman only bought this horse in December, and that's when he came to me," said Cox as he patted Quality Time on the nose. "He is absolutely the easiest, nicest most quality horse I've ever had. And I've had a lot of horses!" Cox also wanted to give a shout out to Randy Durand, who had brought Cox some cookies by earlier-and Quality Time had swiped a few. Said Cox, "Randy Durand gave him a few cookies that he'd made -- I think that was the difference. This horse loves cookies!"

When he wasn't giving out cookies, Durand was busy coaching. Twelve year old Olivia Esse has moved into the Junior Hunter ranks and is quickly making her mark. She earned third place on Country Grammar (Oscany Inc., owner), and fourth place with After the Laughter, also owned by Oscany, Inc. On the final day of the Memorial Day Classic (May 25-29), Esse captured the Junior Hunter Classic with After the Laughter. A veteran pony rider, Esse was not daunted by her move to horses. "The horses are more simple than the ponies, and they are more easy going."

Not to be outdone by her trainer, Laura Wasserman rode her veteran Jimmy Choo to the fifth spot in the $10,000 Hunter Classic. Wasserman also piloted Quality Time to champion honors in the Amateur Owner Hunters 36 & Over, which clinched the Best Amateur Owner Rider title for her as well.

Hannah Selleck, the Best Junior Rider of the show, rode Lisa Miller's Cooper to the Small Junior Hunter championship.

Archie Cox took some time away from his own horses to ride Phyllis Hennigan's Rascal to the championship in the Regular Working Hunters. Trainer Philip Klipa finds that Cox does a superb job on the handsome bay gelding, and the pair have earned numerous tri-colors in the four foot division. Hennigan shows Rascal in the Adult Amateur Hunters.