Pennsylvania trainer Taft Dickerson rode Gone Commando, 3-year-old bay mare, to a win in the 2022 Virginia Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Western Pleasure held at the Spring Breakout Circuit in Lexington, Virginia on Saturday evening, marking the third time he has won the prestigious class. In 2017 Taft rode Gone Commando’s sire, Gone Viral, to a Reserve Championship in same event.

Taft took home a check for $12,000 for the win plus an additional $1,500 because he was the highest placing Limited Rider in the class. Gone Commando was owned by Taft’s father, Donnie Dickerson, of Mount Airy, North Carolina, but has since been sold to Karen Carter, Chesterfield, Virginia, who trains under the guidance of Taft and his wife, Adrienne Cober Dickerson.

Formerly known as the Hylton Maiden Western Pleasure Class, the event was sponsored for many years by the late Cecilia Hylton, owner of Hylton Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Virginia, who also once owned Gone Commando’s dam, Only A Sterling Moon.  Hylton introduced the class at the Reichert Celebration to encourage trainers to refrain from pushing young show prospects. The class was moved to Hylton’s home state in 2011 and is now managed by Cameron Van Sickle assisted by Meghan Tierney.

A total of 25 never-before shown horses were entered, with 24 actually competing and Van Sickle said this year’s class had the largest payout since they took over management of the class. Judges included Gretchen Mathes, Jennifer Goss, Brad Leuben, Pierre Briere and Kerry Allen.

Reserve overall Champion in the class was Butch Cassidie (Certainly A Vision x Only Couture), owned by Knapp Quarter Horses and shown by Katy Jo Zuidema. The Reserve Championship earned $10,100 plus a necklace from Cecilia Hylton’s private collection.

Ricky Noiseux, was the Reserve Champion Limited Rider and placed sixth overall in the class riding It Wasntt Me, sired by Machine Made and out of Notmyonly Invitation. It Wasntt Me is owned by Stephanie Janis, Groton, Massachusetts, Noiseux collected $3,700 for the sixth place and an additional $1,000 for the Reserve Limited Rider honor.

Other overall placings included:

Third: Ima Little Lazy (No Doubt Im Lazy x Ima Potential), owned by Linda Berris, Sparta, Michigan, shown by Randy Wilson, $6,800;

Fourth: Doubting Im Good (No Doubt Im Lazy x Get Down Version), owned by Tammy Conroy, West Sunbury, Pennsylvania, shown by Brian Cox, $4,000;

Fifth: Aint Nothin To It (Machine Made x Shez Immortal), owned By Capital Quarter Horses, Pilot Point, Texas, shown by Andy Cochran, $3,800;

Seventh: Maid My Day (Machine Made x Silk Satin N Sudden) owned by Ditty Up LLC, Ocala, Florida, shown by Jason English, $3,000;

Eighth: Waitin On A Ride (No Doubt Im Lazy x Good Pulsations), owned by Mr. & Mrs. William Wilkes, East Dublin, Georgia, shown by Ashley Lakins, $2,000;

Ninth: Heyy June (Machine Made x Two De Cadillac), owned by JR & Melissa Cook, Cypress, Texas, shown by Cole Baker, $1,600;

Tenth: Lopin Thru Fire (The Lopin Machine), owned by Michelle and Sheila Bauer, shown by Garth Gooding, $1,146.