They operate Bonita Quarter Horses of Saratoga. Sheza, exhibited by Greg Whalen, won the High Point Yearling Mare at the Scottsdale Classic. Flashy, ridden by Tina Kaven, won the 2004 Congress Champion Senior Western Pleasure competition, a decision that came from all four judges.

To qualify for the AQHA World Championship Show, horses earned a predetermined number of points at AQHA horse shows between Aug. 1, 2003, and July 31, 2004. The Dabagians have been associated with the AQHA for three generations, specializing in world class halter, western pleasure and cutting horses.

Rodney Dabagian has been a member of the association since 1968, a lifetime member since 1977. He served as youth state president, national youth director, and was on the youth committee for the association for 10 years. In addition to showing quarter horses, the Dabagians raise and exhibit Labrador retrievers.

Sheza was bred by Greg and Mary Whalen. More than 3,000 entries are competing at the invitational show for close to $3 million in awards and prize money.

CEASE FIRE FROM COLONEL: Col. Carl Boyd was the aide-de-campe for Gen. John Joseph Pershing in WWI and it was he who sent the order advising all American troops to stop firing at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, setting the date that Veteran's Day has been observed ever since.

The local angle is that Col. Boyd was Gideon Boyd's uncle. Gideon is deceased and his wife Ruth is in Saratoga Retirement Community, but their daughter Nancy and son-in-law Joe Barrie Durham have called Saratoga home for the past three years.

The family owns a silver plate that Gen. Pershing gave Col. Boyd's daughter, Ann, on her wedding day, and the inscription is in Gen. Pershing's own handwriting.

BEN HUR IN IRAQ: Now, from the current war in Iraq, comes another local angle. A Ben Hur Memorial Chariot Race was held shortly before U.S. troops attacked Fallujah, reported to be a stronghold for Sunni Mulim insurgents. The chariot race was designed to reduce tension among the troops.

And the idea came from Lt. Col. Willy Buhl, of Los Gatos, who commands the 3rd Battalion of 1st Marines. In this mock battle the combatants wore togas over armor, brandished baseball bats made to look like spiked mace and drove chariots made out of cast-off vehicle parts.

LEARNING LINK: Meghan Evans' Learning Link is the newest local tutoring service. Evans grew up in Saratoga, an '87 grad of Saratoga High, and established The Learning Link in Los Gatos. The tutoring center is designed for those having difficulty in literacy—reading, writing and spelling.

Evans taught in the Moreland School district for six years. There she developed a program for at-risk 4th- and 5th-graders. Under her tutelage those at-risk students scored highest in standardized testing in those grades throughout the district—a strong validation of her methods.

Evans employs a flexible, one-on-one individualized approach. "We start where your child is ready to learn and work from there," she says. The program is designed to boost confidence and build on academic strengths so the child will be able to succeed independently.

Evans worked in high tech a number of years but "missed working with kids." A trip to South Africa with a Bible-based group started the wheels turning for a new direction in her life and the Learning Link was the result.

Evans' parents are Dr. Robert and Dean Evans. He's an ear, nose and throat specialist with offices near Good Sam. Meghan's degrees are in history from UCLA and in education administration from Santa Clara University. In addition, she won a Fulbright scholarship to study education in China.

The Learning Link is at 408.395.0880 and www.the-learninglink.com.

FREE DINNER PRE BALLET: Those with tickets to Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley's Pirates of Penzance on Nov. 19 are invited to a free buffet dinner with drinks at the Fairmont Hotel, 5:30­7:30 p.m. Fry's Electronics is the sponsor. Tickets from $22 to $68 are on sale at the box office, 408.288.2800.

FOOTHILL TALK: Elizabeth Murray is a photographer/painter/author/ garden designer who will speak at the Foothill Club at 10 a.m. Nov. 23. Murray will discuss her Ecuador adventures, working with the Achuar people to conserve their rain forest.

Her book, Nantu and Audi: How the Moon and the Pootoo Bird Came To Be, tells the story of one of the Echoer's myths. The book will be for sale and author signing. An $8 donation is asked. The contact is 408.867.3156.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.