GCHS Kaleef’s Sassicaia German Shepherd Wins Best in Show in Pensacola

GCHS Kaleef’s Sassicaia took Best in Show at the Pensacola Dog Fanciers Association all-breed show in Pensacola, Florida, on Sunday, March 1, 2026, topping a total entry of 539 under Best in Show judge Mr. Jason Hoke. The win closed the final table for a day that drew competitors across breeds and rings.

The winning entry is recorded as GCHS Kaleef’s Sassicaia [Bitch], a German Shepherd Dog handled in the ring by Kent Boyles and owned by R & S Waits, with breeder listed as S Moses Combs. The registration and sex designation appear exactly in the show placements, marking the dog’s placement at the head of the day’s standings.

Officials listed Mr. Jason Hoke as the Best in Show judge and Mr. David J. Kirkland as the herding judge for the event. Results published with the placements include the explicit advisory: "Please note these results are not official and may be subject to change once official results are submitted to AKC."

The top four placements beyond Best in Show were recorded in full. Reserve and group contenders included GCHG Valkyrie’s Canadian Bacon [Dog], a Swedish Vallhund handled by Mark Bettis and owned by M & J Hennek & T Garwacki, bred by T Garwacki; GCHB Pikatti’s Hjarta Hildur [Bitch], an Icelandic Sheepdog handled by Tabatha Bettis and owned by K McGriff, bred by J Brimmer; and GCH Forrest @ War Bouviator Let It Rip [Dog], a Bouvier des Flandres handled by Alfonso Escobedo and owned by D Potter, D Ramiriez, M Hunt, D Hunse & S Wright, bred by S Wright & P Murray.

Photographic credit for the event listings is attributed to Winners Pix - Tammie Wilkerson, with a photographer credit line accompanying the placements. The show entry total, judge names, handlers, owners and breeders appear in the event’s official placement list for the Pensacola show.

Archival Kaleef-related names appear in breed-catalog listings and winners pages prior to this event; those listings show Kaleef-associated dogs such as CH Kaleef’s Chaos and KALEEF’S POP FLY with breeder names including Sheree Moses Combs and Kent Boyles. At this Pensacola show the breeder is recorded as S Moses Combs; further verification of breeder styling and full owner names remains a follow-up item pending official AKC submission.

For now, with 539 entries recorded for the Pensacola Dog Fanciers Association show on March 1, 2026, GCHS Kaleef’s Sassicaia stands listed as Best in Show under judge Mr. Jason Hoke while official AKC confirmation is awaited.