Florida Horse.Com - 2007 Winter Equestrian Festival Wrap-Up Week 9

2007 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL

WELLINGTON, FLORIDA

2007 Winter Equestrian Festival Weeks Nine Wrap Up,
Tampa Bay Classic March 28 - April 1

Beezie Madden and Authentic Are True to Form for Victory in $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa

Beezie Madden and Authentic, winners of the $75,000 Tampa Bay Classic, CSI-W, presented by Kilkenny.
Photo © 2007 Randi Muster

The $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, CSI-W, presented by Kilkenny Insurance Agency was the highlight of the final day of the Tampa Bay Classic, the ninth week of competition at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Beezie Madden, one of America’s top ranked riders, and her championship partner Authentic flew to the win and the prize money of $22,500. They won over Richard Spooner on Cristallo and Laura Kraut with Anthem.

Richard Spooner was next to appear with Cristallo, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding. Spooner lived up to his nickname of “Master of Faster” as he left out a stride in the first line, and Cristallo blazed through the course. They had a slip going into the two stride, but Cristallo made it clear. They brought the leading time down to 43.56 seconds and took the lead.

Spooner, who is from Agua Dulce, CA, said he came to Florida to show “for a number of reasons,” and went on to say, “I wanted to try and qualify for the Invitational, and I also wanted to do the 300,000 Euro class in Palm Beach. There was over $700,000 prize money in a three-week span, which is double the prize money we’d be jumping for in California.”

Spooner has had Cristallo since he was five and said, “I thought he handled it easily [today]. There’s nothing that he can’t jump, that I’ve found. He can jump anything and he’s fast and careful. He’s an exceptional horse.” Spooner plans to compete with Cristallo at the Budweiser American Invitational and the World Cup Finals, for which he is qualified through his second place standing on the West Coast.

Kraut and Anthem, were next in to the jump-off. Kraut took her time through the first few turns, but made a sharp turn heading to the final bending line home. Anthem’s natural speed carried them through the timers in 45.35 seconds with a clear round.

Madden was next in line with Authentic. From the very start, Madden was going for the win. She and Authentic copied Spooner’s first line by leaving a stride out, but they opted for an inside turn to a sharp slice across the third jump. They flew through the remainder of the jump-off and the winning time of 42.99 seconds flashed on the scoreboard as the crowd went wild. “He was a little more relaxed for the jump-off. He was fresh the first round, which I knew he would be. I didn’t really prepare him like I would for a championship,” Madden explained. “I wanted to practice going fresh with him and going for the win.”

By competing with Authentic today, Madden will be able to show him in this year’s World Cup Final, which will be Authentic’s first time at the final. She will also show him in the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational this Saturday.

Jumper Results, Week Nine, Wednesday-Sunday

Wednesday

Larioso and McLain Ward, winners of the 1.45m Jumper class at the Tampa Bay Classic, CSI-W.
Photo © 2007 Randi Muster

The opening class in the covered arena was the 1.45m Jumpers and was held as a speed (Time First Round) format. Beezie Madden and Jet du Mesnil easily cleared the course and stopped the timers in 67.529 seconds, but McLain Ward rode Larioso and hurried around the course. Ward made every inside turn and sliced an incredible five seconds off of Madden’s time in 62.028 seconds for the win.

Thursday

Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Narcotique de Muze II, winners of the $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 9 at the Tampa Bay Classic, CSI-W.
Photo © 2007 Randi Muster

The ninth edition of this year’s $25,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series was won by Canada’s Eric Lamaze and Narcotique de Muze II, owned by Ashland Stables. They went first to go in the jump-off and set an unbeatable time. Kate Levy (USA) and Vent du Nord were quick enough for second, while Lisa Jacquin (USA) and Obourg finished third.

Friday

Victory in the Acorn Hill 1.40m Speed Challenge, held in the covered arena, went to Laura Kraut (USA) and Cento S over Amy Millar (CAN) on G Force and Brianne Goutal (USA) with Mon Gamin.

Saturday

In their first 1.50m Classic together, McLain Ward and Pinkata de Longpre went first in the jump-off and could not be beaten. Laura Kraut and Le Prestige St Lois were second, while amateur rider Francis Tres Roig and Acertijo were the only other double-clears for third.

Hillary Dobbs capped off a great week in the amateur division with a win in the $10,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic (sponsored by Prestige) on Corlett, who is owned by The Dobbs Group.

Sunday


Catherine Pasmore and Let’s Go M. Photo: Chrissy Lane/PhelpsSports.com	Cento S and Laura Kraut, winners of the Acorn Hill 1.40m Speed Challenge at the Tampa Bay Classic. Photo © 2007 Randi Muster	Pinkata de Longpre and McLain Ward, winners of the 1.50m Classic at the Tampa Bay Classic. Photo © 2007 Randi Muster

Hunter Results, Week Nine, Thursday-Sunday

Thursday

Sandy Ferrell and It’s A Wrap.
Photo ©2007 Randi Muster

Aboard Emerson, Ferrell earned the championship in the Pre-Green Hunter 3’3” division, while reserve champion was Molly Sewell riding Monaco. In the Pre-Green 3 & 4 Year Old division, Ferrell was again triumphant in bringing home the tricolor, this time on It’s A Wrap, owned by Sloan Brown and the Infinity Group. The pair won all four classes over the two-day period for a total of 40 points. The reserve championship went to Avery Dimmig riding Up North.

Stewart took both the championship and reserve championship in the Pre-Green 3’ division with Unwritten and Sambalino, owned by Marilou Case and Gina Day, respectively.

Friday

Catherine Pasmore of White Hall, VA, was victorious with her 11-year-old equitation mount Let’s Go M, also know as Go-go, in the USEF/Pessoa Hunter Seat Medal class, presented by Becker College. Springsteen, who was fourth in the Medal, also won the ASPCA Maclay class aboard her own Papillon 136.

Saturday

Glen Senk nabbed both championship and the reserve championship honors with Dynamic and True, respectively. In the 18-35 Adult Amateur Hunter division, Michael Danner piloted Rumors, owned by Kashmere Farms LLC, to the championship. In the 36 & Over Amateur-Owner Hunter division, Ellen Toon captured the top two spots with In Disguise, her veteran partner, and Attaché, respectively.

Sunday

In the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search, Waxman piloted her own Falcon to the blue ribbon to best a field of 25 horse-and-rider combinations. In addition, she and Falcon were victorious in the Washington International Horse Show equitation class jumper phase.

In the 15 & Under Large Junior Hunter division, Waxman and Saloon, owned by Whitney Roper, added another tricolor to their collection for the season. In the 18-35 Amateur Owner Hunter division, Clara Lindner picked up two more tricolors for the season with In the Black and Hush.

In the Medium Pony Hunters, Shawn Cassidy and Dark Star took the championship. Alexandra Thornton spiced things up in the 15 & Under Small Junior Hunters Tobasco and extended their long list of wins in the division.

Left Logo, Courtesy of Winter Equestrian Festival