Michael Tokaruk and Ultaire Win $25,000 EMO Welcome Jumper Stake; Megan Edrick and Cadence Repeat Victory in $25,000 EMO Grand Prix
Conyers, GA — Nov 20, 2011 — Week two of the Atlanta Fall Classics put the jumpers center stage for the finale event of Classic Company’s 2011 season with two big $25,000 classes. “This week’s big money classes were a nice way to end the season for our exhibitors. It’s been a great year of shows and the new season will be even better!” Bob Bell, President of Classic Company, said.
Show jumping action kicked off on Friday with the $25,000 EMO Welcome Stake presented by EMO Insurance. The field of 31 was a virtual who’s who of the sport with the likes of Olympic vet Chris Kappler, USET Champion Schuyler Riley, and show jumping Million Dollar Club member Wilhelm Genn taking on Allen Rheinheimer’s complex 12 fence layout with one goal-clear the jumps and beat the 82 second time allowance.
A baker’s dozen succeeded in advancing to the jump off, along with the seasoned big names was up and coming pro Michael Tokaruk of the Eads, TN based Spring Mill Farm aboard the 18 hand Dutch gelding Ultaire owned by Janet McCarroll. The pair were 22nd in the order of go. “The course was tricky enough, a nice class and with that many clear I knew we’d have to take a shot in the jump off and really go for it.” Ultaire’s clean time of 75.689 in round one was among the fastest, a feat Tokaruk attributes to the “massive stride and scope” of his partner. The twisty 8 effort jump off had an allowance of 48 seconds and a lot of challenges. Local favorite Chase Boggio of Alpharetta, GA and mount Hennessey were the first to gallop into the jump off, but dropped a rail to finish with 4 faults in a speedy 38.961. The first clean ride belonged to Schuyler Riley aboard the Wolfstone Stables entry Goldmarie 33 finishing in 40.895. Archer, FL pro Derek Petersen scored the lead with a clear run on his mount Via Dolorosa in 39.626. That is until Tokaruk and Ultaire cleared the final obstacle in a blazing 37.005, but with three horses still to follow. “It all worked out nice; I never really had to pull on the reins much and with that big ring he can just eat up the ground,” Tokaruk said. Nice work indeed – the duo’s time held and victory was clinched.
Michael shared a little history of his partnership. “Ultaire’s fantastic, I rode him as a 5-year-old – he’s a Voltaire baby – and he’s 10 now, so it’s been a long time since I’ve shown him. I’ve been back riding him for 3 months and we’re clicking more and more every time we go into the ring.” Concerning their future, Michael said, “We’ll finish this year in Sunday’s prix, then home to enjoy some Holiday downtime and prep for the winter season.”
Official Results for the $25,000 EMO Welcome Jumper Stake:
1st Ultaire owned by Janet McCarroll and ridden by Michael Tokaruk 0 37.005
2nd Via Dolorosa owned and ridden by Derek Petersen 0 39.626
3rd Goldmarie 33 owned by Wolfstone Stables and ridden by Schuyler Riley 0 40.895
4th Lazaro owned and ridden by Jordan Coyne 0 41.952
5th Waterloo owned by Michael Meller and ridden by Schuyler Riley 0 42.529
6th L’Etoile owned by The L’Etoile Group and ridden by Theo Genn 0 42.790
7th Available Heartbreaker owner Available Jumpers and ridden by My Weber 0 45.080
8th Hennessey owned and ridden by Chasen Boggio 4 38.961
9th Happy Z owned and ridden by Wilhelm Genn 4 39.309
10th Cadence owned by Procedures, Inc and ridden by Megan Edrick 4 39.602
11th Quinlan owned by Wolfstone Stables and ridden by Schuyler Riley 5 48.626
12th Uranda owned by Highridge Farm and ridden by Susan Fried 8 43.626
Sunday’s $10,000 Adult-Children’s Jumper Classic had 37 fierce competitors vying for the top spot, and when the dust settled it was Jordan Irvan and Johnny Dublin (owned by Ernie Irvan) taking the win.
Official Results of the $10,000 Adult-Children’s Jumper Classic:
1st Johnny Dublin owned by Ernie Irvan ridden by Jordan Irvan
2nd MTM Karma owned by MTM Farm ridden by Landrie Folsom
3rd Jacob’s ladder owned and ridden by Sydney Johnson
4th Campiola owned and ridden by Dana Tourville
5th Bennett owned by Thierry Van Dyck and ridden by Colleen Sheridan
6th Little Tom owned and ridden by Patricia Hennessy
7th Partizan owned and ridden by Juan Gamboa
8th Golden Boy owned and ridden by Anne Gardner
9th Candor 15 owned and ridden by Dana Tourville
10th Jacquet owned by Sharon Bejarano and ridden by Emily Fleishman
11th Good Carma owned and ridden by Heather Crespo
12th Tulip owned by Redfield Farm and ridden by Mattie Worsham
Call it déjà vu: Megan Edrick of the Ocala, FL based Don Stewart Stables partnered with the Procedures, Inc owned Cadence and claimed victory again in the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix. Edrick’s cool demeanor and precise actions made taking on some heavy hitters of show jumping and defeating the course work of Allen Rheinheimer seem like a walk in the park for this up and comer. Round one saw 28 entries cross the start timers in the hopes of clearing the 13 fences well below the allotted 94 seconds and advancing to the jump off round. USET veteran Schuyler Riley of Wellington, FL with the Wolfstone Stables owned Goldmarie 33 were the first on course and the first clear ride, posting a time of 82.765. A few rides later it was Olympic Gold Medalist Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ piloting As Di Volare, an entry of Sand Castle Farm, to a clean time of 89.412. Soon after, Daniel Geitner of Aiken, SC brought Sympa (owned by Mrs. Charles Bostwick) home clean in 88.208. Seven more went clean and Edrick was the last clear ride in round one with a time of 85.029. Once more Edrick praised her 10-year-old Swedish partner Cadence. “We weren’t holding back and he came through for me again! He just loves this big field.”
Round two’s 50 second allowance for the 8 obstacle [9 effort] layout gave the appearance of a continuous turn ending with a straight run to the finish line. Riley guided Goldmarie 33 safely to a clear time of 42.158 to set the bar for the remaining horses. Kappler gave it his best but fell short with a downed rail. Geitner galloped Sympa into the arena and set the course on fire with a scorching clear ride of 41.048. Their lead held until the last – Edrick and Cadence knew what was needed to seize the win. “We had a set plan and track. I went inside from 1 to 2 which was a real slice across the center. I think that helped, I think it gave me the second I needed to be faster than Daniel,” Edrick said, then added of Daniel Geitner’s performance, “He’s so smooth. His ride was flawless.” As was Edrick’s, and she claimed her second consecutive victory.
Official Results in the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix
1st Cadence with Megan Edrick for owner Procedures, Inc 39.798 0
2nd Sympa with Daniel Geitner for owner Mrs. Charles Bostwick 41.048 0
3rd Hennessey with owner-rider Chasen Boggio 41.426 0
4th Goldmarie 33 with Riley Schuyler for owner Wolfstone Stables 42.158 0
5th Waterloo with Riley Schuyler for owner Michael Meller 43.171 0 4
6th Lazaro with owner-rider Jordan Coyne 44.067 0
7th As Di Volare with Chris Kappler for owner Sand Castle farm 42.865 4
8th Hermine 44 with Chris Kappler for owner Kamine & Fisher Families, LLC 49.821 4
9th Grande Finale 3E with owner-rider Emily Short 42.981 8
10th Utharo with Glenn Hartigan for owner Mary Kate Dillon 85.521 0 (Retired from JO)
11th Via Dolorosa with owner-rider Derek Petersen 81.313 4
12th Bravoman with Abigail McArdle for owner Old Barrington LLC 84.737 4
This week also saw the crowning of several Championship titles such as the National Classic Equitation Finals and Year End Awards. A complete list of the 2011 winners and full show results can be found at the Classic Company web site, www.classiccompany.com and www.horseshowsonline.com or call the Classic office at 843-768-5503.