Chris Ewanouski and Carlos 455.
Wellington, FL – February 21, 2014 – Out of 50 contenders, Chris Ewanouski rode Carlos 455 to Wellington Turf Tour 1.40m Grand Prix victory at Deeridge Farms today. It came down to a difference of 2/10ths of a second, but Ewanouski set the standard high with his time of 33.367 seconds in an 18-horse jump off. Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa snatched second place aboard HH Let’s Fly, while Jeffery Welles rode to the third place with Antaris S.
Jeffery Welles and Bilion set the pace early this morning as only the second to take on Eric Hasbrouck’s course. They rode to a clear first round, and moved into the jump off where they tripped the timers at a speedy pace of 34.662 seconds. With another mount left in the class, and seeing a chance for possible defeat, Welles tried to catch his own time aboard Antaris S.
With blazing speed, he piloted the bay gelding through the turns with efficiency. They sliced the seconds with their strategy, stopping the clock at 33.783 seconds. His speedy times pushed him into the lead for the Leading Rider Bonus, fueling a fire as Sarah Segal later returned with Tilghman to reclaim her title.
Segal piloted Tilghman to a double clear effort in 33.840 seconds to surpass Welles’ round with Bilion, but she could not quite catch the time he set with Antaris S at 33.783 seconds.
Although a field of 40 competitors remained, each one tried, but could not catch Welles’ time, until Chris Ewanouski took the reins aboard Carlos 455. He was tenth in the jump off, but he knew that he has a tremendous feat ahead of him. Not only did he need to catch Welles’ time, but he needed to be just a tick faster to avoid the remaining riders from superseding his rank.
Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa, coming off of yesterday’s win at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival’s $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup, traversed the track with confidence and speed aboard the 15-year-old HH Let’s Fly. He rode double clear in 33.561 seconds, nearly catching Ewanouski’s time, but falling 2/10ths of a seconds shy.
“He is a really experienced horse, so I tried to do my best to catch the time, but it was not enough today. I gave more or less everything, but it was not enough,” Pessoa said. “It was very refreshing to come out here and get some fresh air and space; I enjoyed the whole day.”
Ewanouski’s time did not hold the week before when competing at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, but this week he was ready to ride for the victory.
“Honestly, I knew that Jeffery was blazing fast, and after hearing about his round, I knew I had to go fast,” Ewanouski explained. “First I wanted to jump clean, and then once I did, I decided to go fast and catch him. I knew being cautious wasn’t going to cut it.”
Ewanouski continued, “Carlos 455 is a really cool horse that I have been able to ride for the past year. He started out jumping 1.30m-1.35m, but this summer we started jumping small grand prix. He is really scopey, and for me he is a little big. It is ironic – he is a bit of a slower going horse, but he can still go very fast. I knew I needed to kick it up a notch, so I made a slice to fence 14 that maybe I shouldn’t have, but it worked. I also took a shot by going inside to fence 12, which many people hadn’t done.”
Pessoa eventually earned the second place with Welles capturing third. Segal and Tilghman finished fourth, while Jeffery Welles and Bilion took fifth. Daniel Deusser and First Class Vaneeckelghem rounded out the top six.
Ewanouski concluded, “I did a couple of the Wellington Turf Tour Grand Prix, but Deeridge was beautiful. I think they are a great idea. So far, the places I have been to show the footing has been great, and they are run really well. It is a huge convenience to be able to come at any time.”
Week VIII of The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour will be held at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Get your entries in now for the 1.30m-1.35m Jumper classes, as well as the $15,000 Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix by clicking here. With Welles taking over the leading rider position, the competition is getting fierce as only four weeks remain to claim the one-year membership to the International Polo Club Palm Beach!
Riders should get their entries in to avoid post-entry fees. The stakes are increasing each week as top riders, amateur and professional, vie for their invitation into the $24,750 Invitational Grand Prix Series Finale Saturday, March 22, 2014, and the newly announced Leading Rider Bonus.
Meadowbrook Horse Transport will provide transportation to and from the horse show and other locations throughout Wellington for both the Wednesday and Friday events. The transportation is a nominal fee of $50 per horse, and will be calculated into the final show fees. To make a reservation for one of the three pickup times: 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. please call Peter Tufano of Meadowbrook Horse Transport at (954) 415-7217, or call Nona Garson at (908) 500-0996.
The Wednesday and Friday events will run from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Riders are encouraged to get their entries in as soon as possible for the approaching events. Turning in entries early will ensure that they get the time that they desire.
Show Net is onsite for all Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour events, capturing footage and providing live results for each class. For full results and videos please visit: www.shownet.biz.
The Ridge still has available sponsorships for the Invitational Series. For more information, call (908) 500-0996 or download information at www.theridgefarm.com.
Sponsorships are available for the $25,000 Finale, $15,000 Weekly Grand Prix, $2,000 Weekly Hospitality Text, $3,500 Show Jump Sponsor for series, $750 Ring Banner for the series and $500 Weekly Class Presenter.
All checks should be made payable to the Ridge Farm LLC.
The Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix Series
C/O Eda Tordiff
110 Edwards Rd.
Parsippany, NJ, 07054
For more information about the Ridge at Wellington, please go to http://www.theridgefarm.com. For up-to-date information, please follow the Ridge at Wellington on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ridge-at-Wellington/219358376264.
The Ridge at Wellington Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour offers their popular 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix for its second year, with an open in gate format taking place once a week at beautiful venues throughout Wellington. The Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix Finale will take place March 22, 2014.
The Turf Tour also will host 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers every Wednesday beginning January 8, 2014 and running until March 19, 2014.
Young Jumper Classes and both Children’s/Senior Jumper Classics will find their home intermittently throughout the Wellington Turf Tour.
The Ridge at Wellington offers Equitation Shows every Tuesday of the month from January – March 2013. There will also be a series of schooling shows at the Ridge at Wellington for all experience levels.
Two USHJA International Hunter Derbies will take place February 7, 2014 and March 21, 2014.
What:
The Ridge at Wellington series includes several weeks of competition throughout the Winter Season with USEF Rated Equitation Shows. This winter will also feature five two-day schooling shows. The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour will offer 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers, 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix, Young Jumpers, Children’s/Senior Classics, and two hunter derbies.
Where:
Wolfstone Stables
3655 Middleburg Dr,
Wellington, FL 33414
Barn & Show Phone 561-791-1471 | Barn Fax 561-791-1543
When:
Wednesday, January 8, 2014 – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday, January 10, 2014 – 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Hours:
8:30am-5pm daily
Directions:
From the Florida Turnpike: Take the exit for LakeWorth Road West. Continue on Lake Worth Road approximately 6 miles to South Shore Blvd. Make a left on South Shore Blvd. Continue to the stop sign at 50th Street. Make a Right on 50th Street. Continue to Stables Way and make a right. Continue to the end of Stables Way and make a right on Palm Beach Point Blvd. Driveway to farm is 50 feet on the left.
From Route 95: Take the exit for Forest Hill Blvd West. Continue on Forest Hill Blvd to South Shore Blvd. Make a left on South Shore Blvd. Once on South Shore Blvd, continue straight at light at Pierson Road and again straight through the intersection at Lake Worth Road, to the stop sign at 50th Street. Make a Right on 50th Street. Continue to Stables Way and make a right. Continue to the end of Stables Way and make a right on Palm Beach Point Blvd. Driveway to farm is 50 feet on the left.
Information:
Before Show – (561) 791-1471, Email: RidgeShows@aol.com
During Show – Telephone: (561) 791-1471, Fax: (561) 791-1543
Text: (908) 500-0996
Website: http://www.theridgefarm.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ridge-at-Wellington/219358376264?ref=ts&fref=ts.
Management:
Nona Garson
14415 Palm Beach Point Blvd. East
Wellington, FL, 33414
(561) 791-1471 (show office)
(908) 839-3859 (show cell)
(561) 791-1543 (show fax)
Email: RidgeShows@aol.com
Website: http://www.theridgefarm.com
Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd.
Suite 105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com