©ESI Photography. David Jennings and Nandy Fontaine were paired again by owner Emily Reiney and jumped to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.
OCALA, FL (February 7, 2014) – In front of a dedicated crowd of onlookers at the HITS Ocala Winter Classic, professional rider David Jennings of Franklin, Tennessee and Nandy Fontaine won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, for owner Emily Reiney on Thursday. The blue was their first grand prix victory of the circuit.
The course, designed by Dave Ballard of Tottenham, Ontario, Canada, challenged twenty-nine riders with oxers, verticals, combinations, rollbacks and a time allowed of 74 seconds. Many riders appeared cautious in the first round, resulting in time penalties and rails down. The triple combination at fence 11 proved to be troublesome, with the most rails down.
The dash for cash began when thirteen returned to jump off, with 42 seconds as the time allowed. The top five were double clear with Kelley Robinson and Enzo, riding for Cimarron Farm of Russell, Ontario, were the first to go, setting the Great American Tim to Beat at 38.28 seconds. This would eventually give them fifth place. A crowd favorite, Ammeretto – the little guy with the big jump – and David Beisel of Goshen, Ohio threw caution to the wind with a blistering all-out-effort and time of 33.57 seconds, taking second place for Equine Holdings LLC.
Third went to Titus 2:11 with a seemingly effortless jumping style, ridden by Jared Petersen for Derek Petersen, both from Archer, Florida, with a time of 34.03 seconds. The extremely versatile Coco and professional Scott Keach took fourth for Southern Cross Equestrian of Reddick, Florida with a time of 34.57 seconds.
“Nandy Fontaine is rusty after an extended lay-off,” stated David Jennings. “He is a high-energy horse with a lot of talent. He loves to train and he loves to jump.”
Having ridden him to past wins for owner Emily Reiney, she called Jennings to show him as a sale horse. “As we saw today, this horse can rise to the occasion,” added Jennings.
There will be more grand prix action on Sunday as the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit continues with the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. The show-down will return to the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium as excitement builds for the first-ever Great American $1 Million Grand Prix. The Great American Million will debut as the second jewel in the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping Monday, March 24 in the new Ocala Horse Properties Stadium.
About SmartPak
SmartPak powers healthy horses and happy riders. The patented SmartPak Supplement Feeding System makes it easy for riders across the country to take the best care of their horses. Founded in 1999, with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements and medications to horses, the system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly.
About Zoetis
Building on 60 years of experience as Pfizer Animal Health, Zoetis delivers quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostics products and genetics tests and supported by a range of services. They work every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant. Zoetis produces a comprehensive range of safe and effective products, including equine vaccines, dewormers and sedative analgesics, to help professionals and individual horse owners keep their animals healthy. Both veterinarians and horse owners know and trust the Zoetis will help their horses live longer, healthier lives.
Callan Solem and Cortender Win $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome
Callan Solem of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania and Cortender emerged as winners of the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome on Wednesday. They bested a difficult course set by designer Ballard with the time allowed of 74 seconds.
In their first appearance of the circuit, Solem rode the entry of Horseshoe Trail Farm to a clean first round to face six clean in the jump-off with a time allowed of 45 seconds. The pair jumped clean in the jump-off with a time of 38.06 seconds to take the win. Solem also had a clean first round on her mare Magic Cruise. In the jump-off, they had the time of 36.78 seconds, but four faults moved them to third.
Second place went to rider/trainer Brandie Holloway of Topeka, Kansas on Any Given Sunday for owner Hays Investment Corp. with a time of 35.59 seconds and four jumping faults. Fourth went to Adare, ridden by Rebecca Conway of Wellington, Florida, owned by Blue Hill Farm LLC, while fifth went to Visette, entered by Redfield Farm and trained/ridden by Adrienne Iverson of Califon, New Jersey.
Callan Solem is glad to be back at HITS Ocala. “I feel like I’ve come home – this is where I grew up,” she stated. “I can’t wait to jump in the new Ocala Horse Properties Stadium this weekend.”
When asked about her horse, Cortender, the 9 year old Dutch Warmblood, she beamed. “I am crazy about him – he’s such a fun horse to ride,” she said. “I have only had him since last year, and this is his first trip to Ocala.”
As far as Solem is concerned, she’s set her goal high and plans to qualify for the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on March 24 and hopes to have a good showing in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix this Sunday.
Brook Ledge Horse Transportation will continue to present a weekly jumper class throughout the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Aside from the winner’s purse, Brook Ledge Open Welcome riders also compete for the Brook Ledge Rider Bonus, which includes a $1,500 shipping credit for the rider who accumulates the most points in those classes throughout the HITS Ocala circuit.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!
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