Derek Braun and Lacarolus. Photo by Shawn McMillen Photography.
Lexington, KY – July 22, 2015 – On the first day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, it was the first horses in the ring that dominated the competition. Both Derek Braun and David Blake led their classes at the Kentucky Horse Park wire-to-wire to win the 1.40m Open Jumpers and the 7-Year-Old Jumpers, respectively.
As the first pair to go in the one round 1.40m Open Jumpers in the Rolex Stadium, Braun and MRN Family Corp’s Lacarolus laid down a quick and clear round to set the early pace-to-beat at 64.028 seconds.
A few of the 28 additional competitors came close, including Sharn Wordley on Ashland Stables’ Popstar Lozonais and Alfonso Diaz and his own Virginia, but their times of 65.082 seconds and 65.290 seconds would only be good enough for second and third.
“I went first, so I just thought I’d kind of go for it a little bit. It was fun,” Braun said. “I thought it was a great first day for us. He has the Grand Prix tomorrow, so I just wanted him to look for the next jump. I didn’t want him to run too fast. He was great; he was really on.”
Lacarolus has been one of Braun’s top horses for years, and after coming back from an injury, he is on form and better than ever, as he exhibited on Wednesday afternoon.
“He started showing again this winter, and he’s come back stronger than ever,” Braun said. “He’s amazing. I always can trust him. I always feel like he can win every class that he goes in. He’s been close the past few weeks in some grand prix. It’s nice for him to go a little bit faster in the 1.40m class.”
Braun and Lacarolus will return to Rolex Stadium on Thursday evening for the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and again on Saturday evening for the $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix.
Immediately preceding the 1.40m Open Jumpers, the 7-Year-Old Jumpers had their go in the Rolex Stadium, where David Blake and Pine Hollow Farm’s Dinozo demonstrated another commanding wire-to-wire victory.
Blake and Dinozo went clear over the Alan Wade-designed course and advanced to the jump-phase where they turned in a second clear effort, with a quick time of 35.261 seconds.
Benjamin Meredith and Thalys Z, Jordan Gilchrist and Happyboy Van De Doornakkers, Martin Mallo and Tao and Blake and his second mount, Freeman, all also produced double clear efforts, but Blake and Dinozo’s time would hold out as the best all the way through to the end.
“I came to the show yesterday, and he felt really relaxed here,” Blake said of Dinozo. “I think he really likes Kentucky. I knew the horse was going to jump well. In the first round, he was really relaxed. He never felt like he was going to make any mistake at all. So I said to myself in the jump-off, ‘just be nice and neat.’ He’s naturally a quick horse. I think in the future he’s going to win a lot of classes without trying too hard at all.”
Blake continued, “He’s got a really, really good mind for the job, and he always wants to jump clear. Even if he is a little bit spooky or nervous, he always wants to jump clear. He likes this ring a lot because there’s a lot of space in there. He doesn’t feel too confined. He’s more relaxed in this big ring then in a normal, smaller ring. I like bringing him here because I feel like he learns a lot with these courses.”
Finishing in second were Benjamin Meredith and Thalys Z, owned by The Thalys Group, on a jump-off time of 35.332 seconds, and third went to Blake and Freeman, owned by Pine Hollow Farm.
Jumper competition at the Kentucky Summer Horse Show continues on Thursday beginning in the Rolex Stadium at 8 a.m. with the 1.30m Open Jumpers. Jumper highlights throughout the week include Thursday night’s $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic and Saturday night’s $50,000 Rood & Riddle Grand Prix.
Strong Start for Kelley Farmer on Day One of Kentucky Summer Horse Show
Veteran hunter rider Kelley Farmer is back in Kentucky preparing for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and showcasing her winning ways atop her elite fleet of hunters to kick off day one at the 2015 Kentucky Summer Horse Show.
As partial owner Larry Glefke watched from the sidelines, Farmer piloted Point Being to double blue ribbons and a third during the Second Year Green Hunters.
“I love Point Being; he’s such a good horse,” Farmer said. “He’s the horse that won the $50,000 Hunter Classic in Tryon. He tries super, super hard. He’s super careful, which I love. I think he’s right on track for Derby Finals; I’m really excited.”
In the irons on Glefke’s So To Speak, Farmer claimed the blue on the flat, also taking a second place ribbon over fences. Tim Goguen and Saddle Ridge LLC’s Ransom were hot on her heels, finishing second and third over fences and third on the flat.
“Literally today was So To Speak’s first day back showing,” Farmer said. “He actually had a minor injury, so he hasn’t shown since the tenth week in Florida. I was hoping to have him back in time to be ready for Derby Finals, so I think I took the right amount of time. I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Earlier in the day, it was Goguen who claimed the top spots in the First Year Green Hunters. With Rookie, Goguen earned a blue on the flat and over fences, finishing second to himself in the third class. Goguen’s other mount, Capella, took home that blue ribbon and a third in the flat class, marking a successful first day for the Lexington-based rider.
“Rookie went really well,” Goguen commented of his earlier ride. “Capella made a mistake in the first class; he had the rail. He went well the second time, and he won. Rookie can move well, so he won the hack. They’ve been very, very good coming out of Florida. They’re two lovely, lovely horses.”
During the Green Conformation Hunters, Winn Alden and her own Covert swept the field, taking home all three blue ribbons. Sarah Rice and Before Anything Else followed closely behind with two seconds and a third.
As the day came to a close with the High Performance Hunters, it was once again Farmer’s name that topped the leaderboard. So To Speak’s smooth rounds claimed him two out of three blue ribbons, with the talented Dalliance, owned by Avatar Real Estate LLC, taking two seconds and a third. Point Being earned a first and third, and Symbolic rounded out the lineup with two fourths.
Farmer was extremely pleased with the day’s results, as all of her horses are preparing for the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in August. Farmer also plans to compete in the Finals with Mindful, who is happily resting until then.
“The others don’t quite have the knowledge that he does yet,” Farmer laughed.
In addition to offering a full range of competitive hunter divisions, the Kentucky Summer Horse Show features the $5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday, July 26.
To learn more about the Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Kentucky Horse Shows 2015 Horse Show Series Fast Facts
Events:
Kentucky Summer Horse Shows, USEF National Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival Horse Show and KHJA Horse Show, and the 2015 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals and the Pre Green Incentive Championship.
What:
The Kentucky Horse Show LLC’s 2015 series includes five weeks of top competition throughout the summer. These premier hunter/jumper competitions host the Hagyard Challenge Series with seven grand prix competitions that culminate with a Leading Rider Award, as well as the Hallway Feeds National Derby Series.
Where:
Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY, site of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, home to the United States Equestrian Federation.
When:
NORTH AMERICAN JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER CHAMPIONSHIPS – July 14-19, 2015
KENTUCKY SUMMER HORSE SHOW – July 22-26, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix
$50,000 Rood & Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
KENTUCKY SUMMER CLASSIC – July 28 – August 2, 2015
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix sponsored by GGT Footings
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
2015 USEF PONY FINALS – August 4-9, 2015
BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL HORSE SHOW – August 11-16, 2015
USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship
USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Championship
$25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic
$40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix sponsored by Audi of Lexington
$5,000 Hallway Feeds USHJA National Hunter Derby
WCHR Member Event
KHJA HORSE SHOW – August 19-23, 2015
$10,000 Hagyard Welcome Stake
$30,000 KHJA Grand Prix
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Sponsors:
A special thanks to the generous sponsors of the Kentucky Summer Series: Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Hallway Feeds, Hollow Creek Farm, GGT Footing, Rood and Riddle, Audi of Lexington, Sleepy P Ranch, CWD, Farm Vet, Dietrich Insurance, Take2 Thoroughbred Program, and the Official Hotel The Clarion
Hours:
8am – 5pm daily
Parking:
Horse Show Exhibitors may purchase a weekly parking pass at the main Horse Park entrance for $15.00. Dogs are permitted at the Kentucky Horse Park on a leash.
Directions:
The Kentucky Horse Park is located 8 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky at Exit 120 on Interstate 75.
Information:
Before Show – (859) 233-0492, Email: hakshows@earthlink.net
During Show – Telephone: (859) 281-7979, Fax: (859) 231-6097
Stabling – Pat Duncan (503) 510-8797
Stable office – Before Show: (503) 510-8797, During Show: (859) 255-0605
Prize List Advertising – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Vendors – Email Cindy Bozan at cindy@kentuckyhorseshows.com or call (859) 608-3709
Shownet – www.shownet.biz
Website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Shopping:
Vendors offering equestrian equipment, apparel, jewelry, and home furnishings are located adjacent to the Stonelea Ring.
Hotels:
CLARION HOTEL (http://www.clarionhotellex.com) (Formerly Holiday Inn North) – 859-233-0512 – Approximately 4 miles (OFFICIAL HOTEL)
Discover the place where elegant comfort in an ideal location meets excellent service and affordability. At the Clarion Hotel Lexington, you’ll find well-appointed accommodations with options of double/doubles, double queens, king rooms or suites, exceptional amenities such as our free hot breakfast buffet, and Southern hospitality at its finest. The best hotel for Keeneland – Located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region – home of the Kentucky Horse Park, the Lexington Convention Center, University of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – our Lexington hotel is on Newtown Pike at Exit 115 on I-75, close to all the big attractions, and is the perfect place to stay whether you’re here to get down to business or have some fun. Best of all, bring your furry friends for any trip because the Clarion Hotel in Lexington is also pet-friendly.
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS:
Reservations may not be made through the Horse Show office. To reserve a campsite at the Kentucky Horse Park for any of the horse shows, please call the Campground store at (800) 370-6416 or 859-259-4157 or email Ryan McGaughey at Ryan.mcgaughey@ky.gov. Be specific as to the show name and the dates you wish to stay. Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and checkout is 12:00 noon. You must make arrangements with the Campground store if you plan to arrive earlier than 2:00 p.m. or stay later than 12:00 noon. Vehicles that are not removed from a campsite by check-out time will be towed.
Management:
Kentucky Horse Shows, LLC
P. O. Box 11428
Lexington, KY 40575-1428
859-233-0492 (phone)
859-233-0495 (fax)
email: hakshows@earthlink.net
website: www.kentuckyhorseshows.com
Media Contact:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com