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Ireland’s David Blake Proves It’s More Than Luck, Riding to 1-2 Finish in 1.30m-1.35m Wellington Turf Tour

David Blake and Lisalba rode to the Wellington Turf Tour 1.30m-1.35m victory at IPC for Week 9 of the series.

Wellington, FL – March 5, 2014 – Ireland’s David Blake and Lisalba rode to a blazing time of 26.307 seconds in the second 1.30m-1.35m Jumper class at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) to snatch up the win. Not only did he secure the first place, but he also guided his other mount Aischa to the second place finish. Linda Sheridan and Invitational rode to the first place finish in the first 1.30m-1.35m class, riding to the time of 28.509 seconds.

Darrin Dilin set an early lead this morning at the IPC, riding to the top finishes with three mounts. He left nothing to chance as he guided Tennyson, owned by Susan Grange, to the jump off time of 29.043 seconds. Their time held strong as consecutive competitors attempted to catch it without avail. It wasn’t until the end of the day that defeat seemed a possibility.

Ramiro Quintana was the first to surpass Dilin in the jump off. He shaved the seconds with tight turns and an open stride to slide into the lead in 28.785 seconds. Quintana wore a target on his back as Ireland’s David Blake rode Aischa onto the field. Blake knew that he had ground to cover in order to take over Jeffery Welles for the Leading Rider Bonus, sponsored by the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Sitting in second with nearly 6,500 points separating the competitors, Blake threw caution to the wind.

He rode Aischa through the timers in a speedy 26.669 seconds, and then returned on his 1.30m ringer, Lisalba. Although he only had himself to beat, he took on the challenge. Blake rode Lisalba to a clear time of 26.307 seconds for the win.

“Lisalba is leading the 1.30m series at the Winter Equestrian Festival,” Blake said. “When I saw that the Wellington Turf Tour also offered the 1.30m-1.35m classes, I saw an opportunity to show her here. I am hoping we can show her here on Wednesdays until the end of the series.”

Blake continued, “She is older, so she is quite experienced. I have had her for a year and a half, and she is very competitive. We leave her at this level because she is good at it. She knows when it is the jump off. If you show her the turns, she will always make them. She is naturally a quick horse. She is very straightforward, all you have to go in and show her the numbers.

Blake also took the second place in the first 1.30m-1.35m class with Lisalba. His time of 29.019 seconds did not hold against Linda Sheridan and the 18-year-old Invitational. Sheridan is no stranger to the winner’s circle at the Wellington Turf Tour, having won the 1.30m-1.35m Jumper class at Deeridge Farms during Week VII with the same mount.

Linda Sheridan and Invitational rode to their second 1.30m-1.35m win at the Wellington Turf Tour
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Linda Sheridan and Invitational rode to their second 1.30m-1.35m win at the Wellington Turf Tour

Sheridan made a beautiful turn from the first to second obstacles of the short course, and continued her winning ways during the in-and-out when she made a smart angle into the combination, leaving a stride out and emerging a half of a second faster than Blake and Lisalba to finish in 28.509 seconds.

“He was amazing!” Sheridan exclaimed. “Honestly, I think the biggest thing with this horse was doing a nice turn from the first to second jump in the jump off. Doing the short turn to a bigger oxer wasn’t the plan since I am normally very conservative with him, but he was on his favorite lead, the left, and he felt so balanced; he just soared. I really came in on an angle in the in-and-out and he was very clever about that; he left a stride out.”

At only 15.1 hands, Invitational is very short, but his stride, speed and scope proved that he is able to compete with the world’s best. Sheridan has been riding the gelding for 10 years, and she knows him like the back of her hand.

“It is so nice to be able to come out here and do this for fun,” Sheridan stated. “Out here you don’t feel all of the pressure. I like this location, and everything was good. For now, I am going to keep him at the 1.35m height, and then after going home in the spring we may do some small grand prix. The 1.40m competition here is very heavy, and he has been jumping fabulous, I don’t want to change that. I am so pleased with how he is jumping, that right now I want to keep him comfortable at this level.”

Kevin Babington and Borindy would capture the third place just behind Blake. They rode to the time of 30.301 seconds without fault. Jennifer Goddard and Forme Dubra rode to the fourth place finish, while Molly Ashe Cawley and Coq A Doodle finished in fifth. Peter Leone and My Pleasure rounded out the top six with their clean effort in 32.763 seconds.

Today marked the fourth of five YJC Young Jumper Qualifying opportunities. Over 40 competitors rode the track at IPC with their young mounts. Babington returned to IPC to take the victory in the 7 & 8 Year Old YJC Qualifying Class with Dublin 4, while Brooke Cudmore rode Cassin to the 5 & 6 Year Old YJC Qualifier win.

The course opened at 8 a.m. and remained open until 4:30 p.m., allowing competitors ample time to come at their convenience to ride and enjoy the ambiance of the International Polo Club Palm Beach. The $175,000 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix event will return to IPC Friday for the ninth week of competition. Next week the Wellington Turf Tour will continue at the spectacular Valiente Farms. This is the first time the venue has opened its gates for a show jumping event, and the Wellington Turf Tour will make history. The 11-week series will culminate with the $24,750 Wellington Turf Tour Invitational Grand Prix Finale on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Deeridge Farms.

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.

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.

For more information, call (908) 500-0996 or download information at www.theridgefarm.com.

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 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, Junior/Amateur-Owner, Child/Adult and Senior Jumper Classics will find their home intermittently throughout the Wellington Turf Tour.

The Ridge at Wellington offers rated Equitation Shows every Tuesday from January – March 2014. 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:
International Polo Club Palm Beach
3667 120th Avenue South, 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

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