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Jeffery Welles Wins Again! Kicking Off Wellington Turf Tour Finale Week

Jeffery Welles and Bilion.

Wellington, FL – March 19, 2014 – The final week of the Wellington Turf Tour kicked off today at Deeridge Farms. It was a heated competition, with some of the nation’s top riders, both professional and amateur, going neck to neck for the top awards in the 1.30m-1.35m Jumper classes and the YJC Finals. Jeffery Welles and Bilion once again rode to the top of the leader board in the first 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers, proving exactly why he sits at the pinnacle of the Wellington Turf Tour Leading Rider standings. Sarah Segal also put in a fantastic effort to win the second class of the day with Zelda, securing the victory by 1/10th of a second over Linda Sheridan and Invitational.

It was a battle against the clock today, with over 50 horse and rider combinations racing for the win in the final 1.30m-1.35m Jumper classes at the Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour. Leslie Howard was the first rider to take on the track, riding two mounts to double clear efforts. Although her times were solid, Paul Halpern and Super G were on fire as they set the time to beat at 32.932 seconds.

Christoph Schroeder rose to the challenge blazing through the course in a quick and tidy 32.241 seconds aboard Una Bella, returning with Diamant Du Revel to duplicate his effort in 32.696 seconds. Although Marie Hecart and Premier Platiere attempted to catch his time, their speed was not quite on point as they rode to a more conservative time of 33.891 seconds.

Jeffery Welles returned to the turf today with the liver chestnut that proved he can do it all: Bilion. The gelding has consistently risen to the top of the ranks each week, only continuing to improve with the 11-week series and dominate the competition with Welles in the saddle.

They picked up a strong gallop from the opening oxer, and continued to navigate the track efficiently. Although Bilion slightly backed off to obstacle 12, the pair rose to the challenge, making up time with an inside turn that shaved the second to a vertical. Their rollback to the final oxer sealed their fate as the victors, stopping the clock in 31.504 seconds.

“Last week he was really fresh after a week off, and he was bucking and playing and not really paying attention, so I had a hard time getting him to focus. Last week when we came around the left turn, I tried to move up to a distance, and he and I were not on the same page,” Welles recollected. “Fortunately, he came back today and it seemed like last week didn’t bother him in a negative way. I wasn’t going to do the inside turn today, but then I thought that after last week I really wanted to focus on his education. He has a huge stride, and is careful, but he needs to learn how to turn. He felt confident today, so I went ahead and made the inside turn.”

Welles continued, “The first couple of weeks that I brought him I was only doing the Wednesday classes, and then I began to gradually move him up to the bigger class on Friday. I must say, he really started to understand himself better, and although he stayed careful, he didn’t over-jump as much. He learned how to be careful without overdoing it. It is all about getting the horse comfortable at the next level, and then moving them up gradually with quality horses like that.”

Sarah Segal and Zelda
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Sarah Segal and Zelda

The second class of the day saw Sarah Segal ride to the first and third place finishes with Zelda and Tilghman, respectively. It was only a fraction of a second that separated Segal from Linda Sheridan’s time of 30.943 seconds aboard Invitational. Sheridan also rode Vantina HPF to the fifth place finish, only narrowly missing fourth place when Brittni Raflowitz and Elios tripped the timers in 31.839 seconds.

Schroeder secured the fifth place finish with Diamant De Revel in 34.008 seconds, while Mario Deslauriers and Scout de la Cense rounded out the top six in 37.264 seconds. Mikala Chesler and Stanley Stone finished with the seventh place for their effort of 39.974 seconds set early in the day.

“The setup is not only perfect; it is quiet, a nice atmosphere, nice courses, nice footing, and a good warm up,” Schroeder explained. “It is definitely beneficial for young horses. It was really nice to show at Deeridge, and I think it is wonderful that owners and families have opened their gates to allow others to show on their property. I think that it really gives a special atmosphere.”

Schroeder continued, “Unfortunately we started doing it a little late. We should have started competing in this series a little bit earlier, but I am so glad that we finally did it. I want to bring two or three horses to the finale on Saturday. Sometimes the change of scenario and atmosphere helps to make the horses happier, and it can give you an advantage.”

Today concluded the YJC Qualifying Classes, offering three times the amount of earnings in each division. In the $1,500 7/8 Year Old YJC Qualifying Class, Mario Deslauriers and Peyton rode to the top. Candice King and Diamond of Picobello Z took second place, while Lucy Deslauriers and Hamlet finished in third place.

It was a six-way tie in the 5/6 Year Old YJC Qualifying Class, with six horses each posting a clean effort. Candice King and Dimitri, Paul Halpern and Lucy, King and Astakkato, Emily Dougherty and Vivaldi, Josh Dolan and Cora, and Carly Campbell-Cooper with Pandora split the earnings.

Segal currently sits in the second place position for the Wellington Turf Tour Leading Rider Bonus. She is a mere $8,000 behind Welles, and this Saturday’s 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix Finale will tell all as the competitors enter into a heated battle of the best. The winner of the $24,950 Finale event will walk away with $8,000, also possibly claiming the coveted Leading Rider Bonus.

The Leading Rider of the 2014 Wellington Turf Tour will receive a one-year membership to the International Polo Club Palm Beach, valued at $35,000. Each winner of the $15,000 1.40m Grand Prix for Week 8 -11 of the Wellington Turf Tour will receive an exclusive Ridge at Wellington saddle pad, and the victor of the $24,950 Grand Prix Finale will take home a PoloGear Branding Package including the saddle pad, a hat, one-of-a-kind polo shirt and a championship 2014 The Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour jacket to commemorate the series.

The final week of competition is sure to be filled with top-tier competitors and horses, unparalleled hospitality and unrivaled footing. Beverley Bryant, of Bryant Portraits, will be on site for the finale event. Her artwork has been seen throughout the 11-week series, with magnificent portraits on display at the varying venues each week. The rider in second place for the series rankings will receive a one-of-a-kind horse head drawing by Bryant.

Meadowbrook Horse Transport will provide transportation to and from the horse show and other locations throughout Wellington for both the Wednesday and Saturday 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 events will run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Riders are encouraged to get their entries in as soon as possible for the approaching $24,995 Grand Prix Finale. Turning in entries early will ensure that they get the time that they desire.

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:
Deeridge Farm
12500 Pierson Road
The Southfields Entrance
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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