Kelly Maloney and Leroy Brown 17.
Lexington, KY – August 4, 2013 – The Kentucky Summer Classic concluded with another day of perfect weather as riders gathered at the Rolex Stadium for the NAL/WIHS Adult and Children’s Jumper Classic. With nine double clear rounds, it was Kelly Maloney’s speedy effort aboard Leroy Brown 17 that proved to be the key to winning the Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation. Brazil’s Julia Tedesco showed the way in the Children’s Jumper Classic, piloting Belle Nuit to the top of the leader board.
Thirty-eight riders showed over the first round track, designed by Brazil’s Marina Azevedo, during the Adult Jumper Classic, which included two bending lines, an oxer-vertical double combination, and a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination. Sixteen entries were able to traverse the track without error and advance to tiebreaker, which included a sharp rollback to a new vertical and the double combination.
Kelly Maloney of Rembert, SC, set the uncatchable time with Leroy Brown 17 about mid-way through the class after she completed very tight rollbacks and made a very sharp slice at the new vertical. They dashed through the timers in 35.445 seconds with all the rails intact, eventually returning to the winner’s circle.
Lindsey Tomeu came very close to catching Maloney while riding Sandro Star, owned by Ericka Koenigsberg of Pinecrest, FL, but the young rider was just a fraction off the pace with a clear time of 35.836 seconds for second place.
Joaquina Barrios of Wellington, FL, was the first to clear the original track, and opted to return at the end of the class with Simply The Best. She gave it a great try, but her turns were just a touch too wide. She broke the beam at 37.377 seconds for third place. Tiffany Field also returned at the end of the class to take a shot at the winning prize, but she was also too slow with Wiant P, completing a clear round in 38.575 seconds for fourth place, sealing Maloney’s victory.
“I think we made up time in the rollback turn to 14. We were almost parallel to the jump. I was worried he would go past it, but he’s a good horse,” smiled Maloney, discussing her jump-off. “Leroy Brown is 18 years old and I’ve had him for two years. He jumped in the Olympics in 2004 with a Russian rider. He is the greatest horse ever.”
Maloney continued, “Leroy Brown is very, very forward, but he always needs a little push to get the first jump. After that he takes you. He knows his job every well. He’s very fresh; he bucks a lot. He’s still got lots of energy for an 18-year-old horse.”
The Kentucky Horse Shows are one of Maloney’s favorite events. “I normally train with the Towell Family and Finally Farm, but when I come to Kentucky I train with Sayre Happy,” she explained. “I like the footing here, and I like coming to Kentucky. It’s a great horse show.”
Earlier this morning, the Children’s Jumper Classic took center stage. Only six entries made it to the tiebreaker, but four competitors were double clear over the short course. Audrey Norrell had the slowest time of 40.485 seconds aboard Cindy VH Keizershof, owned by Tatiana Dzavik of Malibu, CA, for fourth place, while Tanimara Macari and P Welcome, owned by Lochmoor Stables of Lebanon, OH, just barely edged them out for third in a time of 39.443 seconds. Nanny McFadden of Germantown, TN, and Cooley kept a quicker pace while leaving all the rails intact, breaking the beam at 37.203 seconds.
Julia Tedesco and Belle Nuit, owned by Adolpho Franco of Wellington, FL, were the fastest of the fast though, speeding through each turn with a blazing fast gallop, never wasting a second in the air. They sped through the timers in 34.700 seconds, almost three seconds faster than McFadden to capture the winning prize.
“We almost lost it with a chip at one of the fences, but she’s my big mama and she saved me,” expressed Tedesco. “She’s very hot, and I have not been riding her very long. I only got her two months ago, so we are starting to understand each other now.”
Thirteen-year-old Tedesco just moved to the United States from Brazil in January, and began training with Paulo Santana, also from Brazil. “Belle Nuit was leased for the winter season, but then Paulo had me try her and I fell in love with her the first time I rode her,” she explained. “I have been riding with Paulo for six months. He helped me a lot today. He told me every single step I need to take to win this class.”
This is Tedesco’s first opportunity competing at the Kentucky Horse Shows. “The level is totally different here. They have very good shows in Brazil, but for the Children’s Jumpers the United States is the best place. It’s my first time here in Kentucky. The arena is huge and they had the World Equestrian Games here, so it’s amazing.”
Today marks the conclusion of the Kentucky Summer Classic, but competition will resume on Tuesday, August 6 with the start of the 2013 USEF Pony Finals. The following week, the Kentucky Horse Park will host the Bluegrass Classic Horse Show and the 2013 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals.
For more information on the Kentucky Summer Series, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.
Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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