Michael Tokaruk and Lord Byron Capture the $25,000 Grand Prix of Germantown

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Michael Tokaruk and Lord Byron. Photo by Ben Strafuss

GERMANTOWN, TN – JUNE 10, 2012 – At the 64th Annual Germantown Charity Horse Show, Michael Tokaruk of Tennessee was victorious in Saturday’s $25,000 Grand Prix. Tokaruk captured the class aboard his own Lord Byron, marking the 18-year-old gelding’s second victory at Germantown.

In 2005 the team took the blue ribbon to score their first career Grand Prix. And last year, Tokaruk scored a one-two punch in the Grand Prix of Germantown, riding Roger Rabbit, the 11-year-old gelding owned by Castle Point Farm LLC, to the victory gallop while also piloting Lord Byron to the second place ribbon.

In Saturday’s class, held in the Main arena of the Germantown Civic Club Complex, Tokaruk bested 18 other teams for the win, including Andy Kocher aboard the Claudia Billups-owned Puppet Master, David Wright with Imperator, and the week’s Welcome Stakes winner Richard Cheska who rode Quick Tempo.

In round one Tokaruk and Lord Byron laid down the gauntlet. The team was the fastest of the four clear rounds, completing the Phil Devita-designed course in 75.299.

Third on course in the jump off, Lord Byron proved he came with all the experience needed to win, going clear once again in a searing 36.24 – not quite as fast as Kocher and Puppet Master, whose time was about two tenths of a second faster, but with a rail down that team had to settle for 3rd place.

Kocher and his other mount, Fantastico W, was second while Whitney Owens aboard S&L Shoe Guru finished the jump off in 4th place.

“I was so proud of Lordy. He really rose to the occasion tonight,” said Tokaruk. “He loves to perform in front of a big crowd and so do I, and the house was packed tonight.

“I thought Phil built a good course for this group of horses and riders,” Tokaruk added. “The jump off was fast and it was tough because Andy [Kocher] had two shots at me. Fortunately, I went later in the order and knew what I had to do to win.”

Tokaruk has competed in The Grand Prix of Germantown three times in his career and won each time.

The Canadian-born rider currently operates his Tokaruk Show Stable out of Magnolia Manor Farm in Germantown, where he has a select group of horses and riders.  He is available for riding, training, and clinics.  For more information, contact mtokaruk@hotmail.com.

He and Lord Byron are planning to compete in Traverse City and in Kentucky later this summer.

Cynthia Grisolia
(347) 423-7322
cagrisolia@yahoo.com

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