Ramiro Quintana and Largo.
Wellington, FL – February 12, 2014 – The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour returned to the International Polo Club Palm Beach today for its sixth week of competition. The 1.30m-1.35m Jumpers kicked off the halfway point of the series, where Ramiro Quintana piloted Largo to the pinnacle of the rankings in the red class, dominating the standings as all other contenders attempted to match their speed. It was Philip Richter and his veteran mount Ray Ray that took the top earnings in the green class.
The morning welcomed competitors to the open grass field at the International Polo Club (IPC) in Wellington, Florida. Quintana set the pace as the eleventh rider to traverse the track. He utilized the open field to keep a consistent rhythm and open his mount’s stride, shaving the seconds and breaking the beam in only 34.612 seconds. The victory was his for the taking as each consecutive rider attempted to best their speed and accuracy without avail.
“I had a nice rhythm from the start that I was able to carry throughout the entire course,” Quintana explained. “I was able to really open up my horse’s stride and use the size of the field. He turns really well, and we were able to make up a lot of time. I was very happy to win today’s class, and I will definitely be back.”
Quintana plans on returning to the Wellington Turf Tour once a week with a young horse. “It was my first time competing at one of these shows, but I was very surprised by how pleasant the show was. The footing was excellent, the course was very nice and the jumps were great. It provides a very nice option for younger horses, and provides good mileage.”
Peter Lutz finished in the second place position with Don’t Stop O in a speedy 35.471 seconds, while Jeffery Welles and Antaris S earned the third place award. Hillary Simpson and Arkansas rode to the fourth place position, and Mario Deslauriers piloted Hamlet to the fifth place. Leslie Howard and Zaragoza rounded out the top six with their quick and tidy jump off.
Earlier in the morning, Molly Ashe was the first of the field to clear the Eric Hasbrouck designed course. She rode to a double clear effort in the green class, setting the pace with a time of 37.719 seconds aboard Emerald B, owned by Monica Carrera, forcing competitors to chase her time while trying to duplicate her clean effort.
Andrew Bourns and Venice, owned by Jaybird Farms, had their sights set on the prize today. Although it was their first trip to the Wellington Turf Tour for the 2014 circuit, they wanted to leave their mark. They easily navigated the opening course and moved into the jump off where they raced the clock, breaking the beam in 35.599 seconds.
“It is a nice basic course – I say basic but he [Hasbrouck] asks a few questions with unrelated distances to doubles, and a hard distance down the outside, which was quite difficult. It is the kind of course that could fool you into a false sense of security, but it took a little more riding than it looks,” Bourns said. “It was a little more challenging than what I thought it would be, which was good. For my horse it was ideal because it was her first day to be able to jump in a field like this. It was just a beautiful introduction. I am going to be all over the grand prix on Friday.”
Bourns continued, “I have to say that I am really impressed. The footing seems to be phenomenal. The setting is really nice, the course is nice, the building is good and you have ample room to warm up. Sometimes when you come to these big open spaces the horses can get a little unsettled if they are not used to it. It is great experience, and a beautiful setting. You just won’t find anything better. Being able to take clients and owners to a place like this is really invaluable.”
It seemed as though Bourns had victory in his grasp, until the final rider of the day, frequent weekend warrior Phillip Richter navigated the 18-year-old Ray Ray to the winning time of 34.506 seconds.
“It was a wonderful course; Eric did a great course, I think. Riding on this field is heaven,” Richter said. “I have older horses, so they love being on the grass, and the footing is super. It is really nice of IPC to let The Ridge do these classes here. It is great to have variety and get away from the show for a bit.”
Richter shows Ray Ray very sparingly in Wellington, using a minimalist approach to train and prepare. The turf proved ideal for the young horses, but even more so for Richter’s veteran mount. The pair prepares on turf more so than sand, to avoid the consequences that could affect his horse’s tendons.
“The bigger the jumps the better,” Richter explained. “He is a wonderful horse, and our team is really a group effort. My wife hacks him during the week, and my trainer Norman is fantastic. He needs a lot of care, which goes with his age. He is a wonderful horse to ride. He has nothing to prove; my dream as an amateur was to win the Sunday Classic at the Hamptons, and it eluded me for 25 years. Ray Ray won it two years ago. I checked it off of my bucket list. Winning today was wonderful, and we will return on Friday.”
Bourns finished in the second place position with Venice, while Roberto Teran and ADC Chef Z took home third. Ashe nabbed the fourth place finish for her early lead aboard Emerald B, and Henrik Gundersen with Adlanteur was awarded the fifth. Emily Hill and Rio finished with the sixth place ranking.
The Ridge still has available sponsorships for the Invitational Series. For more information, call (908) 500-0996 or download information at www.theridgefarm.com.
Sponsorships are available for the $25,000 Finale, $15,000 Weekly Grand Prix, $2,000 Weekly Hospitality Text, $3,500 Show Jump Sponsor for series, $750 Ring Banner for the series and $500 Weekly Class Presenter.
All checks should be made payable to the Ridge Farm LLC.
The Ridge at Wellington Grand Prix Series
C/O Eda Tordiff
110 Edwards Rd.
Parsippany, NJ, 07054
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.
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 and both Children’s/Senior Jumper Classics will find their home intermittently throughout the Wellington Turf Tour.
The Ridge at Wellington offers Equitation Shows every Tuesday of the month from January – March 2013. 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:
Wolfstone Stables
3655 Middleburg Dr,
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