Matt Coppola of Tackeria fights for the ball. Photos – David Lominska.
WELLINGTON, FL – April 1, 2013 – Tackeria will meet Far Niente in the Zone 4 final of the inaugural USPA National Youth Polo Tournament Series opener Tuesday at Everglades Polo Club at 4 p.m.
In Monday’s opening action at Jan Pamela Field, Tackeria advanced with a 10-6 victory over Escue in the opening four-chukker Division I game. Tackeria led for all four chukkers.
A day after playing in the U.S. Open for Audi, Tackeria’s Juancito Bollini, 16, a senior at Wellington High School, and Matt Coppola, each scored three goals.
Tackeria’s Lorenzo Merlotti, 17, a senior at Palm Beach Central High School, who was also coming off a U.S. Open appearance for Piaget, added two goals on penalty shots.
Lauren Biddle, the only girl player in the game, scored two goals, including one on a penalty shot.
For Escue, Johnny Lavine, coming off his MVP performance in the Grand Champions Cup, led scoring with three goals. Also on Escue were Liam Lott, Geronimo Obregon and Ayaan Quraeshi.
In the second Division I game, Far Niente, led by Gonzalo Di Cuircio’s four goals, knocked off Grand Champions, 8-5.
Wes Finlayson of Far Niente fights for possession
Wesley Finlayson scored three goals and Agustin Arellano added one for Far Niente, which led the game from the opening chukker. Michael Bellissimo rounded out the Far Niente roster.
Matias Gonzalez, 14, an eighth grader at Polo Park Middle School, who also has been playing 26-goal polo, was leading scorer with two goals, including one on a penalty shot. Gonzalez was joined by teammates Marcos Alberdi, Wesley Bryan and Grant Ganzi.
In the Division II flight, Grand Champions, Pony Express and Polo School at Grand Champions took turns playing round robin play over six chukkers. The round robin will continue on Tuesday at 5 p.m., also at Everglades Polo Club. The score will be carried over.
Grand Champions lineup is Santos Bollini, who scored four goals, Matt Cohen, Justin Daniels and Anthony Devriente. Pony Express is led by Lucas Arellano, Malia Bryan, Benji Daniels and Nico Escobar, who scored four goals. Polo School at Grand Champions’ roster is Clemente Devriente, Santino Magrini, who scored two goals, Hank Watson and Christian Weisz.
On Monday afternoon, polo fans lining the fields were treated to five hours of junior polo featuring high skill level and sportsmanship.
International Polo Club is one of eleven polo clubs nationwide that are hosting a NYTS tournament to help promote the growth of youth polo.
The thirteen USPA circuits have been divided into six geographical zones. Each zone will have a Zone All-Star Selection Committee that will choose at least four players and two alternates to represent their zone in the NYTS National Championship, scheduled this year for Labor Day Weekend at Virginia International Polo Club. The national tournament site will rotate annually.
Wellington and southeast region have been combined in Zone 4.
Junior players must be USPA members, have a USPA handicap and not exceeded their 19th birthday on January 1 of the calendar year. There are approximately 800 registered USPA junior members, ages 19-and-under.
Currently, the USPA has the Interscholastic and Intercollegiate programs for high school seniors-and-under and college student-athletes.
The program highlights players on four different areas: horsemanship, sportsmanship, playing ability and how they contribute as a team player.
Trophies, All-Star medals and participation medals will be awarded. Tournament results will be published in the annual Blue Book.
EVERGLADES POLO CLUB
13940 57th Place South, Lake Worth, 33467
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Tommy Feigel rode to the top of the ranks on the first day of the Tournament of Champions, capturing the 1.30m Open Jumper victory with Cliff II. Photo By: Kendall Bierer/PMG.
Tampa, FL – April 2, 2013 – The first day of the Tournament of Champions got underway at the Bob Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds this morning. The day was welcoming with nothing but sunshine and clear skies as riders stepped forward to compete over the challenging jumper courses. It was Tommy Feigel who rode to the top of the leader board on the first day, piloting Jennifer Jones’ Cliff II to the victory in the 1.35m Open Jumper class.
Today’s classes were held in the Covered Arena with courses designed by Jose Gamarra. The first round of the 1.30m and 1.35m Open Jumper classes featured 12 numbered obstacles with 15 efforts, including a liverpool, double combination and triple combination with bending lines. During the jump-off riders were faced with a single oxer before making a right turn over a single skinny. They then made another left turn over a blue-and-white vertical, the third fence from the first course. A tight right turn took riders through the oxer-vertical double combination. The course came to a close as riders raced home over the final oxer.
Tommy Feigel and Cliff II were the only pair today to master the first round course, providing a clear effort well within the time allowed of 81 seconds. Feigel was the second to enter the ring, and having already navigated the track aboard Cliff II in the 1.30m Open Jumpers, he expertly guided the gelding over the first oxer, and continued through the course very carefully, leaving all fences intact. They crossed the finish line in a time of 76.663 seconds.
“Actually the first time I’ve ever ridden him was today,” Feigel explained with a tone of surprise. “He’s a new horse for me to ride so I did the 1.30m Jumpers first, and he was really good, and I did the 1.35m Jumpers. To be honest, I’m just getting to know him so it was actually kind of a surprise for him to win a class like that, but it’s always nice to win.”
Feigel continued, “The 1.35m was the same course as the 1.30m so I already knew where we were going, so I just kind of went in and went around the same. I thought he jumped even better than he did in the first class. He was the only clean, so I was a bit surprised actually.”
Going immediately into the jump-off, Feigel repeated his 1.30m effort, navigating the short track with an assertive approach as he raced against the timer. Cliff II rose to the occasion, clearing all the obstacles with ease and finishing in a speedy 33.421 seconds.
“He’s a real fast, careful horse, and those kind of classes really suit him. He was very fun to ride. He’s got a lot of blood, but he’s a real careful horse,” Feigel explained. “That’s my favorite type to ride. It’s not actually that much work, you just have to kind of go with him and be there to support him just because he is so careful, and he stays off the rails so that makes my job really easy.”
Aaron Vale rode to the second place honors with the fastest of the four-fault efforts aboard Red Lady, owned by Kelsey Bayley of Simsbury, CT. They had one unlucky rail during the first round, finishing in 74.146 seconds. The rails continued to fall for the other riders, with David Jennings and East Bound Down, owned by Hays Investment Corporation of Topeka, KS, taking the third place finish with four faults in 78.663 seconds. Jennings also collected the fourth place ribbon with Queen of Calla, owned by Full Circle Farm, with one rail down and a time of 79.010 seconds.
“I thought the courses were nice, especially coming for the first day of the horse show,” Feigel stated. “We have a little bit of a short week starting on a Tuesday, so it was nice to have a nice, flowing course to start the week with and build up the confidence of the horses so that was great.”
Feigel concluded, “Ocala was kind of slow with the quarantine and everything so our horses had a kind of easy circuit up in Ocala, so it was nice to come down to Tampa. I’ve been coming here for a lot of years now, and it’s a great place to kind of keep going and catch up a little bit on the weeks that we missed up north. I love the show grounds, and I think that the management does a great job running the classes. They really make it nice for the exhibitors to be here, and it’s really nice to feel so welcome at a horse show like this.”
It was Aaron Vale’s day to shine aboard two new mounts, first showcasing Cargano’s talents in the 1.30m Open Jumpers. Vale climbed to the top of the ranks first clearing the opening course in 76.156 seconds, and then speeding to victory in the jump-off. He had watched previous pathfinder David Jennings and Colina, owned by Lionsway Farm of Franklin, TN, who rode to a double-clear effort in 32.532 seconds. Vale had also studied Gamarra’s course, and saw the opportunity to shave off the seconds after the opening oxer of the jump-off. Upon landing, he made a sharp left rollback to the second oxer, setting a pace that no other riders could match. His blazing speed stopped the clock in an amazing 30.144 seconds.
“Cargano is a Low Amateur horse, and his owner is not here this week. She said to have fun with him, and I had a little fun there in the jump-off. We kind of made a real sharp inside turn that I don’t think anyone else made the rest of the day. So I followed orders – I had a little fun with him,” Vale laughed. “Because of that one turn, I didn’t really have to do anything crazy after that, and he won by two seconds.”
Vale wore a target on his back for his double-clear effort, with each consecutive rider attempting to mimic his success. Feigel posted a double-clear effort with Cliff II, but his time of 33.697 seconds would eventually earn the pair the third place, with Jennings collecting the third place award for his efforts.
Aboard Spirit of Alena, Vale turned in his second victory of the day in the last class, the 1.40m Open Jumpers. Vale had previously ridden Red Lady to a clean effort in the first round, but had earned eight faults toward the end of the short course. No other rider was able to master the first track, until he returned upon Spirit of Alena as the last pair to tackle the track. Vale guided Spirit of Alena to the only double-clear effort of the class, riding to a one-two finish in a time of 41.587 seconds. Although Maisie McSwain and Chanel laid down a beautiful first round course, the final rail fell to seal their third place finish with the fastest of the four-faulters.
“This is our first day showing Red Lady,” Vale explained. “She’s a little hard to warm up, but she’s pretty good in the ring. I did two classes with her, and I think she might have been a little tired by that point, but she went around the ring real solid in the 1.35m and the 1.40m. I was real, real happy with her.”
Vale continued, “By the time I was in there on Spirit, Red Lady was already the leader with two down in the jump-off so I wasn’t even worried about going clean necessarily, just keeping Spirit calm and relaxed. We’re pointing toward the $10,000 class on Friday so I didn’t want to buzz him up. He knows how to go quick, so it’s kind of a nice opportunity when you can win a class without having to use your horse too hard. You can keep training and work on their brain rather than just trying to win the prize money. It was a nice opportunity to give him a quiet relaxed jump-off, and hopefully he’ll be riding nice later in the week and not anticipating too much.”
This week’s highlight event is the 2012 $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational presented by G & C Farm, being held on Saturday, April 6, at Raymond James Stadium. The Tournament of Champions will continue through April 6 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, before coming to a close during the American Invitational beginning at 6:30 p.m. The top riders in the country will gather under the lights at Raymond James Stadium to compete for the crown jewel of show jumping.
For more information about the Tampa Equestrian Festival, please visit www.StadiumJumping.com.
Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy secured the victory in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with an impressive 348.5 point total. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group.
Wellington, FL – April 1, 2013 – After a great circuit in Ocala, Jennifer Alfano and SBS Farms made their way to Wellington for the final week of the 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival. Alfano could not have asked for a better week, taking home multiple tricolors, and topping off the week with a victory gallop around the derby field aboard Helen Lenahan’s Miss Lucy for the 2013 $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
The talented 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare took to the stage and went right to the top of the leader board. The pair vaulted to the top rankings on day one, taking the fourth place honors in the classic round with an overall score of 187 points. Miss Lucy continued to shine on Sunday, when she galloped around the grass derby field, catching the judges’ scrutinizing eye during the handy phase of competition. With Alfano in the irons, the pair navigated all of the inside turns and took all of the high options, receiving scores of 88.5 and 89, with 6 and 7 handy points for a round two score of 198.5. These efforts went right to the top, leading them to the final victory gallop with a final score of 348.5 points.
“Miss Lucy is so reliable you can always count on her to give 110%,” smiled Alfano. “She is actually a little more reliable than Jersey Boy, because you never have to wonder. With him, he has his moments. She is one of those horses that tries to do everything right all the time.”
Earlier in the week, Alfano showed several of her mounts in the hunter divisions to prepare for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Miss Lucy captured the reserve championship ribbon in the High Performance Hunters, riding to an array of top ribbons. This was Miss Lucy’s first week back since the eighth week of the Ocala series, and she came back with finesse. Tom Wright of Uphill Farm assisted Alfano with the training duties for the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, helping her rise to the top with her talented mounts.
Alfano also piloted Timber Ridge in the USHJA International Hunter Derby. The two went into the second round in sixth place, but then dropped below the top 12 for the final outcome. Timber Ridge also competed in the Regular Conformation Hunters earlier in the week to prepare for the derby. Owned by Shane George, Timber Ridge is living up to his reputation and raking in the ribbons in the conformation divisions.
On the first day of showing at WEF, Timber Ridge and Alfano achieved a second place ribbon, while attaining a fourth in the handy round. They then went on to attain first, second and fourth place ribbons on the second day of the division. They fell just shy of the championship, but Alfano didn’t hesitate to take the championship aboard the beautiful grey Rose Hill.
On her third mount of the week, Alfano attained the championship in the Performance 3’6″ Working Hunters with Rose Hill, affectionately known as “Rosie.” To start off her week in Wellington, Alfano and Rose Hill, owned by Sharon O’Neill, rode perfect courses. With a strong pace and consistent fences, the pair achieved a first place ribbon and two second place ribbons, sealing her Performance 3’6″ Performance Working Hunter Championship.
“She jumped beautifully over the courses, and the new atmosphere didn’t faze her all,” said Alfano of Rose Hill. “She is so easy and fun – she is the kind of horse that everyone wants in their barn.”
After WEF, the team at SBS will now continue to the Camden Spring Classic, Kentucky Spring and then the Devon Horse Show. After such a fantastic winter circuit in Ocala, and concluding their tour with their victory in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, there is no question that spring and summer will see more tricolors from SBS Farms, Inc.
Based out of Buffalo, NY, SBS Farms’ Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and travel nationwide to compete in the nation’s most prestigious horse shows. SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Saddle and Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the northeast. Schoellkopf is also the Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which houses both The Buffalo Equestrian Center as well as SBS Farms. Built in 1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique English Tudor and gothic style architecture. For more information on SBS Farms and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.
Devin Ryan pilots No Worries, owned by Barbara Rowland, over an oxer on their way to the win in the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix. Flashpoint Photography.
March 30, 2013 – Conyers, Georgia – It was a sold out scene in yesterday’s VIP as spectators watched Devin Ryan from Long Valley, New Jersey make his way to the winner’s circle in the irons of Barbara Rowand’s No Worries to win the $25,000 EMO Grand Prix! This was Ryan’s first time to the Georgia International Horse Park and the Atlanta Spring Classic and the first grand prix win for No Worries!
Frances Land of Alpharetta, Georgia, in the irons on her own Merlin, was first to go in the prix, but after a first round time of 83.230 seconds and eight time faults, the pair would settle for seventh place. Next to go was The Coverboy Group’s VDL Zedaldine ridden by Amanda Flint of Long Valley, New Jersey. With a first round time of 91.142 seconds, one time fault and twenty jumping faults, the pair would not place. Third in the line-up was Collin, owned by Positive-ism, Inc. and ridden by Amanda Wise of Fairfield, Connecticut. The pair jumped the first round in a time of 89.579 seconds and accumulated eight jump faults which would see them finish in eleventh place.
There was still no jump-off in site, until Joe Fargis of Middleburg, Virginia entered the ring in the irons aboard Sandron’s Lariat. The pair went clean with a time of 90.416 seconds and would sit in the first position for the upcoming jump-off order of go.
Next to go was Davenport, owned by Hartmut Gutzmann and ridden by Benjamin Rosichan of Tryon, North Carolina. The pair turned in a first round time of 90.338 seconds with twenty jumping faults and would finish in twelfth place. Robert Lee, aboard Brook Run Farm, LLC’s El Grecco, was next to enter the ring and finished their first round clean in a time of 85.325 seconds, giving them a second to go spot in the upcoming jump-off. Ryan entered the ring next with Barbara Rowland’s No Worries, and after turning in a clear first round time of 83.948 seconds, let the others know there was actually plenty to worry about with them in the running for the jump-off.
Flint and VDL Theresa Lady, whom Flint co-owns with The Coverboy Group, entered the ring next and after turning in a first-round effort of 85.772 seconds and eight jump faults, would settle for ninth place. Adam Cramer of Pittstown, New Jersey and Equi Sport LLC’s Luke 54 were next to go and turned in a first round effort in 89.108 seconds with eight jump faults which would see the pair finish in tenth place overall.
Frances Land of Alpharetta, Georgia and her own Vieanne were next to go, and after a first-round clean effort in 81.560 seconds would see themselves in the jump-off line up. MaryLisa Leffler of Brookeville, Maryland riding Paulexi LLC’s Quastor Van De Helle Z added themselves to the jump-off order after turning in a clean first-round effort in 87.156 seconds. Devin Ryan returned to the ring, this time aboard Eagle Valley Partner’s Zosja, winner of the $5,000 Open Jumper Welcome class on Wednesday, and turned in an eight fault effort in 85.143 seconds which would seat the duo in eighth place overall. As the last to go in the first round, Flint entered the ring again, this time aboard Superbad, whom she co-owns with the Coverboy Group, and after a four fault first-round effort in 85.601 seconds, would finish in sixth place overall.
Fargis led the jump-off round with Sandron’s Lariat, but with four jump faults at the final fence and a time of 35.021 seconds, would finish in fifth place overall. Lee and Brook Run Farm LLC’s El Grecco were next to go and went clean, setting the time to beat at 35.811 seconds. Ryan and Barbara Rowland’s No Worries were next to go and quickly took the lead away from El Grecco after turning in a clean jump-off round in 33.286 seconds. Land and her own Vieanne were next to go and despite their clear round, their time of 34.991 wouldn’t take the lead and the pair ended in second place. Leffler was last to go aboard Paulexi LLC’s Quastor Van De Helle Z and although also clean, their time of 35.848 seconds would land them in fourth place overall.
“He is such a fast horse,” commented Ryan. “I started out conservatively with him, but felt like he was ready to go. So we picked it up and well, there you go!” he smiled. This was the first grand prix win for “Sydney”. “We’ve been in the ribbons all winter, won some Welcomes, but this is his first grand prix win. What a great way to end the winter season together!” said Ryan. “I also want to thank Sydney’s owner, Barbara Rowland, CWD and all of our sponsors for their support,” he added.
“This was a great show to hit on our way back to New Jersey. It gave the horses a break, the show facility is amazing — really nice — and the competition was good. And the Classic staff just makes all of their shows so nice,” he added. “I really appreciate them finishing up the shows so we can all be home for Easter. That was really considerate of them and I know many of us appreciate that!” he added.
The Classic Company is a USHJA’s Members Choice Award winner, recognized for producing top quality show jumping events in the United States. For more information on Classic Company and its exhibitor-friendly, top quality hunter jumper events, please visit them at www.ClassicCompany.com or call them at 843-768-5503.
All sponsorship, marketing and press inquiries should be directed to Lisa Engel, Sponsorship, Marketing and Public Relations Director at classicsponsorship@gmail.com. All program advertising should be directed to Nate Poliquin, Program Sales Representative at classicshowads@yahoo.com.
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See you at the ring,
Bob Bell
The Classic Company, Ltd. www.ClassicCompany.com
Phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311 Johns Island SC 29457
Jeff Hall goes to back the ball. Photos – Alex Pacheco.
WELLINGTON, FL – April 1, 2013 – Audi looked like its old winning self Sunday in the 109th Maserati U.S. Open at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
And it couldn’t come at a more perfect time.
After six hard-fought chukkers, Jeff Hall shook off a back injury to score the winning goal 17 seconds into sudden death overtime to lead Audi to a thrilling come-from-behind 11-10 victory over Zorzal to remain alive in the U.S. Open.
It was the second time this season that Audi, coming off Thursday’s 12-11 loss to Coca-Cola, defeated Zorzal in overtime.
Hall took a tap from Juancito Bollini after the throw-in and raced towards goal, weaving his way past defenders Freddie Mannix and Jason Crowder to score his first goal of the game.
“I thought to myself, ‘just go score it,’” said Hall, one of the top American players rated at seven goals. “I felt good.
“That’s one of my favorite horses,” Hall said. “I actually played him three times today. He’s really comfortable to hit the ball on. He’s really quick so as soon as I got it and passed Freddie I knew I had a good chance to score. That was a super tough team.”
Audi 10-goaler Gonzalito Pieres hit a 30-yard penalty shot with 34 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
“This was all-or-nothing for us,” Hall said. “If we had lost today it would have put us in a really tough situation. We have a good team. We’ve just had some bad luck lately. Hopefully, it turns around for us at the end.”
The victory may have been a costly one. Audi team captain Marc Ganzi, playing despite a broken thumb and knee injury, was hit on his mallet arm by a horse’s head and was forced to leave the game with 4:13 left in the fourth chukker.
“I’ve played the U.S. Open for seven years and never been injured,” Ganzi said. “I broke some ribs but I was able to play through that. This is frustrating because all of the injuries are occurring to my mallet hand and if you can’t have a mallet hand it’s difficult to play the game.
“The good news is we have a system, we didn’t abandon the system and Jeff makes an amazing play to win the game. And, we have a really good substitute in Juancito.”
Bollini, 16, a Wellington High School senior, replaced Ganzi in the lineup and scored a goal to tie the game at 9-9 in the sixth chukker. “It was a good back shot by Nico to me,” said Bollini of his teammate’s assist.
“I went to the team meeting yesterday and I knew what Marc was going to do so when I got in I knew what I had to do and what I had to get,” Bollini said. “I felt really good and more in rhythm. It was a relief when Jeff scored. This gave us a big breath for the next game.”
After a 4-4 halftime, Audi fell behind by three goals in the fourth chukker (7-4) but dug itself out of a hole in the fifth and sixth chukkers.
“We persevered,” Ganzi said. “The first half we played them even. The second half we played them even. We continue to live and now we go on to the next one.”
Nico Pieres controls the ball on his way downfield
Nico Pieres led Audi scoring with six goals. Gonzalito Pieres added three goals. Audi was also awarded a penalty one automatic goal after Ganzi was fouled.
“It was an important win,” Nico Pieres said. “It was really important, now we are 1-1. I think we have to play the whole game like we did today in the last two chukkers.
“In the middle of every game we have some five or six minutes that are terrible and they can score a lot of goals,” Pieres said. “We have to focus on every chukker, every play and I think we can be much better.”
In the early Sunday game, Valiente, coming off a 13-9 victory over Zacara in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup final, won its opener of the U.S. Open with an equally impressive 15-7 victory over Coca-Cola.
Ten-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso led Valiente scoring with six goals, Santi Torres had five including one that bounced off the goal post and 10-goaler Pelon Stirling had four.
In the third Sunday game, 10-goaler Facundo Pieres and Mike Azzaro each scored four goals to lead Zacara to a 12-10 win over Orchard Hill. Azzaro, a former 10-goaler, was named MVP. Team captain Lyndon Lea, despite a hip injury, scored two goals.
In this year’s U.S. Open, there are three brackets. Audi is in bracket one with Coca-Cola, Zorzal, ERG and Valiente. Piaget is in bracket two with Faraway and Orchard Hill. The third bracket is Lechuza Caracas, Alegria and Zacara.
The teams in bracket one will play within the bracket with the best four teams, by record, advancing to the quarterfinals. The teams in bracket two and three will play cross-bracket, with the best four out of all six teams, by record, also advancing into the quarters.
Zacara is defending U.S. Open champion.
The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C. V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.
For the first half of the 20th century the U.S. Open Polo Championship was hosted in the northeast, primarily at Meadowbrook Polo Club. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oakbrook Polo Club, outside of Chicago, where it stayed until 1978.
The next eight U.S. Opens were hosted by Retama Polo Club in San Antonio where Memo Gracida won the first of his record 16 wins. In 1987, the U.S. Open was played at El Dorado Polo Club in Palm Springs. The next four were played at Horsepark in Lexington, Ky.
Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.
AUDI/PIAGET U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 4, Audi vs. Valiente, 2 p.m.
Friday, April 5, Piaget vs. Alegria, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, Audi vs. ERG, noon.
Thursday, April 11, Piaget vs. Zacara, 10 a.m.
Sunday, April 14, Quarterfinals
Wednesday, April 17, Hall of Fame Cup, semifinal; U.S. Open Semifinals, 2 and 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 20: Hall of Fame Cup final, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 21: Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Kent Farrington Wins $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge; Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W Score Second FTI WEF Suncast 1.50m Victory
Wellington, FL – March 30, 2013 – Brazil’s Alvaro de Miranda and AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno jumped to an exciting victory on Saturday night in the $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI 5* at the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center saw its biggest crowd ever with a packed house of 8,600 fans in attendance to watch the best of the best from the winter circuit compete in the final event under the lights. Great Britain’s Ben Maher and Cella finished second and de Miranda’s wife, Athina Onassis de Miranda of Greece, placed third with Camille Z.
Ireland’s Alan Wade designed the course for Saturday night’s grand prix and set a challenging track for the 40 competitors. Ten entries cleared the first round course without fault to advance to the jump-off and three of those completed clear rounds over the short course in the race for the top prize. Alvaro de Miranda and AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno, owned by de Miranda and Victory Equestrian BV, had the fastest round in 43.96 seconds for the win.
Athina Onassis de Miranda was first to go in the jump-off and put in a steady clear round in 54.46 seconds aboard her horse Camille Z, owned by the rider and Victory Equestrian. Although she was slower than many of the other riders, her controlled approach paid off when most of the combinations had faults in their attempt to put in the fastest round. The pair’s clear round finished in third.
Ben Maher and Jane Clark’s Cella were the only other pair to complete a clear round in the jump-off and briefly held the lead with their time of 44.88 seconds, but Bogeno and de Miranda soon took over.
Kent Farrington (USA) and Robin Parsky’s Blue Angel had the fastest time of the night in 43.52 seconds, but a rail at the last fence left them in fourth. Nick Skelton (GBR) and Beverly Widdowson’s Big Star were also extremely fast in 44.21 seconds, but had one rail down to finish fifth.
Watch an interview with Alvaro de Miranda
De Miranda’s winning mount, AD Rahmannshof’s Bogeno, is a 13-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Elanville. Flying in the jump-off, one of Bogeno’s shoes actually flew off halfway through the round, but he went on to jump four more fences and blaze through the finish as if nothing ever happened.
“The jump-off was very good for my horse,” the rider stated. “My horse is very quick when you have a long jump-off like that. I tried to go very fast to the wall. I really went as much as I could. I took a lot of risk, but I knew that I had to come into the double holding in seven strides because sometimes if I go too open coming in, I can make a mistake in the second of the double. My horse is so great and that makes my job much easier. He’s very good. In the first round sometimes he’s a little bit tense, but then in the jump-off he’s very calm. When I ride well, normally he is first place.”
This is the first time that de Miranda and his wife have placed at the top of a major class together and they were both thrilled. He was especially happy for the improvement that she has made in her riding this year.
“She trains very hard,” he stated. “I think it’s important to see somebody who really wants to do good. Not only buying good horses, but she really wants to give the best that she can always. She’s a hard worker and she loves the horses. She thinks about the horses 99% of her time. When she’s awake, she’s thinking about horses. It’s impossible for her not to succeed because she trains so hard and she loves them.”
Athina Onassis de Miranda and Camille Z
Commenting on her success, Onassis de Miranda smiled, “My horse was great today. It was really good. I knew they were going to come really fast after me. I knew they would be faster, but I was happy to be close.”
Both Alvaro and Athina Onassis de Miranda have been training with legendary former U.S. Chef d’Equipe George Morris. Morris has also been helping Ben Maher with his new mounts for owner Jane Clark. All of the riders gave huge credit to Morris for improving their performances throughout the circuit.
“I would like to thank George Morris very much for all of his support here, especially for Athina,” de Miranda stated. “He also has helped me and without his help, I’m sure that it would not be possible to have this great result, especially with my wife.”
Second place finisher Ben Maher had a great finish in the class with Cella despite riding with three fractures in his lower back after a fall in the schooling ring last week. He congratulated his fellow competitors and praised his horse for helping him through the night.
“I’m very happy. Congratulations to everybody here,” Maher smiled. “It has been a great finish to a great circuit for me. Cella compensated for me tonight. I’ve had a few injuries this week and I wasn’t sure if we were going to ride earlier today. A lot of people have been helping me to make it as comfortable as possible. There were a couple of moments there that if I wasn’t riding Cella, I wouldn’t be sitting here. I’m very, very lucky to ride her. I just had to adapt my style a little bit to a lighter seat, which Cella thought was fun, but I didn’t. She’s unbelievable and she really helped me on a couple of jumps tonight.”
“I did everything I could in the jump-off; maybe I wasn’t as quick as I can be,” Maher remarked. “I tried to beat the ones in front of me and Alvaro was just too fast.”
Along with the winner’s share of $150,000, de Miranda was presented with the brand new Dennis D. Dammerman Perpetual Trophy. The trophy was created to honor the contributions to equestrian sport of Dennis D. Dammerman, a longtime owner of horses and founding member of the Wellington Equestrian Partners.
This was one of de Miranda’s biggest wins and he had a great experience during his first time competing in Wellington.
“For sure this was one of the most important wins of my life,” he acknowledged. “To have the best riders and the best horses all jump in one class and they’re all very fast. It was important especially to have a good program to keep the horse jumping good for the last week. It’s also my first time here and I was a little bit lost. When I came and I saw the prize list and I saw all the classes, I didn’t know how to fit it. That was what we spoke about with George; a plan about how to get to the last Grand Prix. This horse, I have him for a little bit more than one year, and he has been so nice for me. Every time there’s something difficult, I know he’s there and he’s fighting for me and I’m happy to have so many good horses.”
“This was my first time here, even to watch,” de Miranda added. “I’m very happy and I hope we can come next year. We look forward to coming again. I’m really, really happy, especially to have good results and leave with good memories.”
The $100,000 FTI Consulting Rider Challenge concluded on Saturday night after twelve weeks of jumper competition at the 2013 FTI WEF. Kent Farrington led the standings and earned a $50,000 cut of the bonus money for his success during the circuit. Conor Swail finished in second place to earn $25,000, Reed Kessler was third and received a $15,000 check, and Beezie Madden finished fourth for a $10,000 bonus.
Farrington was second last year and moved up to take the top prize with many great finishes throughout the circuit this year.
“It means I can take home some more money, which is great,” Farrington smiled in response to the win. “I was second last year, and I’ve been telling Dennis Shaugnessy that I was going to take his money one of these years, so finally. It’s great to have rider incentives like that. It’s a long winter here and any time there are bonuses, it’s really exciting for our sport and something we all look to a little bit. I have a good team of horses and I have a great group of owners to thank, along with my staff. It’s a big team of people helping that happen.”
Several other awards were presented on Saturday for the final week of competition in Wellington. Ben Maher’s mount Cella had a fantastic circuit and her owner, Jane Clark, was presented with the Simba Run Perpetual Trophy as the owner of the open jumper who has earned the most prize money in classes held at 1.45m or more during the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Clark was also presented with The Harrison Cup Perpetual Trophy, which is awarded to the owner whose horses won the most jumper money in all of the open jumper classes held throughout the circuit. In addition, Cella’s groom Joy Montgomery was presented with the Oliver O’Toole Perpetual Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the groom of the horse who has earned the most money in the grand prix jumper classes.
Other awards included the Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider for the circuit, which was presented to Reed Kessler on behalf of Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler. Conor Swail received theNiall Grimes Perpetual Trophy as the Irish rider that earned the most money during the week of CSIO competition. Laura Kraut and Woodstock O were presented with the Champion Equine Insurance Jumper Style Award for the overall circuit, which is awarded to the jumper whose style best exemplifies a show jumper based on scope, rideability, technique and competitive spirit.
Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W
Jessica Springsteen and Vindicat W Score Second Suncast 1.50m Victory
On Saturday afternoon, the $33,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic was held with a win for Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W. Forty entries showed in the class with 15 advancing to the jump-off and only three clear rounds over the short course. Springsteen and Vindicat W cleared the course in 44.33 seconds for the win.
Richie Moloney (IRL) and Equinimity LLC’s Carrabis Z finished second in 44.86 seconds. McLain Ward (USA) finished third with The Wannahave Group’s Wannahave with a clear round in 45.77 seconds. Ward was also fourth with the fastest round of the day but incurred four faults in 41.88 seconds aboard Grant Road Partners’ Super Trooper de Ness.
Springsteen and Vindicat W, an eleven-year-old KWPN gelding by Guidam x Libero H, also won the $82,000 Suncast 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during week nine of FTI WEF competition. Springsteen purchased the horse in August of last year just after the Olympic Games in London where he was the mount for Peter Charles in the British team’s gold medal win. The rider, who is currently in her junior year at Duke University in North Carolina, has traveled back and forth from school to compete this winter. She has been taking her time to build a good partnership with the talented gelding while showing as much as possible in between a busy schedule of classes.
On Saturday, the duo proved that they were perfectly in sync with another exciting win. They went third in the jump-off and could not be beat after that.
“I had a pretty good plan,” Springsteen explained. “I kind of like going early in these big jump-off classes because watching everybody go so fast and then having to go after makes me a little nervous. I did miss one inside turn, so I definitely thought that somebody would beat me because I kind of left that door open, but he is so fast. He is so amazing.”
“I am really happy,” Springsteen said of their growing partnership. “It took a second to get used to going fast with him and get used to a jump-off, so I feel like I have gotten that down and I am excited to try it over the bigger tracks.”
Springsteen also won the $15,000 RCG Farm SJHOF High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Saturday with Stone Hill Farm’s Wish. With some of her top horses going so well throughout the FTI WEF circuit, she is looking forward to traveling to Europe for the summer to compete.
“It feels great to be coming off of this winter and be ready to go to Europe,” she noted. “I am really excited. All of my horses feel amazing. I only came down six weekends, so they haven’t been doing so, so much, which I think is nice. They all still feel fresh and ready to go for the summer.”
Molly Zisook Tops THIS National Children’s Medal 14 & Under Aboard C’est Si Bon
Molly Zisook rode her eight-year-old Westphalian mare C’est Si Bon to victory in the THIS National Children’s Medal 14 & Under class during week twelve of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival. Zisook, of Lake Forest, IL, bested the class of twenty-nine entries after a first round score of 87 landed her in the top four called back to test.
Second place went to Lucy Deslauriers, who finished with a score of 86 with Stonehenge Farms’ Al Pacino. Olivia Bruyn came in third with a score of 84 with Square One, owned by Beacon Hill Show Stables. The top four was rounded out by Emma Kurtz and Marigot Bay Farm’s Starts Go Blue. The pair scored an 83.
Zisook has owned her mare, affectionately known as “Bon Bon,” since 2012 and has successfully shown her the final two weeks of the FTI WEF. Before Saturday’s victory, Zisook and Bon Bon placed second in the THIS National Children’s Medal 14 & Under class during week eleven. The pair has also shown in the Coldwell Banker’s Children’s 14 & Under Hunter division.
Zisook’s dedication to improving her mare’s rideability paid off this week with their blue ribbon finish. “We practice a lot of lengthening and shortening to help get her on the bit more. We also do a lot of trot jumps and practice the turns,” Zisook described.
The pair was clearly well prepared as Zisook and Bon Bon had no issues with a course that overfaced several competitors. “I thought the course was straight-forward. Going into the test, I wanted to be able to do it efficiently and not get stuck anywhere,” Zisook commented.
Zisook’s bond with her affectionate bay mare was clear as she commented on Bon Bon’s best attributes. “She’s really sweet and she’ll do anything for me,” Zisook smiled. “She’s really soft and easy over the jumps.”
Zisook and Bon Bon will continue to show throughout the spring and summer, with their ultimate goal being to move up to Junior Hunter divisions. Trainer Jill Knowles is confident in Zisook’s progress over the past year and looks forward to coaching her as she moves up.
“Molly’s a great student. She really has shown a lot more discipline this year and effort to be efficient and ride a lot better,” Knowles praised. “Our goal is to move her into the Small Junior Hunters this year. We’ll go to Kentucky and try for the 3’3″ Children’s, and then when she’s ready, we’ll move her up to the Juniors.”
The first round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby was held in the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter arena to wrap up hunter competition for the day on Saturday. Fences for the class reached nearly four and a half feet tall for the high options, providing particularly exhilarating entertainment for the large crowd of hunter fans watching the class.
Brunello and Liza Boyd emerged victorious from the round of forty-one entries with a score of 188. Skyfall and Louise Serio were second with a combined score of 187. Taken and Kelley Farmer rounded out the top three with a score of 187, with the lower score from the tie-breaker judges’ panel.
Week twelve of the FTI WEF, presented by title sponsor FTI Consulting, concludes Sunday with the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Final, hosted in the Rost Arena of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will also crown its winner Sunday afternoon at The Stadium at PBIEC. For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Lauren Fisher and Laura Cardon for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
Team Weber wrested a turbulent win away from the weather at the Live Oak International. (Photo courtesy of PicsofYou.com)
Ocala, FL (March 29, 2013) – As the adage goes, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Chester Weber opted for the same KWPN team that helped him clinch an earlier Dressage Test 11 world record and win at Little Everglades Ranch and it proved a winning decision as Team Weber wrested a turbulent win away from the weather at the Live Oak International, March 20-24, in Ocala, Florida.
It wasn’t easy. Every mythological comparison that could be made between horses and the furies of wind and weather was appropriate as gusts and lashing rain led to ceding the FEI Horse Team Cones Phase to Mother Nature. With the decision of judges always final, Weber and his team were awarded first place on the strength of their Dressage and Marathon scores.
Weber had a 37.22 in the opening Dressage phase to put him soundly ahead in the FEI Horse Teams division ahead of fellow American whip, Casey Zubek (53.98) and Canadian contender, Darryl Billing (71.84). Weber and his team maintained their lead over Zubek in Marathon, collecting a lean 90.20 points to Zubek’s 115.51. Following the conclusion of the first two phases, Weber’s overall score of 127.84, to Zubek’s 169.49 or Billing’s 234.83, was determined significant enough to spare challenge in the best interests of the horses and safety to the event.
“The team worked very well,” said Weber. “Under the guidance of our US team coach, Michael Freund, he suggested that I use the same group as at Little Everglades, as they went well and you should always second-guess splitting a winning team.” And rightly so: the team bested its own Test 11 world record score set at Little Everglades Ranch earlier this season.
Speaking of superb relationships, fans of Weber’s Boris will be happy to hear the seven-year-old KWPN gelding was on this record-setting team. “Yet again,” Weber grinned, “Boris did a fantastic job in the left wheel.” The next goal is to keep things rolling for CHIO Aachen.
As for the international ambience to Live Oak’s rich roster of driving and show jumping, Weber could not be more pleased: “The synergy of the jumping and driving proves to be a winning concept for participants, spectators and sponsors.” Must be something about that ‘Outside of a horse being good for the inside of a man (or woman).’ Find full results from both disciplines at www.liveoakinternational.com, or follow Team Weber at www.chesterweber.com and via the link to Facebook.
Darragh Kerins and E-Muse YEK were the winners of the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa. Photos By: Kendall Bierer/PMG.
Tampa, FL – March 31, 2013 – It was a jump-off for all the nations today on the concluding class of the Tampa Bay Classic. The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center was alive with heated jumper competition as riders gathered to contend for the top earnings in the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa. It was one of the last opportunities for riders to qualify for the $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational – the stakes were high. It came down to eight riders today, fighting to the finish, but Irishman Darragh Kerins and E-Muse YEK emerged the victors.
This afternoon, riders assembled beneath the Covered Arena to compete over courses designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Canada. The first round featured an imposing opening vertical-oxer line, followed by a left turn to a red oxer bending to the skinny liverpool. Riders were also challenged by a black vertical at the far end of the ring that led into the oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination set on the vertical. From there, they made a right hand turn to a green and white gate where they bended to the left over a daunting oxer, took a skinny vertical, and moved into the bending oxer line leading into the vertical-oxer double combination. With only once obstacle left, riders would seal their fate upon landing from the black plank oxer.
Darragh Kerins (IRL) was the first to tackle the track, piloting E-Muse YEK, owned by Kerins and Maarten Huygens, to a clear round, and paving the way to a possible jump-off. Although many other riders found fault throughout the course, the final oxer claimed the most victims. It wasn’t until Sharn Wordley and Quick Blue Z were on course, that a jump-off became reality.
Eight riders were able to lay down a clean first round, with five different countries represented. The short course consisted of the opening vertical-oxer line, a left turn to the third obstacle, and then a quick right through the double combination. Riders then had to slice the turn across the diagonal and take the liverpool to the vertical at the far end of the arena, and race to finish over the first oxer of the original triple combination where they would stop the clock.
Eventual victor Kerins commented, “I walked the course and I thought it was a bit difficult. Michel always builds very good courses. It is different for us that we come from outside to one the indoors and the turns are very tight. It was a great course, very well built, and it was a good number in the jump-off.”
Kerins was the first to return in the order of clear efforts, bursting out of the in gate with the grey gelding, E-Muse YEK. He decided to give the jump-off his all with his most recent mount, guiding him down the opening line in five strides, and utilizing all tight turns and slices to the best of their ability. The crowd was breathless as they cleared all the obstacles, and landed from the final oxer in a mere 36.576 seconds. He wore a target on his back as the other contenders attempted to lay down a similar track; however, his time would prove resilient and Kerins would take home the blue.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Kerins admitted. “I planned to do six down the first line, but I picked up the canter and he was a little out in front of me, so I thought I would take a chance and let him do the five. We took another challenge at the last fences as well, and it worked.”
“He’s a great horse, and that is the fastest that I have probably gone with him in a jump-off,” Kerins laughed. “He has a huge stride, lots of scope, and is very careful. We thought he was a bit of a slow one at the beginning. He has a lot of ability, but he lacks a bit of mileage at this point. We wanted to take him up here to see what he would be like, and it seemed to work out well.”
Sharn Wordley and Quick Blue Z
Sharn Wordley (NZL) was the next to showcase his mount’s skills on the course. Quick Blue Z easily navigated each obstacle, but Wordley was slightly more conservative in the turns to avoid Blue’s legs from slipping out. They left all the rails intact, but they were off Kerins’ pace by two seconds, proving good enough for the red ribbon with the final time of 38.586 seconds.
“During the first round I was just wanting to go clear. The time allowed was slightly tight, so you had to be aware of the time, and the last line was very tight, so you had to be careful,” Wordley stated. “Blue was a little ornery in the first round, bucking and kicking out a bit, but he really came through in the jump-off.”
Wordley elaborated, “In the jump-off I wanted to go medium fast. He doesn’t have good traction on the corners because he cross-canters, so I was afraid that if I went too fast he could slip out, or I could have a rail. I could have probably gone faster, but I wanted to go double clear. I’m very happy about the outcome, and I am excited for the American Invitational next week. This is my first real go at it, and I will be riding my other mount. Funny enough, I didn’t have a groom for this show, so I have been grooming myself. After the third place the other day and the second place today, I am thinking it is good luck. I plan on grooming my horse myself for the Invitational.”
Scott Keach (AUS) and Coco also jumped double clear, but their time of 41.196 seconds was only good enough for the fourth place honors. Erin Haas (USA) and Admiral Clover overtook the pair as they put their best foot forward to take the third place finish with a faultless jump-off in 38.643 seconds.
“This is the first Grand Prix I’ve gone clean in with him so I actually hadn’t looked at the jump-off course, and I didn’t put studs in him because I was more excited about just jumping the round. So now I know next week maybe we should be ready to get in the jump-off!” Haas exclaimed.
Erin Haas and Admiral Clover
Haas continued, “With Aaron not having a horse in the jump-off, he told me to go fast. I thought I started out well and everything, but then he slid a bit after the blue in-and-out. So I slowed down just a bit. He’s the type that the faster you run him at the jumps the better he is. He’s really kind of a machine. He knows his job, and he loves to do it, so that’s why Aaron won just about every Grand Prix he did on him last year. I’m an amateur, and I still get excited – I need to get more comfortable at that level.”
Kerins was also able to snatch the fifth place award with Hot Wheels, owned by Sarah Kerins. They laid down a quick round in 38.197 seconds, but four faults stood in Kerins way of going 1-2. He has been riding Hot Wheels for about nine years, riding the horse in numerous classes, and taking the top awards.
“I haven’t shown him very much this winter; he is getting a little older now, so we have been more conservative with the classes,” Kerins explained. “When you do pull him out, he gives 110 percent, this is one of the bigger classes he has done in a while.”
It was Michael Hughes (USA) who nabbed the sixth and seventh place finishes with Luxina and MacArthur, respectively. Both horses are owned by Christina Fried, and Hughes guided them to speedy times, but four faults knocked each of the horses out of the running. Megan Wexler (USA) and Cadence took the eighth place finish with a final score of eight faults in 39.804 seconds.
The Tampa Equestrian Series’ first week, the Tampa Bay Classic, concluded today with the $35,000 Grand Prix of Tampa. The 41st Annual $200,000 Gene Mische American Invitational, presented by G&C Farm, will be the highlight event on the final day of the Tampa Equestrian Series, the Tournament of Champions CSI, to be held April 6, 2013, at the Raymond James Stadium. The world’s top horses and riders will gather to compete under the lights during one of the premier show jumping events in the United States.
For more information about the Tampa Equestrian Festival, please visit www.StadiumJumping.com.
Kendall Bierer for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Wellington, FL – March 31, 2013 – Jennifer Alfano rode Miss Lucy, an eleven-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Helen Lenahan, to the top of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the final day of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). The final round of competition was held on the grass derby field at The Stadium at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL. Alfano and Miss Lucy were fourth going into the second round of competition for the derby with a first round score of 186. The pair galloped into first place with a round two score of 198.5 for an overall score of 348.5.
Inclusive and Victoria Colvin finished second with a combined score of 382. The pair was in fifth place after scoring a 182 in round one. Colvin and Inclusive’s spectacular second round performance earned the pair a 200, which helped them take over the lead late in round two before being succeeded by Alfano and Miss Lucy.
Temptation and Kristy McCormack rounded out the top three finishers with an overall score of 380. Temptation, owned by Autumn Janesky, earned a first round score of 166 before finishing with a second round high score of 203.
The first round of competition for the derby was held Saturday afternoon at the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter arena of the PBIEC. Forty-one attempted the course, but only the top twenty-five competitors would advance to the handy round held Sunday at The Stadium. Horses and riders faced a sprawling spread of several major tests of their horses’ bravery, including a derby bank, hand gallop, and four high option fences.
Alfano, no stranger to derby victories, ultimately clinched victory with Miss Lucy after beating both Colvin and McCormack’s top scores. Alfano’s name is most synonymous with 2012 USEF National Horse of the Year Jersey Boy.
Despite being the lesser known of Alfano’s derby mounts, she acknowledged the mare was actually the more dependable of the two. “You can always count on Lucy to give 110%. She’s actually a little more reliable than Jersey Boy. You never wonder [with her]. With him, he has his moments, as everybody knows. She’s one of those horses that just tries to do everything right all the time,” Alfano, of Buffalo, NY, commented.
Lucy’s consistency and remarkable suitability for the tests of a derby class are undeniable, given she has been on vacation for the past two weeks. “I did show her in the High Performance here [at the FTI WEF] this week, but that’s it. She doesn’t really take any special preparation.”
Watch an interview with Hunter Derby winner Jennifer Alfano
“She doesn’t have to practice,” Alfano continued. “She was here last year and did this and was great out here [on the derby field]. You don’t have to worry about anything on her. When you’re looking between her ears, you can aim at anything.”
Colvin, of Loxahatchee, FL, bested McCormack’s leading score late in the second round, determined to take over the lead from her fifth place finish in round one. Colvin took an exceptionally technical track aboard Inclusive as she attempted to climb the rankings and was overall pleased with their performance.
“I had a light rub, but I thought the rest [of our course] was really good. My plan today was to go as handy as I could and jump the big ones. If I had a rail, I had a rail. I had to move up,” Colvin acknowledged.
Despite not having a comparable course at home, Colvin had no doubt Inclusive would handle the demands of the derby field like a professional. “We just got a field [at home], but it’s not anything like this. I was confident he would be fine. I think he’s actually better out in the field than in a ring,” Colvin described.
McCormack, of Boston, MA, finished third with Temptation with the highest round two score, but was ultimately exceeded by Colvin and then Alfano. McCormack gave it her all knowing Temptation would be happy to step up to the plate.
“My strategy on that horse is always just to give as much as we’ve got. If we take a risk here or there, I’m okay with that. He’s the kind of horse that is so game, especially for this type of course. I got to show him here last year and I was just trying to go for it and move up as much as I could and he brought it,” McCormack expressed.
McCormack had plenty of ground to make up for after finishing seventh in the first round of competition, but knew the grass field would give Temptation the chance to shine. “He loves pace. He loves getting out there and galloping. He’s never as strong in the first round, when I’m going a bit slower and taking my time. Once we get out in the field, all we do is gallop,” McCormack explained.
Rachel Boggus Claims Another Equitation Victory with SS Whisper in Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Final; Kathryn Haefner Awarded Top Honors for Series
Rachel Boggus and SS Whisper
Rachel Boggus, of Fort Wayne, IN, catch rode her way to another first place finish, this time with SS Whisper, in the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Final during the final day of competition for the 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival (FTI WEF). SS Whisper, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding is owned by Wee Enterprises. Boggus was awarded a Beval bridle and gift certificate for her blue ribbon finish in the final class of the series.
Brett Burlington and Cassidy, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, finished second and won an Essex show shirt from Beval for their performance. Third place was awarded a Beval Saddlery logo saddle pad, which went to Sara Ballinger and her own Wanderprinz.
Overall high point finisher for the 2013 FTI WEF was Kathryn Haefner, who rode her own Bentley in Sunday’s class. Haefner was awarded the ultimate prize of a new Butet saddle, also courtesy of class sponsor Beval Saddlery.
Boggus recently brought home a blue ribbon in the Ariat National Adult Medal class aboard a completely unfamiliar horse and was equally successful on new mount SS Whisper, an experienced junior equitation mount. “When I sat on it yesterday, I loved it immediately,” Boggus smiled. “It was so trained, just light and ready to go. It framed up really easily. It was my type of ride, didn’t take too much leg.”
Boggus considers the Beval Palm Beach Medal course an integral part of her annual campaign for Ariat National Adult Medal Finals, held at the Capital Challenge Horse Show in September. She enjoyed the challenging course of Sunday’s class that allowed riders to show off their skills.
“We started with a rollback and there were some inside turn options, which I always like when they put those in. Abby and I always try to think about what I’m going to do at the National Medal Finals, so we try to make it as hard as we can and practice more difficult options. I liked that there was an inside turn option and some tighter rollbacks so you could tighten up and make it fancy if you wanted to,” Boggus described.
For the flat phase of the class, Boggus was thankful to have a mount so well-suited for the demands of the test. “I’m not admittedly the best flatter ever, so we really have to do a lot of work on the flat to get my heels down and I tend to grip too much – I clench my hands,” Boggus explained.
“The flat is really challenging for me, but with this horse it was really nice because it was so supple. I just barely had to put any pressure on the reins and it framed right up. It’s really big and slow and comfortable, so that was really nice,” Boggus commented.
While Boggus has shown at the FTI WEF intermittently in years past, the 2013 season was her first full circuit. “I lived in Denver until this past July, so I would go to [HITS] Thermal. Now that I’m back down in the Midwest and living in Indiana, we come to WEF because we have a barn down here,” Boggus explained.
“I really like it, the weather’s always nice. The competition is the best in the country, and that’s one thing we really wanted to concentrate on – putting myself in these higher pressure situations at bigger shows,” Boggus expressed.
Boggus’ dedication has clearly paid off as she stands on top of the current national standings for the Ariat National Adult Medal. She will take April off to let her horses recuperate before starting back up again in Kentucky next month and setting her sights on the Devon Horse Show on her way to finals.
Kathryn Haefner and Bentley
Haefner has also been a force to be reckoned with this season at the FTI WEF, coming in first in circuit standings for the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal class. Haefner swapped between her geldings Columbus and Bentley on the path to first place and finished the series on Sunday aboard Bentley, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding. The pair finished fourth.
Haefner describes Columbus as more of a typical equitation horse, but is quick to acknowledge Bentley’s ability to be competitive in both hunter and equitation divisions. “Bentley is super comfortable. He’s really easy to flat. Columbus may have more of the equitation look, and Bentley’s a good mover, so he does well in the hunters. But when you put a Pelham on [Bentley], he’s got that smooth, pretty way of moving and going round,” Haefner explained.
Haefner also enjoys the opportunity that the Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal class gives adults to show off their equitation skills and compete for a top prize. “I love these classes; they’re really fun. There are not a whole lot of medals for the adults to do, so this is a really nice opportunity to do something like that,” Haefner commented.
“The saddle incentive is great,” she continued. “I ride in a Butet, so that’s always a good incentive because I get the saddle that I like. It’s really fun [to compete in the class] because besides the handy rounds, you never get the opportunity to do a course that’s a little more interesting [in the hunter divisions]. There’s also a flat test, which the other adult medals don’t have. They either don’t have a test or there’s a jumping test, so the flat test makes things a little more interesting, and I like that.”
Haefner, of Buffalo, NY, juggles competing on weekends at the FTI WEF with attending classes full-time at the University of Miami as an aerospace and electrical engineering student. “Sometimes it’s difficult; engineering is challenging. I’m in the top 5% of my class and I try to stay there, so it’s been a challenge, but I like it,” Haefner described.
Haefner’s trainer, Stewart Moran, also of New York, travels south with her each winter and Fort Lauderdale trainer Jimmy Torano also trains the busy young amateur. “It’s a lot of hard work and everybody at the barn works really hard to get the horses ready while I’m not there,” Haefner acknowledged.
The Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal Final was the among the final divisions to award end of circuit honors to the competitors of the FTI WEF, which concluded competition on Sunday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Jumper Competition Concludes
Wrapping up the final week of Jumper FTI WEF competition in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, several of the Amateur-Owner Jumper divisions competed in their classics for week 12. The $10,000 Charles Owen Low AO Jumper Classic was first to go with 73 entries, ten advancing to the jump-off, and just one double clear round over the short course. Cynthia Fuller and Full Stride Farm’s Ingaletta had the winning round without fault and completed the course in 39.857 seconds. Megan Fellows and Belle Nuit had the fastest round of 33.92 seconds, but incurred four faults to finish second.
The $10,000 Maria Mendelsohn Low Junior Jumper Classic was held next with a win for Emanuel Andrade and Stransky’s Mission Farms’ Quebec Star. Seventy-six entries jumped in the class with 12 advancing to the jump-off. Six went clear over the second round course and the winning time of 32.882 seconds belonged to Andrade and Quebec Star. Kady Abrahamson and Basco H2 finished second in 33.429 seconds.
The final win of the circuit also went to Andrade with Hollow Creek Farm’s Crossfire 10 in the $10,000 Griffis Residential High Junior Jumpers. Twenty-two entries showed with only two clear rounds. The winning pair had the only double clear round and stopped the clock in 41.412 seconds to earn top prize. Second place honors were awarded to Eugenio Garza and El Milagro’s Bariano with eight faults in the jump-off in a time of 38.568 seconds.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival The 2013 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 9 through March 31. The FTI WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $7 million in prize money will be awarded. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 24 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.56 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2011. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
Sapo Caset of Piaget controlling the ball on a breakaway downfield. Photos – David Lominska.
WELLINGTON, FL – March 30, 2013 — Piaget lost its opening game of the 109th Maserati U.S. Open on Saturday after its sixth-chukker rally fell short, losing to Lechuza Caracas, 14-11, at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Piaget team captain Melissa Ganzi suffered a severe groin pull, according to trainer Jeremy Fedoruk, in the fourth chukker and was forced to leave the game.
Ganzi tried to return to the game but was replaced by 17-year-old Lorenzo Merlotti, a senior at Palm Beach Central High School who was watching the game on the sidelines. It was his 26-goal debut after playing two 20-goal games earlier this season for Crab Orchard.
Grand Champions Polo Club-based Piaget opened the game strong with a 3-0 lead in the first chukker with goals from the team’s two 10-goalers Sapo Caset (two goals), and Miguel Astrada (one). Piaget missed a penalty shot late in the chukker.
“The first half I felt we should have been up by three or four and we weren’t,” Piaget coach Joey Casey said. “I thought we outplayed them the first half and I thought things would go in our favor a little bit in the second half but it didn’t happen.”
Lechuza Caracas started chipping away at the Piaget lead behind Polito Pieres and Juan Martin Nero.
Lechuza Caracas outscored Piaget, 3-1, in the second and third chukkers and went into the half with a 6-5 advantage.
“We started strong and then after halftime I thought we were going to do really well, but then had a bad fourth chukker where they dominated,” Casey said.
Lechuza Caracas scored another three goals in the fourth chukker to increase its lead, 9-6, late in the chukker before Caset converted a penalty goal to cut their lead to 9-7.
Lechuza Caracas scored three consecutive goals for a 12-7 lead before Astrada lofted an amazing 90-yard shot to score in the final seconds of the fifth chukker.
Piaget continued to mount a charge early in the sixth chukker, closing the gap to 12-10 on a big neck shot goal by Caset and again to 13-11 on another amazing Caset neck shot with 2:28 remaining.
But Lechuza Caracas and its lightning-quick horses seemed to have an answer for every Piaget goal.
Nacho Badiola of Piaget fights for the ball against Lechuza Caracas’ Juan Martin Nero
“In the fifth chukker we did some really good things, but every time we would score they would answer with another one,” Casey said. “We just couldn’t get ahead. We came back strong again in the beginning of the sixth for the first four minutes.
“We would play really well and then we wouldn’t play well and they would score two or three goals,” Casey said. “After Melissa’s injury, Lechuza started back on fire. They came out on fire and killed us. They made a couple goals – boom, boom, boom. It felt like then we were desperate trying to catch up and over running some plays.”
Caset finished the game with nine goals, including four on penalty shots. Astrada, the team workhorse throughout the game, added one goal. Polito Pieres led Lechuza Caracas with nine goals, six on penalty shots. Team captain Victor Vargas had goals in the fifth and sixth chukkers.
“We started very strong but then they had a very good fourth chukker,” Astrada said. “They had good horses that chukker and played very well. Then Melissa got hurt. Melissa was playing really well and we lost the momentum.
“We had to re-organize the team and it was tough even though we did better in the last chukker,” Astrada said. “They are a great team with good horses and good organization. It is difficult to beat them.”
For Merlotti, it was an opportunity of a lifetime to go from watching a U.S. Open game to playing one.
“I wasn’t really nervous but it felt good definitely,” Merlotti said. “The horses felt great. The adrenaline is crazy when you play this kind of polo.
“It took me a while to get used to the game,” Merlotti said. “I didn’t really have to warm up, I guess because I am so young. As soon as I got on the field I was already into it. The players told me to have fun, don’t stress it. Victor has really fast horses; it was really hard. I could have been better – maybe next time.”
Sapo Caset of Piaget driving downfield on the way to scoring one of his nine goals
Ganzi hopes to return to the lineup for this week’s game against Alegria on Friday. She will undergo extensive physical therapy and is day-to-day.
“We won’t know how serious Melissa’s injury is until Sunday,” Casey said.
“We’re still in it,” Casey said. “We have two tough games left but we’ll regroup. Hopefully, we will win one of those games and get back in it. Anybody can win on any given day.”
In Saturday’s other U.S. Open game, Alegria defeated Faraway, 11-7. Facundo Obregon led Alegria with four goals. Nic Roldan scored four goals for Faraway, three on penalty shots.
Grand Champions Polo Club-based Audi will play Zorzal on Sunday at 12 noon on Field 2.
There are three brackets. Audi is in bracket one with Coca-Cola, Zorzal, ERG and Valiente. Piaget is in bracket two with Faraway and Orchard Hill. The third bracket is Lechuza Caracas, Alegria and Zacara.
The teams in bracket one will play within the bracket with the best four teams, by record, advancing to the quarterfinals. The teams in bracket two and three will play cross-bracket, with the best four out of all six teams, by record, also advancing into the quarters.
Zacara, led by 10-goaler Facundo Pieres and coming off its USPA Gold Cup loss to Valiente, is defending U.S. Open champion.
The U.S. Open Polo Championship, first played in 1904 at Van Courtland Park, celebrated 100 years in 2004. It is one of three major polo tournaments worldwide along with the British and Argentine Opens. It is also the third jewel of U.S. polo’s 26-goal Triple Crown that includes the C. V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup.
For the first half of the 20th century the U.S. Open Polo Championship was hosted in the northeast, primarily at Meadowbrook Polo Club. In 1954, the U.S. Open moved to Oakbrook Polo Club, outside of Chicago, where it stayed until 1978.
The next eight U.S. Opens were hosted by Retama Polo Club in San Antonio where Memo Gracida won the first of his record 16 wins. In 1987, the U.S. Open was played at El Dorado Polo Club in Palm Springs. The next four were played at Horsepark in Lexington, Ky.
Since 1996, the U.S. Open has been held in South Florida. In 2005, Julio Gracida added to the Gracida family’s combined record of 36 U.S. Open Polo Championship wins.
AUDI/PIAGET U.S. OPEN SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 31, Audi vs. Zorzal, noon, Field 2.
Thursday, April 4, Audi vs. Valiente, 2 p.m.
Friday, April 5, Piaget vs. Alegria, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, Audi vs. ERG, noon.
Thursday, April 11, Piaget vs. Zacara, 10 a.m.
Sunday, April 14, Quarterfinals
Wednesday, April 17, Hall of Fame Cup, semifinal; U.S. Open Semifinals, 2 and 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 20: Hall of Fame Cup final, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 21: Maserati U.S. Open final, 3 p.m.
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
