Wellington, FL – April 25, 2018 – The third installment of the ESP Spring Series concluded on Sunday, April 22, after a successful week of wins for Todd Minikus and Kevin Babington at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.
The week boasted yet another win for Todd Minikus of Lake Worth, FL and Amex Z, owned by Chris Brems, in the $25,000 Spring Welcome Grand Prix on Friday, April 22. This victory was Minikus’ fourth Grand Prix win of the series, and the second for this specific mount. The pair topped the class of 39 entries, blazing through fast track timers in 39.592 seconds. Second place was captured by Fabio Levias da Costa of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Tosca de L’esques after contesting the eleven-horse jump-off in 39.592 seconds. Third place was rounded out by Celso Ariani of Wellington, FL and Dali T, owned by Rodrigo Padilla and Ricardo Romero, who completed the jump-off in 41.893 seconds.
A total of 31 entries contested the $40,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Grand Prix on Sunday, April 23, but none could catch Kevin Babington of Gwynedd Valley, PA and Shorapur, owned by Shorapur LLC, who stopped the clock in a winning time of 39.258 seconds.
Second place went to Margie Engle of Wellington, FL and Gladewinds Farm Inc.’s Bockmanns Lazio, who rode through the Richard Jeffery designed jump-off course in 40.409 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL took third with his own Hardrock Z, jumping off in 40.867 seconds.
Jumper Highlights
Avery-Anna Hogan of Wellington, FL and her own Eurocommerce Tampa rode to victory in the $1,500 NAL Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic after completing their jump-off trip in 38.268 seconds ahead of Emerson Lane of Miami, FL and Diddlina D’Ive Z, owned by Lane, who took second with a time of 39.756 seconds. Katie Sansone of Coconut Creek, FL and Tropobella 3K, owned by Sansone, earned third place after riding to a jump-off time of 39.925 seconds.
The $10,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Open Welcome Stake awarded the win to Pablo Barrios of Wellington, FL and Gut Einhaus, LLC’s Le Vio with a jump-off time of 29.246 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL and his own Jenni’s Chance were presented with second place after completing the track in 29.753 seconds. Joaquim Malta de Abreu of Wellington, FL placed third with Two Swans Farm’s Arino du Rouet with a jump-off time of 30.207 seconds.
The $5,000 Omega Alpha® 1.35m Stake saw Alexis Trosch of Wellington, FL and her own Cortex Z, owned by Trosch, take first place, stopping the jump-off timers in a quick 33.929 seconds. Fabio Leivas da Costa of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Luziada Jmen, owned by Bonne Chance Farm LLC, took home second place after finishing the track in 34.601 seconds. Leslie Howard of Darien, CT scooped up third place aboard Flo, owned by GJ Stable, finishing with a time of 35.412 seconds.
Hunter Highlights
The $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby saw Kaitlin Porath of Charlotte, NC and her own Breaux take the championship title, after earning a total of 182 points after round two of competition. Lisa Rex of Westbury, NY and Over the Top Stables LLC’s Overjoyed secured reserve champion honors on 178.5 points. The yellow ribbon was snatched by Kelsey Duff of PBTD Ruffian, FL aboard Renee Eddy’s Playin’ for Keeps after riding to 175 points.
Nancy Hooker of Wellington, FL and Coolidge, owned by Richard Prant, took top honors in the Adult Amateur Hunter Older Division during ESP Spring. Marcie Marcus of Villanova, PA and Caliber Z, owned by Marcus Equestrian Enterprises, LLC, rode to reserve.
Katherine Newman of Wellington, FL aboard Dandelion, owned by Allwyn Court, secured champion honors in the Triple Crown Nutrition Green Hunter 3’6″ Division, ahead of Maria Rasmussen of Oak Creek, WI aboard Sidarta, owned by Over Fences Farm, LLC.
Alexa Elle Lignelli of New York, NY and Fox Creeks Curious George, owned by The Lignelli Family, finished atop the Score at the Top Medium Pony Hunter Division ahead of Georgia Schmidt of Lutherville, MD, who collected reserve champion with Cleverist, owned by Emily Aitken.
Maggie Gould of Wellington, FL was awarded champion of the USHJA 2′ & 2’3″ Hunter Division aboard winning mount Masterpiece, owned by Alexandra Raffy. Reserve champion was presented to Alliyah Antoniadis of Middletown, NY and True Colors, owned by Joe White.
Margaret O’Meara of Kirkland, WA captured a tricolor ribbon aboard Just Nick, owned by Woodland Way, Inc., in the USHJA Hunter 3′ Division. Denise Monopoli of Loxahatchee, FL and Poetry in Motion, owned by McKenzie Wade, finished as reserve champions.
The Gold Coast Feed Performance Hunter 3’3″ & 3’6″ Division saw Havens Schatt of Georgetown, KY riding Aristocrat, owned by Tracy Scheriff-Muser, collect the division’s champion honors. Reserve champion also went to Schatt and Use the Ring LLC’s Noble Blue.
Amelia Ruth of New York, NY and Broadway, owned by Carol Ruth & Sumner Hill Farms LLC, finished atop the #1 Education Place Junior Hunter 3’6″ Division. Reid Arani of Lexington, KY and Margot Bay Farm, LLC’s Soldier captured reserve placement.
Dagny Mactaggart of Millbrook, NY and Ziezo captured the Equiline High Junior Amateur Owner Division, earning champion, while reserve champion was awarded to Mireya Godoy of Wellington, FL and Paddy’s Dream Z, owned by Godoy.
Molly Sewell of Winter Park, FL and Inverness, owned by Leslie Campbell, took champion accolades in the Triple Crown Nutrition Green Hunter 3’3″ Division. Reserve champion was awarded to Havens Schatt and Totality, owned by Jennifer Speisman.
Competition will resume at PBIEC on Friday, May 4, with the fourth week of the ESP Spring Series continuing through Sunday, May 6. For more information, please visit www.pbiec.com.
Wellington, FL – January 11, 2017 – The 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) kicked off its first day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL on Wednesday with a win for Ireland’s Kevin Babington aboard Debra Wycoff’s Super Chilled in the morning’s $8,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m speed class. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through April 2, 2017, featuring competition for hunters, jumpers, and equitation, with over $9 million in prize money up for grabs.
Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) is setting the jumper tracks in the International Arena at PBIEC for week one competition. Jorge began Wednesday with 13 entries in the 1.45m and six clear rounds. First to go, Conor Swail (IRL) set the pace in 62.36 seconds with Quite Cassini, owned by Vanessa Mannix, and finished in second place. Babington and Super Chilled soon took over the lead with their time of 59.97 seconds. Molly Ashe (USA) took third place in the end riding Audi’s Dimple, owned by Maarten Huygens, through the timers in 64.16 seconds.
Super Chilled is an Irish Sport Horse gelding (by Gelvin Clover) that is coming nine years old this season. Babington and owners Debra and Kirk Wycoff purchased the gelding from Irish Olympian Greg Broderick when the horse was six years old. Babington has taken his time producing Super Chilled over the last few years and stepped up to the grand prix level at the end of the 2016 season.
Remarking on his opening WEF victory, Babington stated, “It is a good start to the season. It feels great, especially on that horse. He did really well as a seven and eight-year-old, so I am really excited for his nine-year-old year. He is really consistent; he doesn’t knock too many rails.”
Babington plans to compete Super Chilled in some three-star classes throughout the circuit and has his ultimate goal to move the gelding up to four-star competition by the end of the winter. Describing the horse and his ride, Babington detailed, “On the ground he is a super sweet horse. He was quite head shy as a young horse. When you are on his back, he is very sensitive. You would never take your jacket off [when] on him, or if I have to adjust my spurs or anything, I have to have somebody hold him. He is very sharp. In the ring, he was always quite rideable. He was a little bit weaker on one side than the other, but now it is coming together and he is lovely to ride.”
Babington was fourth in the order of go and knew what he needed to do after watching the first few rounds before heading into the ring.
“I saw Conor go first, and he had a really smooth round, so I tried to do pretty much the same numbers,” the rider explained. “I think I did one less back on the third jump and that was the plan. For the first day, I thought it was a nice speed track because there were lots of options. There were plenty of places you could leave out a stride right off the bat. He gave you three inside turns that were all very doable for the first day in the ring, and the horse handled it really well.”
With a nice win to start off the 2017 circuit, Babington looks forward to a great winter. In all, Babington has over 30 horses in Wellington for the season, including four horses that he will show at the grand prix level and several nice young horses that he will ride himself. In addition, young professional Oliver McCarthy will be riding for Babington this winter, taking on the rides of some sale horses and helping with client mounts to give Babington more time for training his students. Babington, his wife Dianna, and trainer Sissy Wickes will all make up the team working together this winter for Kevin Babington LLC.
“I have a great group of horses for myself this year, and we have a really good group of clients and an excellent staff here, so I’m excited about the circuit. We will be busy,” Babington concluded.
Also competing in the International Arena on Wednesday, the $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40 speed class was held in a California Split with 112 entries. Laura Chapot (USA) and Mary Chapot’s Zealous were the winners in Section A, and Daniel Coyle (IRL) rode Ariel and Susan Grange’s Cita to top honors in Section B.
The 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival continues with its second day of competition on Thursday featuring the $25,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup in the International Arena. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Kevin Babington and Mark Q. Photo By: The Book, LLC.
Devon, Pa. – June 2, 2016 – The luck belonged to the Irish during the 2016 $225,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon CSI4*. Kevin Babington and Mark Q repeated their 2011 victory in the Dixon Oval, beating Danielle Torano and McLain Ward in a three-horse jump-off for the lion’s share of the prize money.
A crowd of 9,000 spectators turned out for the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair’s highlight event, watching as the best in the country competed over the technical CSI4* course built by Kelvin Bywater. Only three were able to master the first round, and it was Babington and Mark Q that were the pathfinders. Returning at the top of the tiebreaker, they once again left all the rails intact to set the pace to beat at 38.43 seconds.
“I thought to myself, whatever I do McLain is going to figure out a better plan anyway,” joked Babington. “The leave-out to the double was risky for me, but I knew I could be fast across the ring. At that stage I thought had already sort of lost it, but it’s always nice to win a class!”
The second to return was Danielle Torano aboard Callas III. With a slightly more conservative path on the young 9-year-old mount, the amateur rider and mother of two cleared the track in 39.49 seconds to take over second place behind Babington. At the end of the night, Torano was honored with the Richard E. McDevitt Style Award for the rider who exemplified the best style of riding.
“Callas III is a chestnut mare, so that should tell you a little bit,” laughed Torano. “She was pretty up in the schooling area before the first round, which rattled me for a minute. I decided there was nothing I could do, so I just went with it. To come in the ring and look at all the people – she’s never seen anything like that. As I went to the first jump she felt super focused, and she was amazing in the first round. I messed up a little bit in the jump-off, but she’s super careful.”
The crowd roared when the final rider of the night entered the Dixon Oval. Olympian McLain Ward on his Pan American Gold medalist-mount, Rothchild, seemed like a sure bet. Coming off a streak of eight international victories, Ward seemed unstoppable. And he was. Until the last fence.
As the crowd let out a yell at the penultimate vertical, Rothchild lost his focus on the homestretch to the final oxer and ducked out at the fence, much to the shock of all who watched. The error left Ward to pick up the third place prize while Babington led the lap of honor.
“What makes Rothchild great is that he’s sensitive, he’s sharp; he’s a little fireball,” explained Ward. “The place erupted and I think that rattled him slightly, but that’s brilliant. That’s what we need in the sport. I wouldn’t want it any different. I need to deal with it better; he needs to deal with it better. That’s what makes this place so special.”
Winning an international event five years later with the same mount takes a special horse, and for Babington, Mark Q is his favorite mount of all time.
“Carling King made me and is the horse of a lifetime,” said Babington. “Mark Q is my favorite horse that I’ve ever had. He’s stepped up to the plate so often, and he’s kept me in the sport and kept me jumping big classes, even when he shouldn’t have. I’d enter him in the HITS Million class, and he’d jump around and maybe pull one down, but on the day you can put him anywhere, indoors, outdoors. He’s not a superstar but he gives it 100 percent. Now, at 14, he’s jumping better than he has ever jumped.”
Babington added, “He just feels more elastic in his body for some reason. He’s more focused. He was a very difficult horse at the beginning; a very quirky horse. He’s still erratic and it’s still very hard to get his lead changes in the ring. But he’s trying to be careful. I don’t have to protect him as much as I used. He’s just in a happy place at the moment.”
With the addition of an international ranking through the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the Devon Horse Show has continued to try and improve the standards at the world-class event.
“I’ve always been a great fan of Devon,” noted Ward. “The team here has made it first class. I think becoming FEI 4*, increasing the prize money; I hope it continues to grow. I don’t think this group here will rest on their laurels. I think the goal will be to go to 5* and have even more money. I think the people will come. I think the riders will start to come.”
The Devon Horse Show is a special event for everyone involved, and consistently draws one of the biggest and most enthusiastic crowds in the world. “Devon is very special to me because I live 30 minutes from here,” noted Babington. “All the students are here tonight, people I helped 20 years ago are here tonight, so it’s definitely very special. It’s a fantastic venue and the footing is fantastic. Where else can you have such a crowd behind you than Devon? I tell all the other riders around: if you haven’t been to Devon it’s a show you have to come to!”
Show Manager Peter Doubleday concluded, “We basically tried to do everything that the riders had requested. We doubled the prize money. We went FEI. We truly believe that it’ll be a work in progress. I know with our group we can be very patient. We want to continue our FEI affiliation and to make it even bigger and better. This event to me and all these other riders will tell you that this is truly, truly the best show jumping audience in North America. We have a great product here and we’re heading in the right direction.”
Liza Boyd Wins the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Thursday was derby day at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, and in true derby queen fashion, Liza Boyd bested the field of 24 to take home the blue ribbon aboard Like I Said in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which was sponsored by the Wheeler Family in memory of the late Russell Frey.
In the first round, Nick Haness set the score to beat on Countdown, taking all four high options to finish with a score of 191. After the first round, Louise Serio was sitting pretty in second place aboard El Primero with a score of 187, which included the four bonus points for taking the high options.
Going into the handy round, Sandy Ferrell waited in third place on Meredith Lipke’s Fifty Shades with a score of 183, including an added four points for jumping the high options. Boyd sat in fourth aboard Billie Steffee’s Maggie May with a score of 181, also including an added four points for riding the high options.
Liza Boyd and Like I Said
Boyd and Pony Lane Farms’ Like I Said entered the handy hanging back in fifth place with a score of 178.5, which included four points for choosing the high options.
As the handy round began, it was clear that the Alan Lohman-designed course would dash the derby dreams of multiple riders, including Serio and El Primero’s, who were one of two entries to refuse the trot jump.
As Boyd returned on Like I Said, however, her tidy turns and forward ride caught the attention of the judges, earning her a whopping score of 213, including the added 9.5 points for handiness and four for choosing the high options. Much to father Jack Towell’s excitement, Boyd exited the ring and waited for the class to finish with a total score of 391.5.
“For me, I always like to be the underdog,” Boyd said. “I don’t mind going back a little low. These derbies are my passion. I absolutely love these, and I love the handy rounds. I love the excitement of it. Like I Said is a great mare. A good mare has a lot of desire, and that mare just dug deep and tried really hard for me. I just try to stay out of her way and just go forward. She’s a little bit like an old fashion hunter. I think she has a little bit more of a Thoroughbred-type of way of going.”
The 8-year-old Like I Said, one of only two mares in the class, actually began her career as a jumper under the tutelage of Kent Farrington. Boyd added that she thinks the mare’s strong base on the flat contributes greatly to her ability as a derby horse.
“Larry and Kelley did an amazing job producing her into a hunter in Florida this year,” Boyd commented. “For these derbies, you really have to do your homework and flat them. I think that’s what makes it exciting, at least for me. When I go home, I know what to work on. I do a lot of dressage lessons and flat work with the derby horses. You’re always trying to strive to improve yourself and your horse, and that’s fun for us as riders.”
Ferrell and Fifty Shades delivered a smooth ride as well, choosing to take three of the high options and impressing the judges to earn the duo and extra seven points for handiness for a final score of 379.
“He and I get along pretty well,” Ferrell said. “No one is quite sure how I stay on him because he jumps so high, but I just think it’s so much fun. I don’t even think about it. He gets a little too excited after the big jumps sometimes and loses a little focus, so that’s what I took into account when choosing to jump the low option at the first jump, because I had to turn tight. I took the safety route, which I lost some points on. I kept missing all week in the High Performance, and we put it together today, so that was really nice.”
Haness was the last entry to return aboard Countdown, and the pair laid down a nearly perfect trip as the crowd waited with baited breath. However, a heartbreaking knockdown at the last fence dashed the young professional’s hopes for the derby win.
Boyd and Like I Said’s high score of 391.5 would hold out for the top spot, leaving Ferrell and Fifty Shades in second with 379 points. Third place ended up going to Sloane Coles, who piloted Autumn Rhythm to a final score of 353.
“Today, I am second to the derby queen,” Ferrell laughed. “It’s like winning to me. It’s an honor to me. She is much more veteran at this than I am. She is one of my heroes. Getting beat by a good horse and a good rider is really ok. There is a lot of camaraderie out there. You have to have fun doing this.”
As the equestrian community grieves the loss of Russell Frey, Boyd added that the class being held in his memory made it very special for all of the riders.
“I think that Sandy [Ferrell] would say, as well, that this class being in memory of Russell [Frey] was special for everyone,” Boyd said. “I think he would’ve given us a run for our money today. We might be second and third right now. I think he would be happy.”
Ferrell added that showing at Devon this year has been such a pleasure and said, “I don’t come every year, but I thought that this year the horses as a whole jumped so beautifully and performed so well in all the classes.
“You had to win to win. I have never seen that many 90s in one horse show. You had two very veteran horsemen in there judging. It wasn’t people just throwing big numbers. They believed in what they saw. The horses, one after another, just kept coming in and being nicer and nicer. Kudos to the footing, the weather, the jumps and everyone behind the scenes.”
Amanda Murchison Wins the Robin Hill Challenge Trophy
Amanda Murchison has been waiting for the opportunity to compete at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair for nearly 30 years. On Thursday, she not only competed in the Dixon Oval, but she rode away with the Robin Hill Challenge Trophy and Devon blue ribbon in the Adult Three-Gaited English Show Pleasure class.
“It’s a dream come true to show in a place so historic, where so many amazing trainers have shown and so many horses have been exhibited,” Murchison said. “It’s such an honor.”
Murchison and her mount CH Spread the Word have been working together for about two years. In that time, the duo has claimed some of the highest honors in the discipline. Together, they’ve won the United Professional Horsemen’s Association American Saddlebred Adult Amateur Show Pleasure Horse of the Year and the Reserve World’s Champion of Champions Adult Three-Gaited Show Pleasure.
“I count my blessings every time I get to go through the gate on his back,” Murchison said about her horse. “He was a driving horse when we bought him, and my trainers David and Kristen Cater, and his caretaker Louise are so amazing. He’s been a dream come true for me.”
Unlike Murchison, Sallie-Mason Wheeler is no stranger to the Devon show grounds. The 14-year-old has been competing in the historic show for six years. In the Five-Gaited Saddle Horse Junior Exhibitor class, Wheeler took her chances aboard Bodidly and won.
“It’s my third show with him, and I just wanted to have a nice and clean go,” Wheeler said about the class. “It worked. Next time, in the championship, I have to show against the adults. So, I have to dig in a little bit more, but this ride was nice and clean. This show has a great atmosphere. You get to watch multiple disciplines, and I love it.”
A Devon veteran, who had never experienced the winner’s circle before, won the Park Horse Open blue ribbon. Emily Van Duren rode to her first victory aboard a new mount, My Royale Prince.
“I’ve shown here about six times,” Van Duren said. “It’s my favorite horse show ever. It’s pretty incredible to win here. I’ve always wanted to, ever since I was 11. It’s my first time winning here.”
Thursday marked the second day of competition for American Saddlebreds, Hackney ponies and Friesians at the 2016 Devon Horse Show. Coaching continued as well, with John White notching another victory in the division driving his White Road Coach Excelsior.
(C) ESI Photography. Kevin Babington and Mark Q take the $34,000 FEI Thursday Prix.
Ocala, Florida (February 12, 2015): Day two of international competition in the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium at HITS Ocala CSIO4* continued with the $34,000 FEI Thursday Prix, a qualifying opportunity for the $150,000 Ocala Grand Prix on Sunday, February 15. Excitement for the Friday’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ was in the air as Kevin Babington of the Irish Show Jumping Team, and Mark Q, co-owned with Deirdre Bourns, trumped the impressive list of entries, many of which will return as contenders in Friday’s main event.
Fifty-nine competitors jumped the Thursday Prix course of 15 efforts set at 1.50m, designed by Martin Otto of Muenster, Germany. Known speedster Pablo Barrios of Wellington, Florida aboard ZI Group Inc.’s Zara Leandra entered the ring 11th in the order blazing through clear with a time of 70.42 to move into first place. Barrios tipped his hat to the facility’s extraordinary footing for his quick round.
“I’m very pleased with the mare. I think it’s the best I’ve felt with her this year. She feels very comfortable on this footing,” said Barrios.
On top throughout the next 15 entries, Barrios was secure in first until 2014 Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix winning duo Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida and Quality Group’s Quality Girl took their chance at the win. Although clean, a slight hesitation at the last obstacle put Minikus just shy of Barrios with a time of 70.86.
Babington and his bay mount followed the top two and with the advantage of studying the thirty-four prior competitors, he knew his horse’s passion for galloping would play a starring role in the round.
“I looked at a lot of the fast riders at the beginning and thought ‘everybody is getting the same numbers in the regular lines’,” said Babington. “The only place you could really make it up was to take a shot on the long gallop on both ends of the rings.”
True to form, the pair sailed to a clean finish in a time of 69.44, one full second ahead of Barrios to steal the lead.
“I chickened out at the last jump and added a stride there. Pablo and Kevin were right on the pace so that was enough to put me in third,” said Minikus.
“The combination took a little bit of jumping and there were a good few places where you could gallop across the ring, which suited my horse. He’s an Irish Sport Horse, out of a Thoroughbred mare, so he likes those long gallops,” added Babington. “The footing felt super today and when I trotted in the ring, I felt like I was on springs. My horse absolutely loved it and jumped well off it.”
Babington will be one of four athletes representing Ireland as international competition continues at HITS Ocala CSIO4* for the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup, presented by Edge Brewing Barcelona, on Friday. Six nations will compete for $200,000 in prize money and a chance to qualify for the FEI Nations Cup Final in Barcelona later this year.
The starting order of teams for the Nations Cup, which was determined by a draw held in Ocala on February 10, will be as follows: Ireland, Mexico, USA, Venezuela, Colombia and Canada.
Wellington, FL – November 26, 2014 – Ireland’s Kevin Babington and Shorapur jumped to victory out of a competitive 74-horse field on Wednesday afternoon in the $34,000 opening FEI class at Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday & Horses CSI-W 2*. Competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, Babington and Shorapur topped a 17-horse jump-off over Andrew Welles (USA) and Boo van het Kastanjehof to take top honors.
Catsy Cruz of Mexico set the course for Wednesday’s class in the International Arena at PBIEC with a total of 19 competitors jumping clear over the first round course. Two entries opted out of the jump-off where ten went double clear. Babington and the nine-year-old Hanoverian mare Shorapur (Stakkato Gold x Drosselklang II) raced through the course in 40.73. Welles and Boo van het Kastanjehof finished second in 41.53 seconds. Finland’s Nina Fagerstrom and Notaris placed third with a time of 41.76 seconds.
Babington and Shorapur have had a fantastic season, including four major grand prix victories. The mare began the season with two second place finishes in WEF Challenge Cup classes during the 2014 Winter Equestrian Festival and has stepped up throughout the year.
“She was always a good horse. All the other riders will tell you that; everybody liked her,” Babington stated. “She just had to get experience. She is only nine, so she shouldn’t have been doing it before this anyway.”
Commenting on his incredibly fast round in the jump-off, Babington noted, “She is almost better when I don’t get in her way because she is so careful. Today’s first round she was a little fussy, and in the jump-off, she is almost a little more rideable when I don’t try to interfere with her too much.”
Welles held the lead before Babington took over and knew that Shorapur could be faster. “She has always been one of my favorite horses,” Welles remarked. “I was scared with him following me for sure. These two have been on fire all season.”
“Laura (Kraut) went right before me, and that is what I was watching going in the ring,” Welles added of his round. “I thought, ‘Okay, this is the round to beat.’ For sure there were a lot of fast riders coming behind me, but in my mind I was trying to see if I could slip by Laura by a margin, and I think she ended up sixth. I guess that is a testament to what the class turned out to be.”
“This was a fast class,” Babington agreed. “I didn’t actually get to see Andrew’s round, but I saw some others go. I saw the times, and he must have had an amazing round. Other than really trying to do one less stride from one to two, and I think Andrew and Ramiro (Quintana) were the only ones that actually pulled that off, everything else was just sort of an open gallop. Somebody had said walking up to the ring that there was a six to the last fence and thank God I saw the horse before me go because I said, ‘There is no way there is a six there.’ The way I met the triple bar, I would have attempted it, and I don’t think it would have been a good result.”
Speaking of Shorapur’s confident attitude, Babington smiled, “She is cocky. I think she knows when she has been good. She is very proud of herself.”
Babington and Shorapur will compete again under the lights in Saturday night’s $50,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix. The Holiday & Horses CSI-W 2* competition continues at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center through Sunday, November 30, 2014. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
Calgary, AB, Canada – July 13, 2014 – The ‘Pan American’ Tournament CSI 5* at Spruce Meadows concluded on Sunday with a fantastic win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Uceko in the $400,000 Pan American Cup presented by Rolex. The pair set an uncatchable pace in the jump-off that left McLain Ward (USA) and Rothchild to finish second. Egypt’s Sameh el Dahan and Suma’s Zorro concluded a great summer series with a third place finish.
International course designer Uliano Vezzani (ITA) set the track for the summer’s final grand prix with 33 entries and six to advance to the jump-off where four riders jumped double clear rounds over the short course. Farrington and RCG Farm’s Uceko were first to clear the jump-off course, and set the unbeatable pace of 35.33 seconds to win.
Sameh el Dahan and Suma’s Zorro, owned by el Dahan and Joanne Sloan-Allen, were next to jump clear in 37.29 seconds to earn third place honors. Next to go, Ward and Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild jumped into second in 36.66 seconds. Jumping last, Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Copin van de Broy were clear in 37.40 seconds to finish fourth.
With the winners share of $132,000, Farrington joined Spruce Meadows’ million dollar club for career earnings. In the jump-off, the rider hoped to be fastest, but knew the win was not certain with the riders that were still to follow.
“McLain has been beating me all week. I think he has won every class,” Farrington noted. “I hate sitting there and having to wait for him and the other riders to come after me. That’s not really my favorite thing. I would prefer to go last and know that it was over.”
Farrington’s finish was over one second faster than Ward this time, and Uceko got his second big win of the summer after nearly six months off from competition. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Celano x Koriander) never skipped a beat.
“I am thrilled with him. He took a long break,” Farrington stated. “He has always gone great here at Spruce Meadows and my plan all along was to build him up and jump him in the last grand prix. Last week he had a good win in the big class. He actually was ready to go a little bit sooner than what I thought. He feels great. He feels better than he even did last year, and I look forward to him for the rest of the summer as well.”
“I think like any partnership with a rider over time, I know the horse better, and he knows me better,” Farrington said of his relationship with Uceko. “I know his strengths and his weaknesses, which helps me strategize my jump-offs or even my first round plan. I think that over time you have better success, or more consistent success, with a horse as you know them better.”
Speaking about his strategy on Sunday, Farrington detailed, “I thought the courses this week have been excellent – very difficult. I thought the 1.50m yesterday was a real test as well. It was careful, but at the same time scopey. Today for the grand prix he wanted a few clear rounds so there would be a jump-off. I think if you asked him before the class, he would have told you he wanted six or seven clear, and that is exactly what he got.”
McLain Ward and Rothchild
With back to back wins this week, including a jump-off against Uceko on Friday, Ward went as fast as he could with Rothchild, but had to settle for second place today.
“Catching Kent is always difficult,” Ward admitted. “We have an ongoing battle that I think we both love and hate. I knew his horse had a bigger stride than mine did today. He got me with his stride last week in a big class, so I was a little bit concerned. My horse bucks a little bit, particularly when you try to go fast. He bucked after the China oxer and I didn’t get the vertical I wanted and ended up adding a stride to the last fence. For sure in the plan you would like those things to go a bit smoother and maybe it would have been a little bit closer. The horse performed great. I am certainly a little disappointed not to win, but this is a worthy victor and if I am going to lose to anybody, I would want to lose to him.”
“The last couple of years have been remarkable,” Ward said of Rothchild’s step to the next level. “He has always been a very good horse for me. We know each other very well. Kent spoke about how important the relationship is. I asked more of this horse in the last two years and not only has he handled it, but he is really starting to shine. I really enjoy this horse. I think he has a lot of heart and he gives me a lot, so I am going to try to continue it the same way.”
Sameh el Dahan was very happy to be in the company of two of the world’s top riders with his third place finish aboard Suma’s Zorro. The rider from Egypt moved to Europe three and a half years ago to further his career and has had a great season.
“This year especially, I have had so many wins and I could not be happier with a good finish to the tour,” el Dahan stated. “I had a good summer season here. My horses jumped fantastic the whole time.”
“This mare I have ridden since she was seven and we have kind of grown up together,” the rider said of Suma’s Zorro. “We at Sycamore Stables normally don’t push our young ones so much, so she didn’t do a lot as a seven and eight-year-old, and then last year we pushed her a little more as a nine-year-old.”
“Since last week she has been jumping the bigger tracks and she has always been in the prize givings,” el Dahan said. “She has a heart of gold and she is all that you can ask for in a horse – lots of heart, very careful, and always fights for you. She fights at every fence. I am very happy to have her.”
Course designer Uliano Vezzani had a great week building courses at Spruce Meadows for the first time, and concluded his time, declaring, “Fantastic results, fantastic riders. This is my first experience at Spruce Meadows and the arena and the fences are all tops. I am very happy.”
Wrapping up a wonderful summer series, Farrington summed things up nicely.
“I just want to say on behalf of all the riders, a special thank you to the Southern Family and Spruce Meadows, and to Rolex,” he acknowledged. “It really brings the sport here in North America to a new level and it helps us stay on par with the best riders in the world. I think that this really is one of the best tournaments in the world.”
Kevin Babington and Goodwins Loyalty
Kevin Babington and Goodwins Loyalty Land a Derby Win
The $33,500 Friends of the Meadows Cup 1.45m Derby was held in the All Canada Ring in the morning with a win for Ireland’s Kevin Babington aboard Goodwins Loyalty. Twenty-eight entries jumped the track set by USA’s Anthony D’Ambrosio with ten clear trips in the one round competition. Babington and the ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (OBOS Quality 004 x Candle King) jumped the fastest clear round in 105.94 seconds.
Nick Dello Joio (USA) and Nathalie de Gunzburg’s Fiego van de Zonnenweide stopped the clock in 109.28 seconds for a second place finish. Will Simpson (USA) and Monarch International’s Axl-Rose finished a close third in 109.90 seconds.
Sunday’s win marked Babington’s first victory at Spruce Meadows. This year was his first time competing at the summer series, and he had a fantastic time riding in the last three weeks of competition, concluding with a great finish on Goodwins Loyalty. The mare was sent from England last year for Babington to sell, but had a setback with an injury. She is now getting back into top form and showing a lot of quality.
“I had her jumping really well up until the summer last year and then she had a sprain behind,” Babington explained. “I ended up giving her the whole winter off. I just didn’t think I would have her quite up and running for Florida, so she ended up having a good break. Maybe even longer than planned, but it worked out. The first two weeks here I was really working on her fitness. I would have loved to have done the big derby last week, but I didn’t feel like she was quite up to it, so this was a nice way to finish the circuit up here. I feel like she’s up and ready to go for the rest of the summer.”
Goodwins Loyalty has had some derby experience previously jumping at the famous Hickstead Derby with Irish rider David Simpson. She was also ridden by Shane Breen of Ireland. For Babington, the challenging obstacles of the derby take him back to his earlier days as a rider.
“I was an event rider before I got into show jumping,” Babington explained. “I really only got into show jumping sort of halfway serious at 18. I did a little bit of steeple chasing too, so I’m well used to galloping.”
That experience played to his advantage on course along with his horse’s scope and speed on Sunday.
“She has a nice big stride,” Babington stated. “When I walked the course, I just thought I could take advantage of staying in a nice rhythm and not chasing her. I was able to do one less stride from jumps one to two. I thought if I could stay on that rhythm it might work out, and it did.”
Sunday’s competition concluded Spruce Meadows’ Summer Series. The world’s top international riders return September 10-14 for the ‘Masters’ Tournament CSIO 5*. For more information and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.
CULPEPER, VA (April 22, 2014) – Nothing could stop Kevin Babington at the Commonwealth National in Culpeper, Virginia this weekend. He kicked off a win streak with a blue ribbon on Friday in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Jumper Prix with his 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Mark Q before piloting Shorapur, LLC’s Shorapur to the top spot in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, on Sunday.
Babington was one of nine to advance to the jump-off over a course designed by Danny foster of Milton, Ontario. The first round course offered 14 obstacles and 17 jumping effort, including a double and triple combination.
“When I walked the course I never thought that we would have that many clear, but it turned out to be just right,” said Babington. “There were rails down everywhere, which is always the sign of a good design – it was technical enough for the experienced horses, but not too much for the young ones.”
From an original field of 24, Babington went last and capped the jump-off after eight had gone clear before him. The lead changed three times in the jump-off with Thaisa Erwin setting the Great American Time to Beat at 49.98 seconds from the second spot aboard her own Matilda. Three trips later, Frances Land of Alpharetta, Georgia jumped her own Vieanne to a time of 41.91 seconds, to sit first. Jaclyn Duff of Edmonton, Alberta was clear with her own Stakkarus, but her time of 46.57 seconds was nearly five seconds off the lead.
Babington returned last with nothing, other than the clock, standing between him and the win. After a blistering time of 40.29 seconds, Babington and his nine-year-old Hanoverian mare took the blue. Land finished second, Duff third and Erwin fourth. Leann Kelly of Valatie, New York capped the top five as the fastest of the four-fault rides in the irons of Honorway Farm, LLC’s Leander.
Despite Shorapur coming to Babington as a sale horse, he knew the mare had talent from the very beginning. “She is the best horse I have ever had and I made room for her to stay with me and now compete her myself,” he said. “I have really high expectations for her.”
Of those expectations, the most notable include competing in Europe next year, World Cup Finals and hopefully carrying Babington to the Olympic Team for his native Ireland.
A whole new look Rider, trainers and owners alike were met with a new and improved Commonwealth Park when they arrived at HITS Culpeper last week. Months of work led to the unveiling of a laundry list of facility upgrades, including five new MDBarnmaster Barns boasting 520 permanent stalls. Updated tent pads also made an appearance for an upgrade to tent stalls. The makeover didn’t stop with stabling – footing to match the Grand Prix Ring now fills six competition rings as well as all the schooling areas.
“My main focus is always footing and I was very impressed,” said Babington. “I have always been pleased with the Grand Prix Ring footing in Culpeper, and now there is good ground in both the ring and the schooling area.”
Other permanent facility renovations at Commonwealth Park will continue to take place during the coming months with an overall goal to provide both horses and the people they are surrounded by with the safest, most enjoyable environment possible.
Babington admits that while he planned Culpeper as part of his schedule as a convenient means to keep his horses fit after a winter in Florida, he was also eager to see the improvements to the facility. “From great footing to huge stalls, our four-hour drive was well worth the effort. The place looks great and the horses are happy,” he said.
The Commonwealth National was the first week of spring and summer showing for HITS on the East Coast and will continue at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York with HITS-on-the-Hudson I, II and III, May 21 – June 2. Grand prix offerings at both HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties throughout the season will serve as qualifying opportunities for the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix, which is the final jewel in the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping and will take place during the HITS Championship September 3-7 at HITS Saugerties.
About Zoetis Building on 60 years of experience as Pfizer Animal Health, Zoetis delivers quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostics products and genetics tests and supported by a range of services. They work every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant. Zoetis produces a comprehensive range of safe and effective products, including equine vaccines, dewormers and sedative analgesics, to help professionals and individual horse owners keep their animals healthy. Both veterinarians and horse owners know and trust the Zoetis will help their horses live longer, healthier lives.
$10,000 Bayer’s Legend Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic Before a top-ten finish in Sunday’s grand prix, Melissa Rudershausen of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania claimed victory in the $10,000 Bayer’s Legend Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic. She jumped her own Charmeur Ask to the win over a competitive field to continue East Coast qualifying for September’s HITS Championship.
Jay Land of Alpharetta Georgia was second aboard his own Nepal while Alexa Lowe-Wiseman of Upperville, Virginia capped the top five with Windsor Farm Sales’ Ami du Houssoit. Tamara Morse of Bristow, Virginia finished fourth on her own Heads Up 3E and Laurence Addison of Lorraine, Quebec capped the top five with his own C-Tje.
All high junior/amateur-owner jumper classics at HITS Culpeper are qualifiers for the Bayer’s Legend (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, enticing riders to head to Saugerties this fall for the HITS Championship at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. For more information on the Bayer’s Legend $250,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix, visit HitsShows.com.
About Bayer Animal Health Bayer Animal Health is amongst worldwide leaders in animal health. Bayer has attained this leadership position by continuously researching and developing products for animal health since 1919. A responsible relationship between humans, companion animals and livestock requires ensuring the health of animals. For more information on Bayer Animal Health, visit bayer.com.
Kevin Babington and Shorapur. Photos by: Kendall Bierer.
Wellington, FL – January 15, 2014 – Torrents of rain and claps of thunder welcomed riders to the fields of the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) early this morning. However menacing, the inclement weather did not deter the field of 30 riders from entering into a heated battle in today’s 1.30-1.35m Ridge at Wellington Turf Tour.
Kevin Babington and Shorapur returned to the second week of competition with their sights set on victory, tackling the track to set the pace as the day’s pathfinder and eventual frontrunners. Sarah Segal and Zelda were the winners of the second class, completing the course in a speedy 34.739 seconds, proving untouchable.
It seemed as though Babington would take the win during last week’s commencement of the Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour, but Kama Godek narrowly pushed them from the pinnacle of the ranks, leaving him with the second place. Today, he guided Shorapur, owned by Shorapur LLC, through the Eric Hasbrouck designed track, leaving all rails in place and moving into the jump off. They kept a smooth even rhythm throughout the course, covering the ground with ease. The timers stopped at 37.557 seconds, leaving the other contenders to chase their blazing time.
“I wanted to work on getting her to carry herself, and really work on carrying a good rhythm. I wasn’t trying to set an unbeatable pace, but the jumps kept coming up on every turn. It worked really well,” Babington said. “She was good last week, but she was even better this week. She needs to stay relaxed out there. She is very careful and brave. Sometimes she can get ahead of herself, but today she kept her balance, and I was quite happy with that. I can’t wait to see how she does this Friday.”
Although Schuyler Riley and Andretti, owned by South Beach Stables, gave a valiant effort, their time of 38.935 seconds wasn’t enough to catch the Irishman today, earning the pair a red ribbon. Riley also snatched up the third place award with Dobra De Porceyo for their double-clear effort completed in 41.925 seconds. Ansgar Holtgers and Cocomello rode to the fourth place, while Babington cleared the course aboard his second mount Baloucat for the fifth. Brian Walker and Chico’s Bandita rounded out the top six.
“I was pretty excited about the venue today; the footing was fantastic,” Babington expressed. “It was such a great setting there [IPC]. Considering all the rain we had last night, I thought the footing held up extremely well. I was very, very pleased with my horse.”
Sarah Segal and Zelda
Young talent Sarah Segal dominated the second class of the day, and as no stranger to the Ridge at Wellington events, she rode to the top with effortlessness aboard Zelda, owned by Lowell and Robi Kabnick. Although Segal was one of the riders to take on the course later in the day, her strategy proved well worth the wait. Zelda’s large stride and accuracy over the fences took the duo into the lead with a double clear round in a mere 34.739 seconds. It proved to be a time no one could come within a second of.
“She is actually a more recent horse. We have had her for a little over six months, and she is 10 years old. She is in some ways very experienced, because she consistently showed in 1.10-1.15m classes. Until we got her she hadn’t jumped any bigger than that,” Segal explained. “We started playing with her, and the bigger the jumps get, the better she jumps. She just started doing the 1.35m and 1.40m, and she has been doing it very easily. She is really competitive, really careful and a really, really game horse in the ring. She is always looking for the next jump. She is a really exciting horse.”
Mattias Tromp, the last rider of the day, had onlookers on the edge of their seats as he prepared to challenge Segal’s time. Cassius Von Nymphenburg, owned by Bayaert Farm Inc., responded easily to Tromp’s commands as they sliced turns and shaved seconds. It was Segal who still arose as the victor, with Tromp’s time of 35.509 seconds unable to better the pair.
Segal continued, “She has a huge stride, and she is very scopey. She is just incredibly honest and tries really hard. You know that you can spin her back and turn her, and she is always going to be there for you. I thought the course was really, really nice over there, and I was amazed by the footing. It was perfectly dry. I showed in the classes last year, and it is so nice to be able to go to different venues.”
Segal also picked up the third place award with veteran partner Tilghman, owned by Horatio St. Ventures, while Sarah Wayda and Spargel finished fourth. Gemma Paternoster and Figarro D, owned by Julia Harrison Lee, took the fifth place, and Schuyler Riley and Q-7, owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales, rode to the sixth place.
The course opened at 8 a.m. and remained open until 4:30 p.m., allowing competitors ample time to come at their convenience to ride and enjoy the ambiance of IPC. The $175,000 1.40m Invitational Grand Prix event will return to IPC this Friday for the $15,000 1.40m Ridge at Wellington Invitational Grand Prix. The 10-week series will culminate with the $24,750 Wellington Turf Tour Invitational Grand Prix Finale on Saturday, March 22, 2014.
“It seemed like such a great idea to open our field to show jumping. I felt that we have the land; we have the access, and we want to do anything to help the equestrian industry. We are a polo club, but we want to be able to support all of the disciplines,” IPC President of Club Operations John Wash described. “After seeing this, I would like to expand this, and hopefully help to grow this in the future.”
Show Net captured all of today’s action at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, while also providing live scoring for the Ridge Winter Tour II. All recorded rounds and results are available at: www.shownet.biz.
Meadowbrook Horse Transport will provide transportation to and from the horse show and other locations throughout Wellington for both the Wednesday and Friday events. The transportation is a nominal fee of $50 per horse, and will be calculated into the final show fees. To make a reservation for one of the three pickup times: 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. please call Peter Tufano of Meadowbrook Horse Transport at (954) 415-7217, or call Nona Garson at (908) 500-0996.
The 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.
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
Jane, Laura, George and Laura Jane Tidball competed in the Family Extravaganza Equitation Class in 2011. Photo Courtesy of Thunderbird Show Park
Wellington, Florida – JustWorld International’s newest initiative, the ‘Adopt a Project’ campaign, is continuing to gain momentum with Irish Olympian Kevin Babington and Canada’s Thunderbird Show Park each adopting projects. JustWorld International is a not-for-profit humanitarian organization, which works as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping impoverished children.
Officially launched on June 4, the ‘Adopt a Project’ campaign is aimed at making it even easier for supporters to get involved and choose exactly which programs they would like their donations to fund. The ‘Adopt a Project’ campaign identifies opportunities to support specific education, nutrition, health and hygiene, and leadership and cultural development programs. Donors can ‘adopt’ specific programs at JustWorld’s project sites in Brazil, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Honduras. The new campaign is a great opportunity for individuals, groups and businesses to get involved and help to provide critical operational support to JustWorld International.
CULPEPER, VA (July 11, 2011) — With all new footing in the Grand Prix ring and beautiful weather, the $40,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia, was well suited to highlight the Showday National. Kevin Babington of Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, could not have asked for much more, as he captured the first place honors aboard his own Mark Q.
Sunday’s course was designed by Jerry Dougherty of Bokeelia, Florida. Four riders went clean, including standout junior and Grand Prix newcomer Hasbrouck Donovan of Gainesville, Florida. Donovan went third in the order, posting her clear round early aboard her own Delilah. Babington showed sixth in the order and earned the second clear round of the class to secure a jump-off.
“I thought it was a great class,” said Babington. “I really enjoyed this show. Today’s class had a nice turnout, and the new footing was fantastic. We had some rain earlier in the week that gave it a good test and it passed with flying colors.”
Babington, like so many others, has circled the Pfizer Million on his calendar this year. “The Pfizer Million is one of my main goals this year since it’s such a great opportunity to jump for that much prize money. This is a new horse that I didn’t realize would be such a strong contender for the Million but I think we’ll be ready.”
Babington plans to return to HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties to help cement his spot in the Pfizer Million lineup. “I will be in Saugerties for three weeks and will hopefully get six qualifiers in then,” he said. “This was my third one so I should be in good shape after Saugerties.”
