(C) ESI Photography. Anika Pirkle and Just a Dream.
OCALA, Florida (March 14, 2015): Under the lights of the Ocala Horse Properties Grand Prix Stadium, 12-year-old Anika Pirkle from Carmel, Indiana impressed the crowd as she zoomed to the win in the $25,000 Marshall & Sterling Team Barber Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic with her off-the-track Thoroughbred, Just a Dream. In a time of 32.808, they were a full three seconds faster than the 21 others who jumped off, besting a total of 67 competitors from the first round.
With the help of trainer David Dorner, Pirkle and Just a Dream have a remarkable record behind them and a bright future ahead. Their win at HITS Ocala ranks with the likes of a her double Gold finish at the USHJA North Regional Children’s Individual and Team Championship at HITS Saugerties in 2014.
“We came up with a plan and we stuck to it. The first round was very challenging, especially in the middle,” said Pirkle. “The diagonal line was a sit-up seven from the Vetera Vaccines oxer to the combination, which was a kicking one. Then a sit-up three to another oxer – we decided to kick for six and it worked.”
In the jump-off, Pirkle’s competition was hungry for a win with many riders galloping and turning as fast as they could in pursuit of the blue ribbon and only nine jumped clear as a result.
Jennifer Brennan, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, and Shannondell Farm’s Spalding were second to go in the jump-off and appeared to have the class in the bag. Brennan, aboard the same giant grey she won the $7,500 Marshall & Sterling/Tuffrider – Equine Couture Adult Jumper Classic during HITS Ocala Week III, clocked in at 35.807.
“I thought I had it,” said Brennan. “His stride is so big and he turned great.”
Brennan held the top spot until Pirkle entered the ring sixteenth and took the lead for a first place finish in a time of 32.808.
“In the jump-off we planned to do eight up the first line, then crank the turn as hard as we could and finish the last line in seven,” added Pirkle.
Third place went to Ashton Alexander of Ocala, Florida, on Naturel, owned by Artisan Farms, LLC, with a time of 35.836. Victoria Weaver of Ottawa, Canada turned in a time of 36.214 on Kandor Farm LLC’s Saba Du Reverdy for fourth place, followed by Papillon Peanut, owned by Mr. & Mrs. John Bartko, ridden by Wendy Libert of Hughesville, Maryland, with a time of 36.475 for fifth place.
Manuel Esparza of Mexico designed the course.
Robert Lee and Acrobat Victorious in $25,000 U-Dump Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic High
OCALA, Florida (March 14, 2015):The Ocala Horse Properties Stadium was the epicenter of big money classes on Saturday afternoon and Robert Lee from Old Saybrook, Connecticut, with Brook Run Farm LLC’s Acrobat, was the star of the show. Boasting one of only two clear rounds in the jump-off, Lee sailed through the course securing the top spot in the $25,000 U-Dump High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic High, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines, in a time of 43.121.
Twenty-eight competed over Manuel Esparza’s first round course with just seven clear to move on to the jump-off. First over the abbreviated course was the only junior rider in the field, Hunter Holloway of Topeka, Kansas aboard Any Given Sunday, owned by Hays Investment Corporation. Holloway had four faults at the combination, finishing with a time of 41.348, which was the fastest four fault round, earning her third place.
A short turn to the final Brook Ledge oxer was problematic for the two riders who followed Holloway, but Kady Abrahamson of Loveland, Ohio and Quick Blue Z, owned by Abrahamson Equestrian LLC, solved that issue with an extra step and went clear in a time of 45.433 for the lead.
“I know my horse is scopey, so I was confident that he would clear the back rail of the final oxer even if I got deep,” said Abrahamson. “He’s a good horse for me.”
Lee was next to challenge Abrahamson and appeared to have no trouble clearing the course, slicing through the turns for the win in a time of 43.121. Two more attempted the jump-off course but finished with multiple faults leaving Lee and Abrahamson at the top of the leaderboard with the only double clears of the day.
“As crazy as he is, he kind of rides like a hunter. I take my spurs off and just put my hands forward and kick,” said Lee of his bay mount.
Later that day, Lee proved to do equally as well on his hunter, El Grecco, winning the $50,000 East Meets West Hunter Challenge.
Morgan Ward and Orberose du Gord Win $10,000 Junior Jumper Classic Medium
OCALA, Florida (March 14, 2015): After a two horse head-to-head jump-off, Morgan Ward of Milford, New Jersey claimed the $10,000 Junior Jumper Classic Medium win aboard Redfield Farm’s Orberose du Gord. Ward secured her top spot in a swift 41.678 seconds after besting familiar faces and newcomers to Medium classes.
“It was a little dicey until the last jump,” said Ward, who in addition to a check for $2,800, received a personalized belt buckle donated by Montana Silversmiths, a novelty ribbon and special cooler.
Second place went to 16-year-old Cooper Dean of Fayette, Alabama, riding WEC Quidam-Quidam, owned by William Upton. The only other contender to go clear in the first round, Dean had four faults in the jump-off and a time of 39.667.
“I just stepped up to the Mediums in Week IV,” said Dean. “I went deep to the Vetera oxer off the short turn, then had to move up to get to the combination and caught a rail jumping in.”
Kyle Regenye of Flemington, New Jersey rode Camelot, owned by KR Horse Sales LLC, to a clear round one, but clocked in at 84.559, just one second over the time allowed for a third place finish. In addition to the blue ribbon, Ward took home fourth place with his own Conquillas after four first round faults and a time of 80.76. Fifth place went to Jordyn Friedman and her own Chiquita who finished with the first round with a total of five faults in a time of 84.656.
Callie Smith and Upstaire Top the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic Medium
OCALA, Florida (March 14, 2015): Competing over the same field of play as the juniors, 42 entries contested the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic Medium and 14 jumped clear in the first round setting the stage for an exciting jump-off. Callie Smith of Bernardsville, New Jersey and Upstaire, owned by Smithfield Farm LLC, sped to the finish, crossing the timers three seconds faster than her closest competitor in a time of 36.012.
“She’s on a fast, competitive horse and she’s riding well,” said Smith’s trainer Devin Ryan. “She’s racked up a lot of wins here at HITS Ocala.”
“My horse is pretty fast and he likes to win,” added Smith. “Since there were so many to go after me, I took a shot and did the nine to the nine. I was a little deep to the Vetera oxer but stayed aggressive and still got the nine to the combination to save time.”
The first of five horses that managed to finish clear in the jump-off was Elisa Uribe Gutierrez of Ocala, Florida aboard her own Havana de la Lande. Although Gutierrez set the time to beat at 44.732, her reign at the top was short-lived. Two horses later Katie Tyler from Old Lyme, Connecticut and her Seattle 6 finished in a time of 39.080 to temporarily take the lead and ultimately bumping Gutierrez to fourth place.
Alexa Lowe-Wiseman, of Upperville, Virginia, riding Ami du Hossoit, owned by Windsor Farm Sales, was next to go clear but not fast enough finishing in 41.255 for third place.
Next to go clear were Smith and Upstaire who left out a stride in the opening line, did a remarkable rollback to the Vetera oxer and made nine strides to the combination. With her fast finish, Smith moved up the leaderboard for the win in a time of 36.012.
Melissa Rudershausen from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and her own Ugolin du Mont went clean in a conservative 45.505 to round out the top five.
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