Tag Archives: Ashley Vogel

Darragh Kenny and Chic Chic Win $37k Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5*

Darragh Kenny and Chic Chic. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 9, 2022 – The third out of four internationally rated five-star weeks at the 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) brought back some of the world’s best riders to the International Arena on Wednesday, March 9. Wednesday’s competition culminated in the $37,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45m CSI5* where Ireland’s Darragh Kenny rose to the top aboard Chic Chic.

Top course designer Alan Wade (IRL) set up a power-and-speed track worthy of its 62 opponents as the premier event of the day. The task proved difficult for many, and only 18 managed to navigate fault-free. Of the 18 nations represented in the event, representatives from seven countries earned a clear round while 14 riders suffered from a disobedience or downed obstacle. The Irish dominated the day with Kenny blazing the trail and fellow citizen Mark McAuley taking up second with O’Hara ELS. Kenny went early in the class but proved he still has a knack for speed, holding himself nearly a second shy of any further competitors with a top time of 32.69 seconds. McAuley gave it his best shot but stopped the clock in 33.36 seconds which promoted him to second place with LT Competition’s 10-year-old CH mare by Ogano Sitte x Liandero.

Brazil had a top showing today as Eduardo Pereira De Menezes and Rodrigo Pessoa secured the third and fourth positions. Menezes jumped into third with H5 Sport Horses LLC’s 10-year-old KWPN stallion H. Big Action (Action-Breaker x Big Star) after narrowly missing McAuley with a finishing time of 33.79 seconds. Pessoa followed closely aboard the Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC’s Venice Beach in a time of 33.93 seconds to just miss the victory gallop.

Ashley Vogel and Lucy in the Sky Fly to Finish First in $6,000 Corro 1.40m CSI2*

The $6,000 Corro 1.40m CSI2* kicked off the international competition for the week. A total of 64 horse-and-rider pairings stepped forth to challenge Wade’s first track of the week with roughly one-third of the entries managing to successfully navigate the entire course fault-free. As the final horse passed through the timers, Ashley Vogel’s (USA) time of 31.35 seconds aboard Lucy in the Sky stayed good enough for the win.

Fellow U.S. rider Rebecca Conway landed mere milliseconds behind Vogel to secure the second place position with Jersey Girl. She and the Blue Hill Farm LLC’s 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Careful x Turban Rose) ticked in a time of 31.61 seconds to follow Vogel in the victory lap. Hector Florentino Roca (DOM) rounded out the top three as the final competitor to finish under 32 seconds. He piloted Wyndmont’s 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding MeadowVale Cruise (Creevagh Ferro x Cruising) through a clean round with a time of 31.99 seconds.

Jos Verlooy’s (BEL) week was off to a winning start as the athlete took both the first- and second-place honors in the $1,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m CSI5*. Out of the 40 combinations, Verlooy left no room for a possible takeover as he rode to the top spot with Eurohorse BVBA’s FTS Killossery Konfusion in 30.63 seconds, and then proceeded to secure the runner-up spot as well aboard Nyjerc Z in 30.77 seconds.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Daniel Deusser Dominates $75k Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round VII CSI5*

Daniel Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – February 24, 2022 – The seventh week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), sponsored by Lugano Diamonds, featured international five-star and two-star jumper competition on Thursday, February 24, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Thursday’s highlight was the $75,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round VII CSI5* which was won by Daniel Deusser (GER) and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z.

Fifty-seven of the world’s elite show jumping combinations set out to contest Anthony D’Ambrosio’s (USA) first-round track in hopes that they would qualify for the jump-off and subsequently, the $406,000 Lugano Diamonds Grand Prix CSI5* on Saturday, February 26, at 7 p.m. Of the 18 nations represented in the opening field, only 10 combinations from six of those countries landed a spot for the short track. That field then went from 10 to nine returning as Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) made the decision to save his jumps for another day.

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam led off the return field and immediately put out a challenge to the remaining riders as he and Alejandro, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, Spy Coast, and Seabrook, produced another clean round in 38.25 seconds. Always an exciting pair in a jump-off, Deusser and Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z entered third and overthrew Sweetnam by clocking in almost a second faster at 37.42 seconds. Those following put forward their best efforts but as the final horse stopped the clock, it was obvious Deusser and the 14-year-old Zangersheide stallion (Otangelo x Mr Blue) gelding had succeeded.

Ashley Vogel Victorious in $6,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.45m CSI2*

The International Arena welcomed 23 horse-and rider-combinations on Thursday morning to navigate a course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) for the $6,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic 1.45m CSI2*.

With blue skies above, it was Ashley Vogel aboard Lucy In The Sky who donned the blue sash with a time of 62.65 seconds in the speed class as the fastest of seven clear rounds.

Already showing success at higher levels, Vogel intends to continue their partnership going forward. “In the last year and a half, I’ve gotten a lot of results on her, some speed classes and things, and now I’m starting to step up into some of the FEI classes and she’s really excelling,” she said. “I believe I’ll be doing some more speeds throughout circuit though, some 1.40m classes, some 1.45m, and hopefully we’ll see some more results and mileage for both of us, so I’m really excited for that.”

The second-place ribbon went to Quentin Judge (USA) riding HH Qualido owned by Double H Farm with a time of 63.01 seconds, and Maria Costa (USA) rounded out the top three on her own Iceman B SFN with a time of 66.58 seconds.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Kenny Notches Second Win of WEF 10 in $137,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI3*

Darragh Kenny (IRL) and Great-Tikila J © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – March 21, 2021 – On the final day of the tenth week of the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), Darragh Kenny (IRL) picked up his second win of the week, riding Great-Tikila J, owned by Whiterock Farm and HKC Collection, to capture the $137,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI3* as competition wrapped up on Sunday, March 21, in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).

Of the 45 entries in the starting order, a total of 10 pairs mastered the handiwork of Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) to punch their ticket into the second round. Of those 10, Mimi Gochman (USA) was the first to put in a double-clear round aboard Gigi’s Girl BH, owned by Gochman Sport Horses, LLC, to move into the lead.

“I went super early [in the order], so I just really wanted to have a nice round,” explained Gochman in reference to her plan for the jump-off. “I was trying to go for it a little bit, but I didn’t want to make any big mistakes or make her unconfident in me because it was my first three-star grand prix, and I really just wanted to go double clear.”

Gochman, who picked up a win earlier in the day in the Hermès U25 Series Final, guided the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Vingino x Celano across the track in a time of 41.38 seconds.

Mimi Gochman and Celina BH Best the Field in the $50,000 Hermès Under 25 Series Final; Vogel Wins Overall Title

In the culmination of a season-long series, it was Mimi Gochman (USA) and Celina BH, owned by Gochman Sport Horses, LLC, who prevailed in the $50,000 Hermès Under 25 Final CSI3* on Sunday afternoon in the International Arena.

Riders were faced with a technical track built by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) with 29 competitors in the starting order. A total of eight horse-and-rider combinations qualified to return for the jump-off representing four different countries: Belgium, Greece, Great Britain, and the United States.

The standard was set for the rest of the field as the first two pairs to return, Zoe Conter (BEL) and Caitlyn Connors (USA), both posted double clear efforts and jumped into a tie for the early lead in a time of 38.69 seconds. Third to return in the subsequent round, Natalie Dean (USA) and Dotcom D’Authuit, owned by Marigold Sporthorses, LLC, followed up with their own double-clear effort. Dean and the eight-year-old mare by Diamant De Semilly x Quidam De Revel solidified what would ultimately be a third-place finish in a time of 37.67 seconds.

Just two riders after that, series leader Ashley Vogel (USA) and her own Bellissimo Z, a 12-year-old Zangersheide mare by Bamako de Muze x Chin Chin, found a way to shave time off the clock, with their own double-clear effort in 36.60 seconds to take over top spot.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Over $1 Million Distributed to Local Non-Profit Orgs. at the 12th Annual Great Charity Challenge

Shane Sweetnam and Heart on Fire ©Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – February 6, 2021 – HOPE: one word, four letters and so much more. For 46 Palm Beach County Charities, the feeling of hope shifted into a reality on Saturday, February 6, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). What is usually the biggest night of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® (GCC) pivoted to a blend of in-person competition for riders and virtual celebration for charities and supporters. Those supporters cheered as equestrians and their mounts, representing local non-profit organizations, competed for a share of more than $1 million in prize money.

Held at PBIEC in Wellington, Palm Beach County, Florida the past 12 years, the GCC has become a highlight of the winter season and has distributed a stunning $15,928,227.66 to 276 local non-profit organizations.

Determined to show the power of united communities, the GCC is an exciting show jumping event that combines equestrian sports and philanthropy, bringing hope to Palm Beach County charities every year. Three riders made up the top team of the night out of 23 pro-am combinations, which are paired with randomly selected Palm Beach County charities. Each team was made up of junior and amateur riders competing side-by-side with top professionals, including Olympians.

In addition to the 23 charities that were part of the GCC competition, an additional 24 non-profits received funding through grants that were awarded leading up to the event. For a full list of benefiting non-profit organizations, we invite you to visit: www.GreatCharityChallenge.com.

“Seeing the level of need in our community and knowing how difficult the past year has been, we quickly realized that we couldn’t turn our backs on our most vulnerable neighbors,” said GCC co-founder Mark Bellissimo. “We are truly grateful to see that the community was able to adapt to this format while stepping up to provide crucial funding to local organizations.”

A moment of silence at the beginning of the event paid recognition to all of the friends of GCC we lost and those who we lost to the pandemic in the past year.

Following a year of uncertainties and challenges, the GCC featured riders dressed up in costumes and horses adorned to match them, paying recognition to the #Heroes who stepped up during the pandemic as well as those who have inspired us to push beyond our own limits and driven us to “dream bigger.”

The winning team of riders – Lindsey Tomeu riding Bonapart, Ashley Vogel on Lucy in the Sky, and Shane Sweetnam aboard Heart on Fire – sponsored by team sponsor Spy Coast and Preston and corporate sponsor Diamante Dressage, came in the ring representing the United States Army as their heroes and finished with a time of 91.664 seconds. Their strategy and teamwork paid off for their assigned charity YWCA of Palm Beach County, a local non-profit organization that is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all, earning them the top prize of $100,000. The sliding scale for the balance of the proceeds, down to 22nd place winning a minimum of $15,000, ensured that everyone was a winner.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Ben Maher and Tic Tac Claim Victory in $137,000 Restylane Grand Prix CSI3*

Ben Maher and Tic Tac. © Sportfot.

Wellington, FL – It was a thrilling finish for the final day of the second week of FEI competition at the 2021 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) as Olympic team gold medalist Ben Maher (GBR) and the 18-year-old stallion Tic Tac, owned by Jane Forbes Clark, edged the competition by just one one-hundredth of a second to take top honors in the $137,000 Restylane Grand Prix CSI3* on Sunday, January 24.

On the derby field at Equestrian Village, a total of 42 entries entered the ring to tackle the course designed by Oscar Soberon (USA) with 12 qualifying to return for the jump-off. Maher executed the track flawlessly aboard the SBS stallion by Clinton x Panama Du Seigneur, leaving all eight obstacles in their cups to secure the win in a blistering time of 43.56 seconds, just one one-hundredth of a second ahead of Canada’s Eric Lamaze.

Ashley Vogel Marks Another Win in the $25,000 FEI Hermès U25 Grand Prix

The U25 riders took to the Derby Field at Equestrian Village on Sunday afternoon to contest the first $25,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix, and the class of 55 welcomed 10 back for the jump-off on the Oscar Soberon-designed course. The U25 Series will return for WEF 4 with the $25,000 Hermès U25 Grand Prix Series Team Event.

Notching their second U25 victory of the week, Ashley Vogel (USA) and her 2009 Zangersheide mare Bellissimo Z (Bamako de Muze x C’est Elle Z) flew through the jump-off timers in 39.10 seconds, solidifying the blue ribbon during their first week ever competing on the Derby Field.

Trailing just behind the duo was Lucy Deslauriers (USA) aboard the Luja LLC’s 2011 Selle Francais gelding Billy de Beaufor (Allegreto x HH Rosine De Beaufor), finishing with 39.43 seconds on the clock. Third place went to the USA’s Tanner Korotkin and Deauville S, a 2006 Holsteiner gelding (Diamante de Semilly x Touch of Class) owned by Castlewood Farm Inc., who concluded their jump-off in 40.56 seconds.

Mark Bluman and Noortje Vd Windheuvel Victorious in the $30,000 CP Grand Prix

It was a day of firsts for Mark Bluman (ISR) as he and his mount, the eight-year-old Noortje Vd Windheuvel owned by Over the Top Stables, LLC, flew to the top of the podium in the $30,000 CP Grand Prix, their first grand prix class together. They were also first to go in the starting order, first to return in the jump-off, and as luck would have it, they ended the class in first place with a double-clear effort in a time of 42.784 seconds.

“Since we got her I’ve been saying that she [was] one of the most talented seven-year-olds I’ve ever ridden,” he beamed. “She has a great attitude, she’s quiet, and she always wants to do a good job for you. She’s fast, scopey, and has all the qualities to be a real grand prix horse.”

The Belgian Warmblood mare by Farfleu De Muze x Calista Vd Windheuvel showed those aforementioned qualities as they raced around the shortened course with authority to solidify the win.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Ward and Contagious Capture $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI3*

McLain Ward and Contagious. © Sportfot.

January 23, 2021 – Wellington, FL – It was an action-packed afternoon on the Derby Field at Equestrian Village at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, with McLain Ward (USA) and Contagious climbing to the top of the leaderboard in the $37,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic CSI3* on Saturday, January 23.

Ashley Vogel and Sophia Studd Dominate the First Day of Hermès U25 Series

In the $10,000 Hermès U25 Welcome, Ashley Vogel (USA) and Bellissimo Z flew through the timers in 67.49 seconds, besting a competitive class of 54 entries. Second place was awarded to the USA’s Tanner Korotkin on Deauville S, a 2006 Holsteiner gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Touch of Class) owned by Castlewood Farm Inc., who completed the track in 68.87 seconds. Third place went to Charlise Casas (USA) and Always Faithful Equine LLC’s 2008 Holsteiner gelding Diamond M (Numero Uno x Zarina M), ending on 70.21 seconds.

In the $1,000 Hermès U25 1.40m, Sophia Studd (DEN) and the 2009 Danish Warmblood mare Holsteins Matina (Party Dance x Mont Clarissa) owned by Marie Botved Studd captured the win, crossing through the timers in 67.70 seconds. Hunter Champey (USA) and Caprice, a 2007 KWPN mare (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Jalisca Houtheem Z) owned by MDHT Equestrian, LLC, took second place in 78.65 seconds. Third place went to Eric Krawitt (CAN) piloting Godfather B Bellesbat (Numero Uno x Ustasia), a 2011 KWPN mare owned by AES Equestrian.

Becky Gochman Rides Mythical to the Championship in Amateur-Owner Hunters 3’3” 36 and Over

Hunter riders entered the E. R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Saturday to compete for the tricolor ribbon in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” 36 and Over division. After two days of competition, Becky Gochman and Gochman Sport Horses LLC’s Mythical received first, second, and fifth place ribbons to earn the championship title.

Gochman, of Wellington, FL, and Mythical have been partnered for several years and are no strangers to the winner’s circle. Mythical is considered an important member of the Gochman family, having also been ridden by both Mimi and Sophie Gochman.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.