Luis Larrazabal and Thalys Z. Photo property of Equinium/The Ridge at Wellington.
Wellington, FL (March 5, 2020) – An already tight race for 2020 Turf Tour Leading Rider honors became just a touch more competitive as Luis Larrazabal and Thalys Z scored another victory, winning Wednesday’s $5,000 1.30m Rising Star Classic. Larrazabal is currently the Turf Tour’s points leader, with a number of top competitors nipping at his heels to win the Leading Rider title and a gorgeous golf cart presented by the show’s official horse carrier, Iron Horse Transit. With only 3 more weeks of Turf Tour competition to go, plus the Saturday March 28 Finale presented by Wellington National Golf Course, the battle for 2020 Leading Rider is sure to heat up under the Florida sun.
Larrazabal and Thalys Z jumped an impressive double clear round in the Grand Prix last week at Black Watch Farm, and continued to show top form at To-Kalon. The pair executed a nearly perfect jump off, taking tight inside turns and leaving out a few strides to clinch victory with a time of 39.335 seconds.
Chelsea Moss rode Stormfront Stables’ Ravena Is La Silla to second with a 41. 235, while third went to Rebecca Conway and Stakatistaa with 43.146. Running in Ring 2, tandem with Ring 1, are all levels and divisions of Level 2 Jumpers on the grass, from the .80m-1.2m. Points for the Leading Rider Award are accrued from results in the 1.20-1.25m, the $5,000 1.30 Rising Star Classic, and the $15,000 1.40m Turf Tour Grand Prix.
“The Rising Star Jumper Classic, which is held every Wednesday during the Florida season, is meant to serve as a soft introduction to the higher classes,” said Nona Garson, co-founder of The Ridge Turf Tour and US Olympian. “It’s a stepping off point, with options to challenge a horse or build its confidence. All of our classes aim to serve that purpose: allowing horses and riders to develop in new environments, on different but ideal footing, and under less stressful circumstances. All levels are welcome, and the providing riders the option to train horses while also showing is our goal, along with generous prize money and exceptional atmosphere.”
For full results, visit www.HorseShowing.com.
For full schedules and prizelists, visit www.RidgeShowJumping.com.