Hunter/Jumper
2 Weeks in Kentucky
KY Spring Horse Show Wrap-Up
Week 1: May 5-10; Week 2: May 13-17
Contributed by Rebecca Walton & Lauren Fisher
It was a beautiful, sunny day at the Kentucky Horse
Park for Henri Kovacs' first grand prix victory gallop aboard
Sassicaia II following the $55,000 Commonwealth Grand
Prix at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show. The pair was
faster than five other horse and rider combinations during
Sunday's ten-horse jump-off in the main outdoor stadium.
Rebecca Johanson Hofmann riding Corona, and Mario
Deslauriers aboard Vicomte D both attempted to catch Ko-
vacs' time, but were unable to do so and followed with sec-
ond and third place honors during today's class.
alton
Henri Kovacs and Cermit had the fastest
W double clear effort to take the win in to-
days $5,000 1.45 Open Jumper class at
Jumper Highlights – Week I
the Kentucky Spring Horse Show.
Beezie Madden would not be stopped by rain during
Rebecca
the opening day on Wednesday. The Olympic gold medal-
ing their winning jump-off round in the $20,000 Bluegrass
ist was victorious in two classes in the new outdoor stadium
Classic on Saturday. The duo was able to edge out Chistine
at the Kentucky Horse Park. First, Madden competed with
McCrea riding Twister, and Madden aboard Play On during
Prima in the $5,000 1.40m Open Jumper class and had a
the nine-horse jump-off. Six horse and rider combinations
wire-to-wire victory. She then went on to ride in the $5,000
completed double-clear efforts, but it was Minikus and
1.45m Open Jumper class where she was the last entry with
Chellapo Z's 35.396-second time that earned the opportu-
Exclusive, who had the fastest double clear round. The duo
nity to lead the victory gallop.
raced through the finish line in 40.713 seconds, passing
During week two’s show, Mario Deslauriers and Vi-
Todd Minikus and Romy, and earning Madden's second
comte D charged across the finish line to win Saturday
blue ribbon of the day.
night's $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix. The pair
Two-time Hagyard Challenge Series leader Kent Far-
had completed double-clear rounds during the past three
rington began the 2009 series right when he and Up Chiqui
grand prix classes held during the Kentucky series to earn
galloped away with the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Clas-
top placings, but the fourth time was the charm. Deslauri-
sic victory on Thursday. Seven horse and rider combina-
ers and Vicomte D were the last to enter the ring, but they
tions went clear during the 12-horse jump-off but Farrington
laid down the fastest time to win the class over Minikus and
and Up Chiqui were the fastest of the evening, stopping the
Pavarotti.
clock two seconds ahead of second place finishers Mario
Deslauriers and Vicomte D.
Jumper Highlights: Week 2
This class was the first of the seven Hagyard Challenge
Kim Prince and Superieur flashed through the finish
Series events. The series concludes in September at the
line in a time of 63.392 seconds to win Wednesday's $5,000
Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show, and a $50,000
Open Jumper 1.40m class. Prince and Superieur made sharp
Leading Rider Bonus will be presented after the $50,000
turns and kept a fast pace to give them the leading time and
CSI-W Lexington Grand Prix to the rider who accumulates
the day's win.
the most points throughout the series. Farrington has been
Following Prince's win Kovacs had his second victory
the recipient of the Leading Rider Bonus for the past two
in the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.45m class aboard Cermit,
years and hopes to win it again this year.
owned by Caroline Lloyd of East Hampton, NY.
Kovacs galloped away with his first victory aboard Cer-
Kovacs never stopped smiling as he completed the vic-
mit on Friday in the $5,000 1.45 Open Jumper Class. Ko-
tory gallop for his second grand prix win aboard Sassicaia
vacs and Cermit were two seconds faster than Amanda
II following the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. On
Knowles and Julizi Du Brio to take the lead during the class
Sunday, Kovacs had his first career grand prix victory dur-
in the new outdoor stadium.
ing the $50,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, and today he
It was all about speed for Minikus and Chellapo Z dur-
was ready to meet the challenge again. The duo galloped
through the finish line in 28.20 seconds after a double-clear.
Friday marked the third day of competition, where Ko-
vacs had his third victory aboard Cermit in the $5,000 Open
Jumper 1.45m class. They set a time of 35.905 seconds,
which would beat Madden and Desilvio, the only other
combination to complete a fault free effort in the jump-off.
The sun was shining during the final day of competi-
tion, and for the second year in a row Pablo Barrios and La-
Gran were victorious in the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic. Six
horse and riders qualified for the jump-off during Sunday's
class but only two completed double-clear efforts. Barrios
and LaGran were able to set a time of 40.851 seconds to
edge out Tiffany Foster riding Carlos De Noel, and win
alton
today's class.
W
Kent Farrington & Up Chiqui scored the first
victory in the Hagyard Challenge Series dur-
Earlier on Sunday the Amateur-Owner Jumpers and
ing the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic.
Junior Jumpers completed their third day of competition.
Rebecca
Continued on page 18
July 2009 SouthWest Horse Trader 17
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