Wellington, FL – April 15, 2013 – Equestrian Sport Productions LLC (ESP) wrapped up its second week of spring competition April 10-14 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with an exciting victory for Todd Minikus and Quality Girl in the $25,000 ESP Spring 2 Grand Prix. Minikus also won the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake earlier in the week riding Legacy Stables’ Tuxedo.
The week’s jumper courses in the International Arena were designed by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC. In Sunday’s grand prix, Vaillancourt saw 38 entries in the first round of competition with 11 qualifying for the jump-off. One entry opted not to jump-off, so ten continued on to contest the short course with six of those jumping double clear rounds. The fastest time of 36.178 seconds gave the win to Todd Minikus and Quality Girl, a ten-year-old Oldenburg mare by Quidam’s Rubin x Dobrock.
Todd Minikus and Quality Girl. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Lauren Crooks and C’Est Ci Bon 4, owned by Glen Youell and Crooks Show Jumping, were second with a time of 37.760 seconds. Paul O’Shea and Michael Hayden’s Primo de Revel finished third in 38.269 seconds.
Minikus and Quality Girl have had a great season so far and the young mare has quickly moved up to competing in the top classes.
“She is actually a very sweet mare, but she is cautious about everything,” Minikus added. “Her eyes are always wide open. I like horses that are like that, that are paying attention and notice what’s going on around them. I like for them to be aware of their surroundings and she is very aware. She notices what’s going on. When my kids come running around in the barn on their bicycle she is first to notice.”
Minikus noted, “She is doing great. She has really matured a lot during the circuit. She started off a green horse not belonging in the grand prixs and she has ended up winning quite a bit. She has been just fantastic and between Purina, Vita Flex and Charles Owen, they are keeping her in the winner’s circle and me in diaper money.”
“It seemed like it was almost a perfect course,” Minikus said of the day’s class. “He had 11 clear and that was probably just about the right number for 38 starters. It was kind of a fun jump-off. There were a couple turns and a couple spots where you could get on the gas pedal a little bit, so it worked out quite well I think for everybody involved. It seemed like everybody’s horses went nice.”
Minikus explained that the ultimate goal is for Quality Girl to be sold, but he would love to keep riding her. “I’d like to have somebody jump up and buy her for me to keep riding her, but if that’s not the case, I would think that sooner or later somebody is going to get tired of getting beat by her and give me a big old bag of money for her,” he laughed. “Otherwise I’m gonna just keep beating them and they’ll get sick of it sooner or later.”
Todd Minikus and Quality Girl in their winning presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Final Results: $25,000 ESP Spring 2 Grand Prix
1. QUALITY GIRL TODD MINIKUS TODD MINIKUS, LTD: 0/0/36.178
2. C’EST CI BON 4 LAUREN CROOKS GLEN YOUELL & CROOKS SHOW JUMPING: 0/0/37.760
3. PRIMO DE REVEL PAUL O’SHEA MICHAEL HAYDEN: 0/0/38.269
4. CHICAGO 88 FEDERICO SZTYRLE ROSIANO FARM: 0/0/38.313
5. CATHARINA 9 LAUREN TISBO TEQUESTRIAN FARMS, LLC: 0/0/38.561
6. WILLOW MEAGAN NUSZ AMALAYA INVESTMENTS: 0/0/39.445
7. ZIEDENTO RAMIRO QUINTANA ST. BRIDE’S FARM: 0/4/38.170
8. G&C CONSIGLIERE RODRIGO PESSOA GUSTAVO MIRABAL: 0/4/39.102
9. CARLOS 455 CHRIS EWANOUSKI ROSIANO FARM: 0/8/38.769
10. DAKOTA PAIGE JOHNSON SALAMANDER FARM: 0/EL
11. WIZZ PAUL O’SHEA DAN WALSH: 0/WD
12. WHITNEY RAMIRO QUINTANA ST. BRIDE’S FARM: 1/80.486
Jumpers – Thursday through Sunday
Kicking off the week of Spring 2 competition, Todd Minikus and Legacy Stables’ Tuxedo jumped to victory in the $10,000 Open Jumper Stake on Thursday. Fifty-six entries showed with 14 advancing to the jump-off and seven double clear rounds. Minikus and Tuxedo, a twelve-year-old KWPN gelding by Gentleman x Hamilcar, had the winning time of 31.175 seconds.
Todd Minikus and Tuxedo. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Victoria Colvin and Monsieur du Reverdy finished second in 31.288 seconds. Shane Sweetnam and Sweet Oak and Spy Coast Farm’s Solerina were third in 31.342 seconds, and Rodrigo Pessoa and Gustavo Mirabal’s G&C Consigliere were fourth in 33.363 seconds.
Speaking about his ride on Tuxedo, Minikus noted, “I started riding Tuxedo last month or so of the circuit and he jumped well in a couple 1.40m, 1.45m classes. I did him in one or two grand prix and he jumped some nice clear rounds. He is a real competitive horse and he likes to win I think. He definitely has the capability of winning. I’m sure the family at Legacy Farms is happy with him today.”
“He jumped well today,” Minikus added. “I didn’t get to see either Shane or Tori go in the jump-off, but I just assumed they were fast. It was a lot of slick, tight turns and he was more than game for that, so it was a good day for him.”
Todd Minikus and Tuxedo in their winning presentation with ringmaster Cliff Haines. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Final Results $10,000 Open Jumper Stake
1. TUXEDO TODD MINIKUS LEGACY STABLES LLC: 0/0/31.175
2. MONSIEUR DU REVERDY VICTORIA COLVIN VICTORIA COLVIN: 0/0/31.288
3. SOLERINA SHANE SWEETNAM SWEET OAK & SPY COAST FARMS: 0/0/31.342
4. G&C CONSIGLIERE RODRIGO PESSOA GUSTAVO MIRABAL: 0/0/33.363
5. WILEXO KATTY KING CARLOS RIBAS & KATTY KING: 0/0/33.996
6. WHITNEY RAMIRO QUINTANA ST. BRIDE’S FARM: 0/0/34.613
7. ZIEDENTO RAMIRO QUINTANA ST. BRIDE’S FARM: 0/0/34.941
8. C’EST CI BON 4 LAUREN CROOKS GLEN YOUELL & CROOKS SHOWJUMPING: 0/4/33.069
9. OLLYWOOD DES HORTS CLEMENTINE GOUTAL REMARKABLE FARMS LP: 0/4/34.249
10. CATHARINA 9 LAUREN TISBO TEQUESTRIAN FARMS LLC: 0/4/34.585
11. G&C OMERTA RODRIGO PESSOA GUSTAVO MIRABAL: 0/4/36.731
12. RENDEZVOUS 22 NICK NOVAK NANCY WHITEHEAD: 0/12/36.015
FEI Group IV Riders. Photo © Mancini Photos.
The FEI Group IV Caribbean Challenge held three competitions over the weekend with a speed class, classic, and final championship for the 18 riders competing from USA, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Trinidad, Barbados, and Bermuda. In Sunday’s final, USA’s Brittni Raflowitz won the class with Maarten Huygen’s Aureine in a seven-horse jump-off. USA’s Lauren Zavodney and her horse Veronike finished second and Heather Walker of Barbados guided Sakura Hill Farm’s Ahsianita M2S to third place honors.
Brittni Raflowitz and Aureine. Photo © Mancini Photos.
On Saturday, USA’s Syndey Chase and Cookie were the winners in an eight-horse jump-off over USA’s Daniela Stransky and Stransky’s Mission Farms’ Starlight in second and Brittni Raflowitz and Aureine in third.
Chase and Cookie also won the warm-up speed class on Thursday followed in second by Lauren Zavodney and Veronike and Rebecca Whittaker and Omar 14 in third.
Fourteen-year-old Chase is from near Orlando, FL, and has had Cookie for almost three years. The pair usually shows in the High Children’s Jumpers training with Marcelo Barros at WB Equestrian.
Sydney Chase and Cookie. Photo © Mancini Photos.
“She is really sweet, but she has a little bit of an attitude sometimes in the ring,” the rider said of Cookie. “She’s pretty easy as long as you can make her go forward.”
The pair showed at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival for the first time this year and this was their second time coming to the spring show. They showed in the FEI Children’s Nations Cup earlier this winter.
“Cookie was really good,” Chase said of their two winning rounds. “She likes this height a lot and she just went forward. She didn’t try to stop or go around, she listened really well.”
Sydney Chase and Cookie in their Classic presentation with ESP President Michael Stone, ringmaster Cliff Haines and USEF President Chrystine Tauber. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Overall, Brittni Raflowitz was the top U.S. rider and also received a special Style Award. Heather Walker was named Best Foreign Rider and her mount Ahsianita M2S was the Best Foreign Horse.
“I think it is a great competition,” Raflowitz stated. “It gets a lot of other [riders from] countries that normally would not have this opportunity over here to let them ride and show and it is just fun.”
Commenting on her mount, Aureine, Raflowitz explained, “I have had this horse since the middle of circuit. He is a little bit of a project for me; he is kind of a green baby, so I just wanted to go in and give him nice, confident rides. It is good for him to get into the International Ring.”
Top 12 riders with Cliff Haines, Chrystine Tauber, and Michael Stone. Photo © Mancini Photos.
“The first round I just went in for a nice clear to get his head straight and then in the jump-off I knew it was a good track for him and we would have a chance, so I just let him go a little bit,” she said of her winning round on Sunday.
Raflowitz added, “It’s always nice to get the Style Award. For me, that is really important because it means that your riding is consistent, so I am very happy with that.”
Brittni Raflowitz receiving the Style Award. Photo © Mancini Photos.
Best Foreign Horse, Sakura Hill Farm’s Ahsianita M2S, helped his rider from Barbados. Photo © Mancini Photos.
In other jumper classes for the week, Madison Billings and Stonestreet won the $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic over Brianne Link and Abigail Wexner’s Zycarla Z.
Alexa Pessoa jumped to victory aboard Rodrigo Pessoa’s Levade 35 in the $2,500 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic with Elizabeth Patz and Doublethink LLC’s Rolls in second.
The Office Depot $1,500 Low Child Jumper Classic saw a win for Heather Vaxer riding Cha Cha Cha with Hana Bieling and Wonderland Farm LLC’s Rainbow Brite in second. The Office Depot $1,500 Low Adult Jumper Classic was won by Kimberly Donaldson and Escot with Tamara Seely and Stormy Waters in second.
In the M&S Children’s Jumper Classic, Shannon O’Neill and Morgan Centrella’s Valotti VDL were the winners with Gina Kumar and Ribery 7 in second. The M&S Adult Jumper Classic saw a win for Deborah Morcott riding Karida with Cynthia Screnci and Kasimir in second.
The $1,500 Tackeria NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic was won by Adam Rittenberg riding Megan Eisenfelder’s Vodka Cruiser with Addison Piper and Trump Farm LLC’s Halbi d’Ariane in second.
Hunters and Equitation- Thursday through Sunday
In the hunter divisions, Susannah Rose and Calero earned the championship in the Adult Amateur Working Hunter 36-50 division over Tanja Koschnick and Freelina. In the Adult Amateur Working Hunter 51 & Over, Page Tredennick and Apricot Lane were the champions with Debi Maloney and Wilson in reserve.
The Adult Amateur Working Hunter 18-35 championship went to Jane Losin and Westwood Farms LLC’s Forever Clever. Shannon Hawke’s Lago was reserve, ridden by Hawke and Julie Hogan. Losin and Forever Clever were also the winners of the $500 M&S/NAL Child/Adult Hunter Classic with Kimmee Gottwald and her own Catina finishing second.
In the Fly Armour Amateur Owner Working Hunter 3’3″ division, Stacey Arani and Nick Novak’s Roc A Bye earned the championship. Arani was also reserve champion aboard Marigot Bay Farm’s Stars Go Blue with the help of Madison Arani. In the Fly Armour Amateur Owner Working Hunter 3’6″, Becky Gochman dominated, earning the championship with Romance and finishing reserve aboard Whatever, both horses owned by David Gochman.
In the First Year Green/High Performance Working Hunter, the champion was Ruth Kanner’s By The Way, ridden by Jeff Gogul. Reserve honors went to Susan Moriconi’s Channing, ridden by Christopher Payne.
In the Diptera Open Hunter 3′, the champion was Mary Abel Smith’s Lofty, ridden by Katherine Newman. Reserve honors went to Quincento, ridden by Jennifer Smith and Jennifer Hannan.
The Performance Working Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ champion was Le Reve Farm, Inc.’s Good Call ridden by Christopher Payne. Payne also guided his horse Harlan to reserve honors.
In the #1 Education Place Junior Hunters, Victoria Colvin and Danielle Stacy’s Tiffani took top honors with Vivian Yowan and Saddle Ridge LLC’s Shockwave in reserve.
The Pilates Rocks Low Adult Hunter champion was The Gold Ranger, ridden by Jennifer Prior with All-Star, ridden by Lynn Berg and Josee Stedding in reserve.
In the pony division, the Large Pony Hunter champion was Linda Evans’ Dreamland ridden by Emma Kurtz with Knock My Soxs Off and Olivia Notman in reserve. Kurtz also dominated in the medium and small divisions. In the Medium Pony Hunters, Kurtz rode David Gochman’s True Love to championship honors with Scott Stewart’s Show Me Love in reserve. In the Small Pony Hunters, Kurtz rode Dr. Betsee Parker’s Elation to the championship with David Gochman’s Rafael in reserve. In the $500 Sweet Oak Farm Pony Hunter Classic, Kurtz was first and second, riding Scott Stewart’s All My Love to top prize and finishing second aboard Elation.
In the equitation classes, Claudia Billups and the Freedom Groups’ Lovely Charity won the Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal presented by Randolph College. Vivian Yowan and Saddle Ridge LLC’s Naf-Naf topped the ASPCA Maclay class and Brianne Link and Spock won the WIHS Equitation Classic Overall.
For full results, please visit www.showgroundslive.com.
Photo Credit: Photos © Mancini Photos, www.manciniphotos.com. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.