Wellington, FL – February 3, 2017 – Young U.S. riders Brett Burlington, Lacey Gilbertson, Kaely Tomeu, and Teddy Vlock emerged victorious in the $25,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Team Event, presented by Equiline, on Friday night during week four of the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
Also competing at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on Friday, Chile’s Samuel Parot won the $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m speed class riding Dazzle White.
The winning under 25 team of Brett Burlington, Kaely Tomeu, Lacey Gilbertson, and Teddy Vlock with Equiline representatives MacKenzie MacLean and Denise Wynne, Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward, and ringmaster Steve Rector.
The fourth week of WEF competition, sponsored by Ariat®, continues through Sunday, February 5, 2017. Weekend highlights include the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic and the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®, on Saturday night at the main WEF show grounds, and the $216,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 4* on Sunday on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village. Also at Equestrian Village at PBIEC (AGDF show grounds), the $100,000 Land Rover Wellington Eventing Showcase concludes on Saturday. Live streaming of major events during the week can be seen HERE. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through April 2, 2017, awarding over $9 million in prize money.
Friday’s team competition was the third event of the Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series for the 2017 WEF circuit. The class was held in the Global Arena at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival show grounds at PBIEC, with 14 teams showing over the Richard Jeffery (GBR) designed course in round one. The best seven teams returned to jump a second round, but only six teams completed round two. When two teams finished with four faults overall, a tie-breaking jump-off was held, where one rider was chosen to represent each team.
Team Sweet Oak/Vlock came out victorious, as Brett Burlington jumped a clear round over the short course, representing her team aboard Alden Burlington’s Bluf. Team USA/Ireland finished second after Lucas Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Diamonte Darco knocked a rail at the second fence in the jump-off and elected to retire.
Brett Burlington and Bluf
Also riding for the winning team, Kaely Tomeu and Siboney Ranch’s Contenance 15 jumped double clear. Lacey Gilbertson and Seabrook LLC’s Baloppi jumped clear in round one and earned the drop score of four in round two. Teddy Vlock and Vlock Show Stables’ Cristobar incurred four faults in round one and jumped clear in round two, while Burlington and Bluf scored four and zero, followed by their clear jump-off round to secure team victory.
Making up the second place team for USA/Ireland in addition to jump-off contenders Lucas Porter and Diamonte Darco, were Oliver McCarthy and Kevin Babington’s Double Deuce Retto, Ailish Cunniffe and Whipstick Farm’s Casper, and Wilton Porter aboard Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Patriot.
Burlington (17, Miami, FL) has ridden Bluf, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ukato x Placido), for almost two years and was selected as the jump-off participant due to her experience with her horse.
“Coming into tonight, I was definitely pretty confident because I have done this with him before,” Burlington stated. “I have jumped him under the lights a bunch, and he has always been really good. I was definitely happy with the way he went. The first round was a bummer at the last jump, but he still jumped really well. Then obviously in the second round and the jump-off he was really good.”
Kaely Tomeu and Contenance 15
Tomeu (21, Wellington, FL) was aboard a new mount since December in Contenance 15, an 11-year-old Westphalian mare (Cornet Obolensky x Darco).
“I am still figuring her out, but I think tonight proved that we are a pretty good match,” Tomeu noted. “I was pretty excited for tonight. We won this event two years ago, and last year we ended up third. Lacey, Brett, and I are normally on the same team with one extra person, which Teddy was lucky enough to be this year. We are always really excited for this. It is just neat that it is a team, and we are all in the same barn. We are all friends, which makes it fun.”
Lacey Gilbertson and Baloppi
Gilbertson (23, Lake Forest, IL) was riding an even newer horse in the 10-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, Baloppi, which she just purchased two weeks ago.
“I wanted to go in tonight and have some pretty confident rounds; I’m still figuring her out,” Gilbertson stated. “She was amazing. She saved me in places where she needed to, so I am very grateful to her, and I am very excited for what is to come with her.”
Teddy Vlock and Cristobar
Vlock (19, Branford, CT) was aboard Cristobar for Friday’s competition, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding (Cristallo x Lancer III) that he has ridden for almost two years. While Bulrington, Tomeu, and Gilbertson have experience competing in the U25 team event, Vlock was showing in the class for the first time, and only his second U25 competition.
“This week was my first time showing him at WEF, so I was really happy with it,” Vlock detailed. “He jumped super. He is good at everything he does. He is kind of everything you could want in a horse, which I love.”
Vlock added, “Most of the time I don’t get very nervous, but I wanted to do well for my team tonight. This was the first time I ever had other people counting on me to do well, so I was really happy that I could contribute and jump a clear round.”
The top three teams with with Equiline representatives MacKenzie MacLean and Denise Wynne, Hollow Creek Farm representative Jennifer Ward, and ringmaster Steve Rector.
The Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series, presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, has been expanded to ten events offering a total of $215,000 in prize money for the 2017 season. Developed as a bridge to the international level of grand prix competition, the Series gives athletes, both human and equine, an opportunity to compete under a myriad of conditions, including jumping on grass, under the lights at night, and in team competition; all important elements that competitors will face as their international careers progress. The series concludes with a $50,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Final, which the top 30 riders in the point standings will be invited to contest on Sunday, April 2.
Samuel Parot Shows His Speed in 1.45m
Week four course designer Steve Stephens (USA) set the speed track for 34 entries in Friday’s $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m competition, with 15 clear rounds and a win for Chile’s Samuel Parot aboard Dazzle White.
Samuel Parot and Dazzle White
Parot and the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Calvino Z x Narcos II) edged out Kent Farrington (USA) and Sherkan d’Amaury to take the win in 53.65 seconds. Farrington and his mount, owned by the Olympic team silver medalist in partnership with Haity McNerney and Daniel Crown, stopped the clock in 56.28 seconds. Wednesday’s $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m winners, Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili, finished third in a time of 56.49 seconds.
Parot purchased Dazzle White in early 2016 and quickly earned two grand prix victories, topping May’s $130,000 Split Rock Grand Prix CSI 3* in Lexington, KY, as well as July’s $130,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 3* in Tryon, NC. The gelding then injured his knee in September and was out of work for four months. He jumped again for the first time in December and showed in week two at WEF.
“This is his second show back, and he is perfect now,” Parot stated. “I think he is a top horse. He has a lot of scope, and for these speed courses where you need to turn very short, for him it is no problem.
“I think I won the class in the turn from one to two, and also from the skinny to the oxer,” Parot added. “I made those turns very close. He can make very short turns easily.”
Samuel Parot and Dazzle White in their winning presentation with Rodolfo Maya, Waverly Ernst, and Avery Hogan from the Maya Group at Illustrated Properties, and ringmaster Steve Rector.
Also competing in the International Arena on Friday, Tiffany Foster (CAN) and Artisan Farms LLC’s Chesney won the $6,000 Illustrated Properties FEI 1.40m. Hilary McNerney and Contact won the $2,500 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Power and Speed, sponsored by Engel & Völkers. Sophia Studd and M&M Show Stables’ Corlanda topped the $1,500 High Junior Jumper Power and Speed, sponsored by Sleepy P Ranch. The $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m Speed Challenge concluded the day with a win for David Blake (IRL) riding Pine Hollow Farm’s Bella Donna.
Kelli Cruciotti Tops Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search
Kelli Cruciotti of Elizabeth, CO, won the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search riding Monterrey on Friday morning. Cruciotti trains with her mother, Cindy Cruciotti, and purchased Monterrey, a 2001 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Calvados, from Lillie Keenan five years ago. Together, Cruciotti and Monterrey won the 2015 Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals.
Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey
“I was lucky enough to be able to keep him after I was no longer a junior,” Kelli Cruciotti said. “He just comes out sporadically, but he really likes to horse show and loves every minute of it. I did a 1.10m schooling class yesterday and then went in and did this. We’ll play it week by week going forward, but he’ll probably have a couple weeks off. He loves to do the [hunter] derbies too so we mix it up. He does it all and is fantastic.”
“He’s a creature of habit,” Cindy Cruciotti added. “He likes his morning rides and gallops. He comes out, knows the job and the routine, and is happy.”
After an over fences phase and a flat phase, Yasmin Rizi earned second place with Canny Windsor Z, while Maya Nayyar earned the third-place ribbon.
“I thought the course was very nice,” said Kelli Cruciotti of Anderson Lima’s design. “It was very even on both leads and challenging. The related distance from the oxer to the water to the vertical was the most challenging test. You had to ride the water a little bit and then come back for the vertical. The rest was just making it smooth and even off the left and right. I thought the course was really well designed.”
Kelli Cruciotti and Monterrey in their winning presentation.
The fourth week of WEF continues on Saturday with the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic featured in the International Arena during the day. The fourth “Saturday Night Lights” event of the season, the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®, will be the highlight in the evening with competition starting at 6:30 p.m. The Beval Palm Beach Adult Medal will decide a winner in Ring 6. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Final Results: $25,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Team Event, presented by Equiline
1. Team Sweet Oak/Vlock: 4
Kaely Tomeu, Contenance 15: 0/0
Lacey Gilbertson, Baloppi: 0/4
Teddy Vlock, Cristobar: 4/0
Brett Burlington, Bluf: 4/0/0/41.52 seconds
2. Team USA/Ireland: 4
Oliver McCarthy, Double Deuce Retto: 8/Elim.
Ailish Cunniffe, Casper: 0/0
Wilton Porter, Patriot: 0/4
Lucas Porter, Diamonte Darco: 0/0/Ret.
3. Team Blue Trees: 10
Lilli Hymowitz, Zernike K: 5/1
Mackenzie Drazan, Waliba VDL: 4/0
Jennifer Gates, Cadence: 4/Ret.
Cloe Hymowitz, Cylana: 0/1
4. Team 4: 12
Alexandra Crown, Aron S: 4/12
McKayla Langmeier, Iliano van d’Abelendreef: 4/4
Jessica Mendoza, Horst van de Mispeleare: 0/0
Emily Moffitt, Zagahorn: 4/0
5. Team Amexico: 13
Sydney Schulman, Toscane de l’Isle: 4/4
Eve Jobs, Calizz: 4/4
Alexandra Welles, Maraca LS La Silla: 0/4
Eugenio Garza, Armani SL Z: 0/1
6. Team Canada: 21
Bretton Chad, Cornishman: 0/0
Kathryn Dafoe, EOS van de Donkhoeve: 0/9
Nicole Walker, Chaloubet: 9/8
Kara Chad, Ideal de la Hasse: 8/5
Final Results: $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m
1. DAZZLE WHITE: 2008 KWPN gelding by Calvino Z x Narcos II
SAMUEL PAROT (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/53.65
2. SHERKAN D’AMAURY: 2006 Selle Francais gelding by Kannan x Quick Star
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Kent Farrington, Haity McNerney, and Daniel Crown: 0/56.28
3. BULL RUN’S FAUSTINO DE TILI: 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Berlin x Darco
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC: 0/56.49
4. CARNA Z: 2005 Zangersheide mare by Crown Z x Grannus
GUSTAVO PRATO (ARG), Equus Forte LLC: 0/56.98
5. CON TOUCH S: 2006 Westphalian mare by Con Cento x Capitol I
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Julius Peter Sinack: 0/57.56
6. BEEZIE: 2006 KWPN mare by Cardento x Canabis Z
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), The ISB Group LLC: 0/57.95
7. BELIZE D’IVE Z: 2008 Zangersheide mare by Berlin x Quidam de Revel
LORCAN GALLAGHER (IRL), Sweet Oak Farm: 0/59.75
8. BIJOU DE BALOU: 2006 Rheinlander mare by Balou du Rouet x Graf Grannus
KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/60.30
9. NENUPHAR’JAC: 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Cumano x Pidayack
IGNACIO MAURIN (ARG), Stransky’s Mission Farms Inc: 0/60.46
10. AANWINST: 2005 KWPN mare by Odermus R x Jackson
JORDAN MACPHERSON (CAN), JEM Stables Inc: 0/60.90
11. CORLEONE: 2007 KWPN gelding by Vincenzo x Heartbreaker
CATHERINE TYREE (USA), Mary & Joe Tyree: 0/61.30
12. CALAIS: 2007 KWPN gelding by Ultimo x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve
JEFFERY WELLES (USA), Triton Ventures Farms Inc: 0/62.33
Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, Official Photographer of the Winter Equestrian Festival. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.