Wellington, FL – November 30, 2013 – The $50,000 Holiday & Horses CSI-W 2* Grand Prix was held on Saturday night at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, with a win for Charlie Jacobs (USA) and CMJ Sporthorse LLC’s Flaming Star. In an exciting four-horse jump-off with over 4,000 fans cheering them on, Jacobs and Flaming Star topped Tim Gredley (GBR) and Unex Chamberlain Z, Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Vindicat W, and Catherine Pasmore (USA) and Bonanza Van Paemel for the win.
Holiday & Horses competition concludes on Sunday with the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (12 p.m.) in the Mogavero Ring and $10,000 Open Stake 1.40m at 1 p.m. in the International Arena.
Anthony D’Ambrosio set a challenging course for Saturday night’s grand prix. Forty-four entries showed in round one and just four were able to advance to the jump-off. All of the jump-off competitors then had faults through the short course. Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star finished on top with one rail down in the fastest time of 48.62 seconds.
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star
Tim Gredley and Unex Competition Yard’s Unex Chamberlain Z also had one rail and finished second with their time of 51.43 seconds. Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W had eight faults in 49.59 seconds to earn third place honors. Catherine Pasmore and Pasmore Stables LLC’s Bonanza Van Paemel had three rails down in the short course to finish fourth with 12 faults in 52.78 seconds.
“I felt like Anthony did a great job with the course,” Jacobs said following his win. “It was a delicate track, to say the least, and also quite technical in my opinion. The time allowed was quite tight, and I think it got some people that were maybe rushing a little in their heads. With the number of competitors that entered, to have four clean obviously was a reflection of the difficulty of the course. You don’t necessarily have to build an entire 1.60m track to make it difficult, and he accomplished that with the technicality of the course.”
Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star in their winning presentation with ringmaster Gustavo Murcia and Equestrian Sport Productions President Michael Stone
Jacobs has had a lot of success this year with Flaming Star, a 14-year-old Anglo-European gelding by Fairman.
“My horse likes the arena,” Jacobs acknowledged. “I think we have had some really good success here in 2013. Under the lights I wasn’t sure what we were going to get tonight. I had a few moments in the schooling area when I was going sideways and I wasn’t counting on it, but he was quite good in the ring. He loves it. I wish it were the rider, but I have to tell you, it’s the horse. He is doing a great job out there.”
Tim Gredley and Unex Chamberlain Z
Tim Gredley has had his mount, Unex Chamberlain Z, for about a year and a half, but the gelding is coming back from an injury, so the rider was pleased with his performance. “He has been out for about a year, and he just started four or five months ago,” Gredley explained. “He has just been getting better and better. I think he just needed to get fitter, and I needed to get fitter, and it is all just starting to come together with him a bit now.”
Finishing third, Jessica Springsteen was happy with her round aboard Vindicat W. Springsteen has been busy in her senior year at Duke University and has not ridden in almost four months. She was also presented with a special Leading Lady Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur of Illustrated Properties in memory of Dale Lawler
“He has been amazing,” she smiled. “My last show with him was in July, so it has been awhile, but Laura (Kraut) and Mary Elizabeth (Kent) have been riding him and he is in amazing shape. He jumped incredibly tonight, so I was really happy.”
Jessica Springtsteen and Vindicat W
Equestrian Sport Productions’ Holiday & Horses competition will conclude on Sunday. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com. For full results, go to www.showgroundslive.com.
Final Results: $50,000 Holiday & Horses CSI-W 2* Grand Prix
1. FLAMING STAR: 1999 AES gelding by Fairman x Unknown
CHARLIE JACOBS (USA), CMJ Sporthorse LLC: 0/4/48.62
2. UNEX CHAMBERLAIN Z: 2001 Zangersheide gelding by Chellano Z x Peter Pan
TIM GREDLEY (GBR), Unex Competition Yard: 0/4/51.43
3. VINDICAT W: 2002 KWPN gelding by Guidam x Libero H
JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN (USA), Stone Hill Farm: 0/8/49.59
4. BONANZA VAN PAEMEL: 2001 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Darco x Sheyenne de Baugy
CATHERINE PASMORE (USA), Pasmore Stables LLC: 0/12/52.78
5. ASLAN: 2000 Danish Warmblood gelding by Aston x Blue Hors Agent
LJUBOV KOCHETOVA (RUS), Ljubov Kochetova: 4/72.37
6. WINTER: 2001 Warmblood gelding
DENISE WILSON (USA), Blue Gate Farm LLC: 4/73.97
7. GLORY DAYS: 2001 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Diamond Serpent
KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners, LLC: 4/74.71
8. SLIEVEANORRA: 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Voltaire x Flagmount Diamond
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 4/75.30
9. URAGUAY: 2001 KWPN gelding by Nairobi x Colino
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Legacy Stables, LLC: 4/75.54
10. OLYMPIC DE CHAMANT: 2002 Selle Francais gelding by Gentleman IV SF x Apache D’adriers
JOHNATHON CORRIGAN (IRL), Sagamore Farms: 4/76.88
11. CZARDAS 30: 2003 Hanoverian stallion by Contendro x Grannus
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Ilan Ferder: 4/77.15
12. WITH WINGS:2003 KWPN gelding by Larino x L. Ronald
KAREN POLLE (USA), Karen Polle: 4/77.55
Photo Credit: Photos © ManciniPhotos, www.manciniphotos.com. These photos may only be used in relation to this press release and with full photo credit.