Wellington, FL – March 24, 2010 – Christina Kelly (USA) up on her mount Radio Flyer, owned by the Fairway Group, soared to victory in today’s $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m Jumper timed first round class. Second place honors were awarded to Lauren Hough (USA) and Prezioso S, owned by Highlife Farms. Marilyn Little-Meredith (USA) and Udonna, owned by Raylyn Farms, Inc., rounded up the third spot.
The eleventh week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by FTI and runs through Sunday, March 28. The highlight grand prix event of the Winter Equestrian Festival is Saturday night’s $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix, CSI 5*. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Today’s class featured a field of 30 starters. The timed first round had 12 numbered obstacles and the time allowed was 77 seconds. The course included many related distances with opportunities to leave out strides, two in-and-outs, and a very careful vertical that was the last jumping effort.
There were only six clear rounds, and the early leader of the class was Lauren Hough aboard Prezioso S. The pair raced through the timers in 65.117 seconds and posted a clear round that would eventually settle for the second place position in today’s class.
Immediately after, McLain Ward (USA) up on his own Oh’ D Eole entered the ring and had a faultless round in a time of 71.291 seconds. The round wasn’t quite fast enough to take over the lead, but the pair would finish in the fourth place position.
Marilyn Little-Meredith entered the ring on Udonna, owned by Raylyn Farms Inc. After a flawless round, the two whisked through the timers in 67.290 seconds. This would assume the third place position.
It wasn’t until Christina Kelly entered the ring on Radio Flyer, owned by The Fairway Group, that the lead changed hands. Kelly claimed the top spot after posting a time of 62.254 seconds, which was about three seconds faster than the previous leading time. The entries that remained were unable to catch the fast time and Kelly and Radio Flyer maintained the lead for the rest of the class.
Both Kelly and her partner Radio Flyer are no strangers to the winner’s circle. The two have won multiple classes in both the High Junior and Medium Junior Jumper divisions. Kelly was very proud of her horse today. “He is an awesome horse and he jumped amazing today,” she said. “This is the first 1.45m class that I have jumped him in and it is the biggest track that I have ever done.”
Kelly said of today’s course, “It was a great course. I think I made up the most time after the double (6ab) and back to the Sentient Jet jump.” Kelly believes this is what scored her the win in today’s class.
Tomorrow’s jumper action will feature the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 11 in the International Arena at 1 p.m. For full results and more information, please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m Jumpers
1. RADIO FLYER, CHRISTINA KELLY, THE FAIRWAY GROUP: 0/62.254
2. PREZIOSO S, LAUREN HOUGH, HIGHLIFE FARMS: 0/65.117
3. UDONNA, MARILYN LITTLE-MEREDITH, RAYLYN FARMS INC.: 0/67.290
4. OH’ D EOLE, MCLAIN WARD, MCLAIN WARD: 0/71.291
5. CARGINO Z, JOHANNES EHNING, SOUTH BEACH: 0/73.024
6. MURKA S RUPERT R, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 0/73.936
7. MURKAS PALM DE ME, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 0/79.029
8. TORTOLA, LAURA KRAUT, BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 4/64.482
9. G & C QUICK STAR, PABLO BARRIOS, GUSTAVO & CAROLINA MIRABAL: 4/65.419
10. AVAILABLE VERSACE, LAUREN HOUGH, CHLOE D REID LLC: 4/65.901
11. TRULLI, JAMES BENEDETTO, EQUINIMITY LLC: 4/67.436
12. TWISTHER, CHRISTINE MCCREA, CANDY TRIBBLE: 4/68.384
The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment. FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
During the 12 weeks of WEF, “Saturday Night Lights” headlines the entertainment each Saturday night where spectators not only enjoy the Grand Prix class, but a street carnival, live music, and numerous dining options with box seats, sports bars, and the famed Tiki Hut for front row fun.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.