Wellington, FL – February 24, 2010 – Richard Spooner of Agua Dulce, CA, up on his mount Lady Like, owned by C&S Partnership, captured the victory in today’s $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m Jumper Time First Round class at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Second place honors were awarded to McLain Ward on his horse Miss Liberty 7, owned by Overlook Farm, Inc. Laura Kraut and Tortola, owned by Beverly Widdowson, finished up in the third spot.
The seventh week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Fidelity Investments and runs through Sunday, February 28. This week hosts very exciting competition, including the first two trials for the USEF World Equestrian Games (WEG) Show Jumping team on Thursday, February 25, at 7 p.m. and incorporated into the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, CSI 2* on Saturday, February 27, at 7 p.m.
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.
Guilherme Jorge of Brazil designed the course in the International Arena for a field of 36 starters. The timed first round had 13 numbered obstacles, which included two sets of double combinations. There were 17 clear rounds and the first competitor to set the pace was Peter Charles (GBR) on his mount Murka’s Rubert R, owned by Olga White. The pair had a faultless score and stopped the timers at 62.611 seconds. This round would be good enough to finish in the fifth place position.
Charles held the lead until Laura Kraut entered the ring on her horse Tortola, owned by Beverly Widdowson. The pair went straight to the top of the class after producing a clean round and fast time of 61.379 seconds, but they eventually finished third.
Joe Fargis (USA) and his horse Kimber, owned by Hidden Trail Farm, made a great effort after having a flawless round, but the pair could not conquer Kraut’s fast time after passing through the timers in 62.410 seconds. Fargis and Kimber would receive fourth place honors in today’s class.
The lead did not change hands until McLain Ward (USA) and his mount Miss Liberty 7 entered to challenge the leading time. They produced a faultless round in a time of 60.609 seconds, which would make them the automatic leaders of the class. The pair would eventually finish in the second place position.
The last proved to be the best in today’s class. Richard Spooner was up for the task on his horse Lady Like, owned by C&S Partnership. The two were able to shave two seconds off of the current leading time after stopping the clock at 58.005 seconds. Spooner and Lady Like received top place honors in the first class of the day in the International Arena.
Spooner thought the course was straightforward, but added, “When you get going fast, even the simplest things can get technical.”
Spooner was very pleased with the eleven-year- old mare Lady Like. He described, “She’s a wonderful horse that is consistently clean, careful, and fast.” He continued, “My student Katherine Bardis used to ride her, but she was brought here for me to ride and sell.” Spooner hopes to continue his success with Lady Like in the 1.45m classes and plans to put her in a few WEF Challenge Cup Grand Prix classes towards the end of the circuit.
Tomorrow’s action will continue with the $30,000 WEF Challenge Round 7 at 1 p.m. The $40,000 USEF World Equestrian Games (WEG) Trial Class # 1 will begin at 7 p.m.
Final Results: $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m Jumper Time First Round
1. LADY LIKE, RICHARD SPOONER, C&S PARTNERSHIP: 0/58.005
2. MISS LIBERTY 7, MCLAIN WARD, OVERLOOK FARM INC: 0/60.609
3. TORTOLA, LAURA KRAUT, BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 0/61.379
4. KIMBER, JOE FARGIS, HIDDEN TRAIL FARM: 0/62.410
5. MURKA’S RUBERT R, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 0/62.611
6. TJENGO, BETH UNDERHILL, BETH UNDERHILL: 0/63.986
7. KATINA 12, MICHAEL MURPHY, MICHAEL MURPHY: 0/64.768
8. SCARFACE, NORMAN DELLO JOIO, TONY WEIGHT: 65.505
9. APACHE, ASHLEE BOND, LITTLE VALLEY FARM: 0/65.911
10. DRYDEN, IAN MILLER, ARIEL AND SUSAN GRANGE: 0/68.000
11. CHIRON S, PAIGE JOHNSON, SALAMANDER FARM: 0/68.159
12. AZZARO, YANN CANDELE, SUSAN GRANGE: 0/68.981
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.