Darragh Kenny and Picolo (The Book LLC)
In a class of 54 entries, Darragh Kenny and Picolo, an 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly owned by Oakland Ventures, took the top spot in the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m class with a clear round in a time of 32.493 seconds. Second place went to Balboa 6, ridden by Leslie Howard for Martin Guerra. Their time was 32.709 seconds, while McLain Ward rode Blue Chip Bloodstock's Dulien van de Smeets to third place in 32.919 seconds.
Picolo has continued his success that started near the end of this winter's FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, where they had top three performances in FEI world ranking classes. Kenny noted, “He's very, very competitive, and he's really fun. He was second in a $100,000 grand prix last summer, and I'll start to graduate him up to bigger classes again. He was a little bit sick during the winter; he had ulcers. We've taken our time getting him right. He was just right at the end of Florida and showed week 11. After that, he went and had a good break out in the field before we came here.”
Kenny said that Picolo's personality and easygoing nature is what makes him stand out. “He's my pet. Actually, he's everybody in the barn's pet,” he expressed. “They all love him. He's just a fun horse to have around. Anyone can ride him, he's so easy. He goes in a soft rubber snaffle. You don't put any boots on him. Everybody can flat him, anyone can jump him.”
The opportunity to show on the grass Grand Prix Field at Old Salem Farm was one that Kenny took advantage of, along with many top show jumpers. “It's a fantastic preparation. For me, I really love coming to this horse show. I think it's a great preparation for Spruce Meadows. You get out on the grass, and there are good hills. And for all of my clients, it's great. They get used to it. It's a very different thing to ride on a hilly ring with grass than a flat, sand ring. The jumps come up faster and come up at different angles. It changes how the horses jump the jumps.”
Kenny and Picolo will be back in action for Friday's $35,000 New York Welcome Stake. Tomorrow's horse show highlights include Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Championship and another $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m class.
The $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix on May 11, the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on May 17, and the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix on May 18 will be streamed on USEF Network at www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2014OldSalemSpringShow/
Final Results: $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m
1 PICOLO DARRAGH KENNY OAKLAND VENTURES LLC: 0/0/32.493
2 BALBOA 6 LESLIE HOWARD MARTIN GUERRA: 0/0/32.709
3 DULIEN VAN DE SMEETS MCLAIN WARD BLUE CHIP BLOODSTOCK: 0/0/32.919
4 FANTASY DARRAGH KENNY OAKLAND VENTURES LLC: 0/0/35.277
5 VALDATO CARA RAETHER TRELAWNY FARM LLC: 0/0/35.717
6 HH ASHLEY MCLAIN WARD DOUBLE H FARM: 0/0/36.000
7 BOOMRANG NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO EM HORSES: 0/0/36.380
8 WHITNEY RAMIRO QUINTANA ST. BRIDES FARM: 0/0/36.819
9 ZERNIKE K BRIANNE GOUTAL REMARKABLE FARMS LP: 0/0/37.107
10 QUATTRO QUEEN JUDY GAROFALO TORRES JUAN TORRES/WEE ENTERPRISES: 0/0/37.160
11 CALISTA PAUL O'SHEA 0 GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES LLC: 0/0/37.778
12 LAPACCO WESLEY NEWLANDS WESLANDS FARM: 0/0/39.609