Alex Granato and Gangsta (Shannon Bower/Phelps Media Group)
Alex Granato posted a very fast time of 30.504 seconds aboard his own Gangsta to win the first $2400 1.30-1.35m class. The gelding has certainly lived up to his name, proving to have a bit of a spark when under saddle. "I got him from a friend of mine, Charlie Jayne. He's very aptly named! He loves carrying on bucking, I think he's bucked me off twice in the four years I've had him. He's a sweet personality on the ground, but he's a character when you ride him."
Quick Latinus was speedy around the course, piloted by his owner Miranda Scott but was not quite quick enough to catch the first place time. Although Sharn Wordley tried to catch Granato, he fell shy of the top prize in the first class, but had the win in sight for the first 1.30m-1.35m class. Wordley rode Popstar Lozonais, owned by Ashland Stables, to a time of 29.371 seconds opting to take all inside turns to claim the victory.
"He's a 12 year-old stallion by Quickstar and he's a real winner at 1.40m and 1.45m classes," Wordley explained. "He wins a class at most shows he goes to because he's a real speed demon. I've had the ride on him for a year. He's a fun horse, because you can pull him out for any class, any ring, and just go."
Themes from yesterday's Young Jumper Symposium continued today on a track designed by Michel Ismalun. "Well it was just like how I explained during the symposium. Young horses need special courses. What I put here had a lot of air, time to breathe between the jumps, progressive and never a place where they had to put forth too much effort. Today we started a system, and the footing was fantastic, I am very happy with the results. I think people are really enjoying it, it is something new out here."
Cynthia Hampton, founder of Classic Champions Inc., spoke of her passion to develop a system for the young jumpers that would give them the best chance for success. "I approached Nona [Garson] and George [D'Ambrosio], and we feel as though 5 and 6 year olds should show on grass first so that they move forward and have room to breathe. They were very open to the idea, so we are very fortunate to be able to begin with The Ridge."
Ismalun will be setting the courses for all of the Young Jumper series. There are six separate weeks, and the final week will have a two-day championship format. The purpose of the series is to educate young horses and create long-lasting athletes.
The course presented to the young horses presented very fair questions and provided an optional last obstacle, the choice between a liverpool or a small open water option. Josh Dolan rode Genevieve Edwards' Baloumerang Sv to a successful first place in the 5-year-old jumpers. Diamiro, ridden by Denise Wilson for Blue Gate Farm LLC claimed the top prize in the first class of the 6-year-old jumpers. Kaitlyn Campbell aboard Geoffrey Sutton's Summer Time won the Young Jumper Championship 6-year-old Qualifier class.
Tina Di Landri dominated the 7 & 8 year-old jumper division. She rode Highpoint Farm LLC's Diorado VDL to a first place ribbon in the first class and finished third in the $2000 class. She also rode Dakar VDL for Eva Castegren to a third and second place finish. Darragh Kerins rode Holsteins Eastwood, owned by M & M Show Stables, to a second place ribbon in the first class and a fifth place finish in the second class.
$2400 1.30M-1.35M Jumper Table II Sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider Money
1st 677 Gangsta 4971758 Alex Granato 270559 Alex Granato
2nd 671 Quick Latinus 4716033 Miranda Scott 127122 Miranda Scott
3rd 655 Popstar Lozonais 5304530 Ashland Stables 284425 Sharn Wordley
4th 523 Matana 5290971 Mavis Spencer 307316 KI J. MINORS
5th 550 One Kamula 5292365 Kevin Babington 175409 Kevin Babington
6th 679 Watson 5231772 Kevin Babington 175409 Katelyn Hess
7th 692 Varcotique 103HE59 Robert Doza F EI10094938 Robert Doza
8th 693 Casis 5321797 SCCA Ventures 5199086 Cassandra Herman
$2400 1.30M-1.35M Jumper Table II Sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider Money
1st 655 Popstar Lozonais 5304530 Ashland Stables 284425 Sharn Wordley
2nd 551 Borindy 5303372 Kevin Babington 175409 Kevin Babington
3rd 598 Just Stella Gabrielle Pelchat 4083790EC Melissandre Lincourt
4th 694 Best Buy 5303254 Ansgar Holtgers FEI10032893 McClain Ward
5th 599 I Spy 5349221 Sarah E. Wayda 222052 Sarah E. Wayda
6th 634 Brightly 5306302 Sagamore Farm 6022 Oliver Mc Carthy
7th 697 Allegretta 5170262 Greener Pastures 7268 Randy Johnson
8th 689 Chino 5349479 Anabelle Mejia 5347224 Andres Soto
5 Year Old Young Jumper 1.10-1.15M Table IV Sec 1
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider Money
1st 673 Baloumerang Sv 5338828 Genevieve Edwards 275901 Josh Dolan
6 Year Old Young Jumper 1.20-1.25M Table IV Sec 1
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider Money
1st 662 Diamiro 5324134 Blue Gate Farm LLC 5084692 DENISE C. WILSON
2nd 695 Summer Time 5309788 Geoffrey C. Sutton 22143 Kaitlyn Campbell
3rd 703 HH Jorlando 5285708 Double H Farm 4007064 Quentin Judge
6 Year Old YJC Qualifier 1.20-1.25M Table II Sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider Money
1st 695 Summer Time 5309788 Geoffrey C. Sutton 22143 Kaitlyn Campbell
Class: 701 - 7 & 8 Year Old Young Jumper 1.30-1.35M Table IV Sec 1
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider Money
1st 666 Diorado VDL 5238169 Highpoint Farm, LLC 4131994 Tina M. Di Landri
2nd 678 Holsteins Eastwood 5344122 M & M Show Stables 5218261 Darragh Kerins
3rd 665 Dakar VDL 5238018 Eva Castegren 4062813 Tina M. Di Landri
4th 675 Honeycomb Van De Heff 5333190 Josh Dolan
$2000 7 & 8 Year Old Young Jumper 1.30-1.35M Table II Sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider Money
1st 686 Calchen W. 5292147 Page E. Tredennick 55921 Alex Granato
2nd 665 Dakar VDL 5238018 Eva Castegren 4062813 Tina M. Di Landri
3rd 666 Diorado VDL 5238169 Highpoint Farm, LLC 4131994 Tina M. Di Landri
4th 664 Up and Blue Chapelle Julien Bussereau Emilie Parent
5th 678 Holsteins Eastwood 5344122 M & M Show Stables 5218261 Darragh Kerins