Mclain Ward and HH Carlos Z (The Book LLC)

North Salem, NY – May 15, 2015 – Mclain Ward went one-two against 43 contenders to win the $35,000 Grand Prix of North Salem, presented by Karina Brez Jewelry, on HH Carlos Z for Double H Farm. He was also second aboard Troya Retiro, who he co-owns with Susan Heller, to kick off weekend competition at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows.

The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are in the second week of competition and run through Sunday, May 17, at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from all corners of the country to compete for more than $500,000 in prize money.

In the first grand prix test from Ireland's Alan Wade during Week 2 at Old Salem Farm, 10 pairs advanced to the jump-off with Ward of Brewster, NY, sitting pretty on two hopeful mounts. "I thought the track was friendly," said Ward. "I am the biggest fan of Alan – he's the best in the world. Overall, the water was presented nicely and it was a nice prep for Sunday."

Carlos broke the timers double clear in 41.284 seconds, and Troya Retiro jumped off last with the class already won for Ward. Their time was 46.686 seconds for the red ribbon.

Ward will pilot both HH Carlos Z and Troya Retiro in Sunday's $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, bringing the veteran and new blood to play for the richest purse of the two-week circuit.

"I know Carlos, and he's one of fastest horses in the sport. He was the one to put the pressure on," said Ward of the 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding who also took top honors in the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m at Old Salem Farm last week. “Troya is a new horse I bought at the end of Florida together with my godmother Susan Heller. It was a quick deal – we tried, vetted and put him on the truck in the same day. So far he's really exciting, very careful and a big jumper."

Troya Retiro is a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding that jumped under Colombian colors in the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup in Ocala this February with Juan Pablo Betancourt in the irons. "He [Juan Pablo] did a very nice job producing the horse and I have just been getting to know him these two weeks, but he's quite a talent."

Both HH Carlos Z and Troya Retiro will head north to Calgary next, where Ward is excited to test the derby talents of his new gelding. "He was great on this open field, and we've schooled the naturals a bit," said Ward on his preparation for the derbies at Spruce Meadows.

Molly Ashe was just fractions slower than Ward and Troya Retiro in 46.865 seconds on Louisburg Farm's Whistler for third. "We got him [Whistler] at the beginning of the Florida circuit and he had some time off for an injury before that," said Ashe of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. "I started him in the schooling jumpers in Florida and did a few 1.45m classes and one 1.50m at the end of the season. Last week was his first time back since WEF. He has all the ability in the world, we just have to keep getting him fit."

Ashe hails from Wellington, FL, but lives only 20 minutes away from Old Salem Farm while she's showing north of Florida and admits it feels like home. "I have been coming here since I was a junior," she said. "We don't jump on fields like this that often anymore – it's a great venue."

Rounding out the top five, Cara Raether Carey and Trelawny Farm, LLC's Winston took fourth in a clear 47.233 seconds, while Quentin Judge and Double H Farm's HH Copin Van De Broy settled for fifth with a rail in 44.514 seconds.

For the win, Ward was presented with an 18k yellow gold earring and necklace set from Karina Brez's Horse LUV Collection. "My wife will be very happy and it's also a little something for Carlos' groom [Kelly Massari]," he said. "He's like a pet to her, and she does a great job with him."

Earlier in the day on The Grand Prix Field, Leslie Howard and her own Moondoggie won the $6,500 Open Jumper 1.35m. Sarah Segal and California were second for American Equestrian Associates II, LLC, and Annie Phillips took third aboard her own Lennox Lewis 2.

Savanna Hajdasz, Efren Rebollo Take Top Prizes in $5,000 Grooms Class

She was, without a doubt, the crowd favorite and made Old Salem Farm proud on home turf. Savanna Hajdasz, a working student at Old Salem Farm, won top call in the $2,500 Jumper Division of the annual Grooms Class with Elan Farm's Zarousch to collect $1,200 and various prizes courtesy of sponsors Mclain Ward, Inc., Stronghold Equine Equipment, Ilan Ferder Stables, JET Show Stables and Vlock Show Stables.

Hajdasz turned 18 on Thursday and claimed a well-deserved birthday present to cheers from fellow Old Salem Farm riders in attendance at The Grand Prix Field. "I ride at Old Salem Farm and I'm in a gap year – my last as a junior," she said. "My mom [Tiffany] always taught me to practice proper horsemanship and put the horse first."

Efren Rebollo and Clementina Brown's Dashing collected first-place honors in the $2,500 Hunter Division, again earning $1,200 and sponsored prizes. "I was surprised because all the horses looked amazing," said Rebollo. "It was hard to win, but we just try to do the best we can."

Rebollo works for Louise Serio at Derbydown Stables and won the Grooms Class in 2013 before placing sixth last year. "We have really nice, beautiful horses so I thought, 'Why not do it,'" he concluded.

Competition continues tomorrow at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presentation of Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion, and the $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by Miller Motorcars, on the Grand Prix Field. Outside the ring, a host of spectator favorites return to Old Salem Farm, including face painting from 1-3pm in front of the main barn and a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Social, sponsored by Wolf Conservation Center, by the food vendors from 2-3pm.

CORRECTION: In yesterday's competition release from The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, Jacquelyn Maggiore was incorrectly listed as piloting Avignion to Reserve Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division. Owner/rider Francesca Migliore rode Avignion, jumping to first and second placings over fences for the Reserve Champion title.

Final Results: $35,000 Grand Prix of North Salem, presented by Karina Brez Jewelry
1 HH CARLOS Z MCLAIN WARD DOUBLE H FARM 0/0/41.284
2 TROYA RETIRO MCLAIN WARD MCLAIN WARD & SUSAN HELLER 0/0/46.686
3 WHISTLER MOLLY ASHE LOUISBURG FARM 0/0/46.865
4 WINSTON CARA RAETHER CAREY TRELAWNY FARM, LLC 0/0/47.233
5 HH COPIN VAN DE BROY QUENTIN JUDGE DOUBLE H FARM 0/4/44.514
6 VANILLA BEEZIE MADDEN ABIGAIL WEXNER 0/4/45.467
7 REBECA LS BRIANNE GOUTAL REMARKABLE FARMS, LP 0/4/45.740
8 DOREMI BEN ASSELIN LINDA SOUTHERN 0/8/43.502
9 WASHINGTON SQUARE GEORGINA BLOOMBERG GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES, LLC 0/8/44.491
10 QUADAM RICHARD NEAL RICHARD NEAL 0/8/48.151
11 UBRIS SARAH SEGAL CHARWELL 1/87.258
12 CONTIKI NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO WEMBLY FARM, COKER FARM, WATERSHED 1/87.354

To enjoy what is still to come at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, tickets can be purchased HERE. Live streaming of all events is also available Friday-Sunday at www.oldsalemfarm.net.

Major events on the live stream include (times are subject to change):

Week 2
$20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by Miller Motorcars, on Saturday, May 16, 12 pm
“ShowNet Time Allowed” Pre-Game Show, on Saturday, May 16, 1:30 pm
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, on Saturday, May 16, 2 pm
“ShowNet Time Allowed” Pre-Game Show, on Sunday, May 17, 2 pm
$100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 17, 2:30

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Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com.

Photos by The Book, LLC

Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group in 2011-2014. Host of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.