Todd Minikus and Quality Girl (Sportfot)

Wellington, Fla. - The first "Saturday Night Lights" grand prix competition of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival was an exciting one as fans who braved the chilly and blustery weather were treated to a fast jump-off and winning ride from Todd Minikus (USA) on the Quality Group's Quality Girl. They finished four seconds faster than second place finishers, Samuel Parot (CHI) on Atlantis. Richie Moloney (IRL) placed third with Carrabis Z.

Week two of the Winter Equestrian Festival concludes on Sunday, January 24, at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) and is sponsored by Marshall & Sterling Insurance. Competition for Sunday includes the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Equine Couture/TuffRider, at 8 a.m. and the $35,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Classic, now scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. in the International Arena following the Parade of Champions at 11:30 a.m.

Course designer Catsy Cruz set the track for the grand prix, which had 45 entries and 12 clear through to the jump-off. Emanuel Andrade (VEN) and Nokia de Brekka set the early leading pace with a clear round in 37.14 seconds for fifth place. Moloney and Carrabis Z, owned by Equinimity LLC, brought the winning time down to 36.57 seconds, but would settle for third. Margie Engle (USA) and Indigo, owned by Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek, and Gladewinds, slotted into fourth place with a time of 36.70 seconds. Parot made a bid for the win and had a brief time at the top of the standings when they finished in 36.25 seconds.

As the final competitors in the jump-off, Minikus and Quality Girl galloped to the first fence and never looked back. With incredible rollback turns and a speedy pace, they stopped the timers almost four seconds faster in 32.41 seconds for the win.

"I watched Richie go and I thought, 'That looks pretty impressive,' and then Samuel went and I thought, 'This looks too fast.' But when I went to the first jump, she took a hold of the bit and dragged me on down there. It felt great," Minikus said.

It was a gratifying win for Minikus, who had a severe groin injury in September, which put him on the sidelines for months. He has had a successful relationship with Quality Girl, a 13-year-old Oldenburg mare by Quidam's Rubin x Dobrock.

"I just sat around for months," Minikus recalled. "Somehow I got myself back in shape and hopefully it will stay together for the rest of the circuit. We have a big summer coming up, and I have big plans. I hope that Babalou and Quality Girl have a good circuit here."

He continued, "It's nice that Quality Girl came out with guns a blazin', so to speak. She jumped great last week and I screwed the jump-off up and made kind of a crappy turn, but tonight I rode her so she could win."

Minikus was quick to thank his team and added, "I'd like to thank the owners in Quality Group and all the sponsors - Purina, Charles Owen, VitaFlex - I can't do it without them. Shannon who takes care of Quality Girl has been doing a great job flatting her while I was hurt, so she gets a lot of credit."

Parot is coming off a streak of World Cup wins on the West Coast this past fall with Atlantis, a 13-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Andiamo x Royal Bravour L.

"My horse is very fast and careful," Parot described. "I had a very good summer with him. I tried (tonight), but Todd is very fast."

Moloney and Carrabis Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide stallion by Cannabis Z x Grannusso, also recorded big victories in 2015. They won the CSI 4* grand prix at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and took the top placing at the American Gold Cup CSI 4*-W.

He noted, "I was very happy. My horse had a break for almost three months so it's nice that he came out like this. It's the first week back jumping bigger, and he was great."

Katherine Strauss Tops 64 in $10,000 Artisan Farms U25 Welcome Stake

The Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series got underway on Saturday with a win for Katherine Strauss in the $10,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Welcome Stake. Strauss, 17, and her own All In bested 64 entries in the one-round speed class, stopping the clock in 64.57 seconds.

Sima Morgello and Orientales jumped into second for Double S Farm, LLC in 66.14 seconds. Third was presented to Hayley Barnhill and Zephire in 69.48 seconds for Barnhill, LLC. Lucas Porter and Diamante Darco took fourth in 70.23 seconds for the Sleepy P Ranch, while Tina Di Landri capped the top five aboard Zelote VDL, owned by Highpoint Farm, LLC in 71.13 seconds.

Presented by The Dutta Corp. in association with Guido Klatte, the Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series (AFU25GPS) returns to the Winter Equestrian Festival for its sixth season this year. Throughout the circuit, the series offers a total of $170,000 in prize money while showcasing top young talent in show jumping sport. Open to competitors of all nationalities aged 25 and under, the AFU25GPS is sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), giving many riders their first experience competing at the 1.45m level under FEI rules.

Strauss, a regular competitor in the Series at WEF, is currently approaching the end of her junior career with her sights set on grand prix competition.

"This series is such a great way to bridge the gap between the junior jumpers and the grand prix level," she said. "I am really looking forward to competing in the U25 Series with All In for the rest of the circuit."

All In has been the ride of Strauss for two years, and she characterizes him as a scopey jumper with a ground-covering stride.

"Today's course was built to my advantage. He is so fast across the ground and that helped us make up some time in this big ring," said Strauss.

Strauss admits that she and All In have developed a strong bond while competing in junior jumper and small grand prix classes together.

"He always does everything I ask of him," she said. "He's the love of my life."

Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series competition continues on Sunday with the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Equine Couture/TuffRider.

Nicole Hiehle and Lovely Charity (Sportfot)

Nicole Hiehle Pilots Lovely Charity to the Hunt Ltd Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 Championship

The Amateur-Owner Hunter Over 35 division, which was sponsored by Hunt Ltd, crowned Nicole Hiehle and her own Lovely Charity champion in the E.R Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Saturday morning. The pair dominated the division this week, winning three out of four over fences classes. John Ingram and his mount Airport 48 also performed consistently. They earned three second-place ribbons over fences on their way to the reserve champion honors.

Hiehle, of Dublin, OH, and Lovely Charity are no strangers to the winner's circle. The pair has enjoyed ample success during their two years together. In 2014 they clinched the Amateur-Owner Over 35 division championship at The National Horse Show and in 2015 the pair was awarded the prestigious USEF Horse of the Year honors for the same division.

Lovely Charity, a 12-year-old Oldenburg mare by Charity, did not seem fazed by the heavy rains on Friday and the strong winds on Saturday. "The elements were a little bit of a challenge this week," Hiehle remarked. Yet, "Lovey," as she is affectionately called, still performed at her best.

"She's just so consistent and everything I ask her to do, she does it," Hiehle detailed. "She's a good mare. She always gives 110%," she added.

Hiehle was particularly excited to compete in the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter Ring on Saturday. It was the perfect place for "Lovey" to return to competition following a one-month hiatus before the start of WEF. "We love showing in the Grand Hunter ring because you can get a gallop going," Hiehle explained. 

Hiehle plans to continue showing Lovely Charity over the next ten weeks of WEF. "I'm just going to try and enjoy the year," she added while speaking about her goals for the rest of the show circuit.

Week two of the Winter Equestrian Festival concludes on Sunday featuring the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Equine Couture/TuffRider in the International Arena. Championship honors will be awarded in the Equestrian Sotheby's Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under division. For more information and full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.

Final Results: $86,000 Marshall & Sterling Insurance Grand Prix CSI 2*

1 QUALITY GIRL: 2003 Oldenburg mare by Quidam's Rubin x Dobrock
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Quality Group: 0/0/32.41

2 ATLANTIS: 2003 Zangersheide gelding by Andiamo x Dodana W
SAMUEL PAROT (CHI), Samuel Parot: 0/0/36.25

3 CARRABIS Z: 2003 Zangersheide stallion by Canabis Z x Grannusso
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/0/36.57

4 INDIGO: 2000 KWPN gelding by Indoctro
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek & Gladewinds: 0/0/36.70

5 NOKIA DE BREKKA: 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Quick Star SF x Apache d'Adriers
EMANUEL ANDRADE (VEN), Emanuel Andrade: 0/0/37.14

6 UNTOUCHED: 2007 Westphalian stallion by Untouchable x Capitol I
NICK SKELTON (GBR), Poden Farms: 0/0/37.66

7 CYNAR VA: 2007 Zangersheide gelding by Clarimo x Alcatraz
JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN (USA), Stone Hill Farm: 0/0/38.19

8 MARTHA LOUISE, 2004 Swedish Warmblood mare by Maloubet de Pleville x Virginia Wolf
CONOR SWAIL, Ariel and Susan Grange: 0/4/33.43

9 ANDRETTI S: 2005 KWPN gelding by Corland x Animo
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Stars & Stripes: 0/4/34.24

10 BREITLING LS: 2006 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Quintero x Accord II
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/4/35.83

11 BRIGHTON: 2006 KWPN gelding by Contendro II x Quick Star
TIFFANY FOSTER (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 0/4/37.54

12 BLUE ANGEL: 2002 AES mare by Luidam x Ascendant
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Robin Parsky: 0/RET

Finals Results: $10,000 Artisan Farms U25 Welcome Stake

1 ALL IN: 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Aachen x Indoctro
KATHERINE STRAUSS (USA), Katherine Strauss, LLC: 0/64.57

2 ORIENTALES: 2002 Selle Francais mare by Rox de la Touche
SIMA MORGELLO (USA), Double S Farm, LLC: 0/66.14

3 ZEPHIRE: 2004 Dutch Warmblood mare by Coriano x Animo
HAYLEY BARNHILL (USA), Barnhill, LLC: 0/69.48

4 DIAMONTE DARCO: 2005 Great Britain Sport Horse by Unbelievable Darco
LUCAS PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch, LLC: 0/70.23

5 ZELOTE VDL: 2004 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Chin Chin x Libero H
TINA DI LANDRI (USA), Highpoint Farm, LLC: 0/71.13

6 FLECU: 2004 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Hip Hop x Flamingo
VIGGO BJORKLUND (SWE), Gyllebo Farm, LLC: 0/71.32

7 COLORLAND'S CHEYENNE: 2006 Hanoverian mare by Coupe de Couer x Landfriese II
JENNY RANKIN (IRL), Carl Handley: 0/73.18

8 HAMLET: 2007 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cicero x Carthago
LUCY DESLAURIERS (USA), Lisa Delauriers: 0/73.67

9 LORO PIANA BALLYLECK ROYALE:
ALMA BJORKLUND (SWE), Alma Bjorklund: 0/74.21

10 QUICK PETITE FOLIE: 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Calvaro Z x Thoas du Theillet
THOMAS MCDERMOTT (AUS), Gut Einhaus, LLC: 0/75.15

11 CADENCE: 2001 gelding by Cardento x Irco Marco 662
JENNIFER GATES (USA), Jennifer Gates, LLC: 0/75.69

12 COOPER: 2004 Holsteiner gelding by Colman x Corrado I
NICOLE WALKER (CAN), Nicole Walker: 0/75.90