Bristol, WI - The Evergreen Invitational had a wet start this year with scattered showers throughout the morning. The $25,000 Junior/Amateur Owner, which kicked off the event, had no jump off, resulting in a five-way tie. But it cleared up for Kent Farrington and Up Chiqui to take first in the $75,000 Grand Prix. The sun burst through the clouds just in time for the victory lap.

Hosted by MK Pritzker and The Woman's Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, this equestrian charity event attracted over 600 guests, who came to support the equestrian sport and to witness nationally and internationally ranked riders compete. Over a $1 million dollars was raised from the competition. Proceeds will benefit innovative programs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The rainy weather seemed like déjà vu to returning riders and spectators. Two years ago the Evergreen Invitational almost got rained out due to terrific rain storms and flooding that resulted in no jump off and a three-way tie in the grand prix.

This year's $25,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Classic sponsored by R. Bruce Duchossois and H ‘n D Stables, saw a similar fate. Ericka Pritz, Chloe Wormser, Haylie Jayne, Meagan Nusz and Kirstie Dobbs, who all occurred four faults in the first phase, opted to save their horses and forgo the jump off.

Wormser on Udiana had the advantage of riding first in the set, but still admitted the grass was slippery. She acquired four faults at what seemed the most troublesome fence of the class- the eighth fence in the course, a brush oxer, which was right after a liverpool. "Sometimes your horse will spook a little over a liverpool, which can mess up your ride to the next jump," Wormser said. "You had to make a decision to either go forward and do five strides or bend out and do six." Although she did the six, her chestnut mare looked at the second obstacle, jumping it a little off, causing a rail to fall. Wormser was fastest of the five with the time of 86.528 seconds.

Unlike her competitor, Kirstie Dobbs planned for the five from the liverpool to oxer line on her first ride, Tea Party, who tripped after fence seven. "By the time he picked himself back up, it wasn’t enough time, so I had to circle. That was a little disheartening," Dobbs admitted. She changed her plan on her second ride, Eso, and waited for the six, which resulted in a better outcome. However, she picked up four faults with a drop rail at the first vertical of the double combination and a time of 90.227. Kirstie supported the rest of the finalists’ decision to not jump off. "We knew we weren't going to go fast, which defeats the purpose of a jump off," she said. "We wanted to save the horses."

Meagan Nusz and her newest ride, Banana D'ive Z, owned by TNT Equine Partners, LLC, also tied for first, had a time of 92.193 and accumulated four faults at the triple combination.

ENDS