Christine McCrea and Zerly (The Book LLC)
Friday's grand prix had 60 entries, and nine of those advanced to the jump-off over a course designed by Anthony D'Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Coming back first in the jump-off was Karen Polle on With Wings. They set a good pace in 42.076 seconds with a clear round, which would place her fourth at the end of the class.
Watch an interview with Christine McCrea about her win on Friday
Two horses later, Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Ranch's Coral Reef Via Volo had an efficient clear trip in 40.776 seconds for second place. Another two horses later, it was McCrea and Zerly, owned by Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables, who would set the winning pace in 39.337 seconds. Todd Minikus and Uraguay were also clear, but with a slightly slower time of 41.511 seconds for third place.
McCrea said of her jump-off, “Beezie was perfection. She rode her jump-off amazing. Her horse is a little bit slower through the air and Zerly is lightning fast. She's fast across and the ground and fast in the air. To be honest, I think she's just a faster horse. I don't think I really did anything superhuman or anything like that.”
Zerly has started this year strong, including a victory in the WEF Challenge Cup series this winter. Last week, she was “very, very wild,” McCrea mentioned. They were fast with four faults in the Sunday grand prix for 11th place. Going into Friday, McCrea wanted to work on rideability and getting Zerly quiet enough for the show ring.
“She's very brave and she doesn't mind anything. I knew if she was quiet enough, I could ride her. She tries really hard every time. I thought she'd be good. I didn't know I was going to win!” she said with a smile. “She's best when she's very quiet in the schooling area. When you go in the ring with her, she goes up about 10 gears. When she's wild in the schooling area, I know I'm in trouble because I go in the ring and have no control. She was very quiet in the schooling area today and was all about her business today.”
McCrea won yesterday in the 8 Year Old Young Jumpers with a horse she is very excited about, but said that Zerly leads the list of her up-and-coming mounts. “I know I said I was obsessed with my eight-year-old, but I'm even more obsessed with this horse. I think she's the best horse I've ever ridden,” she revealed. “She has all the scope and all the carefulness. The only thing is that she's nine, which is to my advantage. I think a lot of her. Hopefully in the next coming year she'll gain some experience and be ready for some big stuff and we will aim for championships. She's capable of it. I know it's in there.”
This is McCrea's second Friday grand prix win at Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows. She related, “It's awesome. It's been an amazing two weeks for me here.”
Final Results: $25,000 Grand Prix of North Salem presented by The Hakim Family
1 ZERLY: 2004 KPWN mare by Querlybet Hero x Carthago
CHRISTINE MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables: 0/0/39.337
2 CORAL REEF VIA VOLO: 1998 BWP mare by Clinton x Heartbreaker
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Coral Reef Ranch: 0/0/40.776
3 URAGUAY: 2001 KWPN gelding by Nairobi x Colino
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Legacy Stables, LLC: 0/0/41.511
4 WITH WINGS: 2003 KWPN gelding by Larino x L. Ronald
KAREN POLLE (USA), Karen Polle: 0/0/42.076
5 TIC TAC: 2003 SBS stallion by Clinton x Darco
LESLIE HOWARD (USA), Jane Clark: 0/4/40.652
6 ROUNDTHORN MADIOS: 2002 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Condios x Clover Hill
LAUREN TISBO (USA), Tequestrian Farms, LLC: 0/4/40.811
7 PRIMO DE REVEL: 2001 BWP gelding by Quinault x Lys de Darmen
PAUL O'SHEA (IRL), Michael Hayden: 0/4/45.662
8 PUMPED UP KICKS: 2003 Brandenburg gelding by Levisto x San Juan
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC: 0/8/44.533
9 STAKKARO: 2003 Hanoverian stallion by Stakkaro by Calvaro
MARTIN GUERRA (MEX), Martin Guerra: 0/8/44.791
10 SANDOR DE LA POMME: 2002 SBS gelding by Vigo D'arsouilles x Darco
MCLAIN WARD (USA), The Wannahave Group: 4/78.568
11 CATHARINA 9: 2004 Mecklenburg mare by Cellestial x Monsum
LAUREN TISBO (USA), Tequestrian Farms LLC: 4/78.843
12 ROTHCHILD: 2001 Belgian Sport Horse gelding by Artos x Elegant De L’Ile
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Sagamore Farms:4/79.068
Grooms competed in two special classes this afternoon and were rewarded for their efforts with $5,000 in prize money, thanks to class sponsors Ilan Ferder Stables, JET Show Stables, CEO Stables, McLain Ward Inc., and Stronghold Equine Equipment.
$5,000 Hunter Groom's Class
Horse, Groom, Owner
1 AATE', EFREN REBOLLO, BRIGHT STAR 158, LLC
2 CINEMAGIC, HECTOR HERNANDEZ, BRYAN BALDWIN/MERALEX FARM
3 SAFE HAVEN, VICTORIA GRAUER, COPPERLINE FARM LLC
4 DARWIN, JESUS ESCALERA, KELLY TROPIN
5 CHABLIS, JUAN HURTADO, GREAT SPAN LLC
6 ZILVER STAR, MIGUEL PEREZ, STONE HORSE FARM, LLC
7 DO TELL, ALEJANDRO DURON, BRIDGET HALLMAN
8 CASHMIRE, MIGUEL BELMONTES, STACEY SHORE WERNER, STACEY SHORE
8 SIENNA, BETO VALADEZ, LEXI MAOUNIS
$5,000 Jumper Groom's Class
Horse, Groom, Owner
1 UMORA, FELIPE "PEDRINHA" COLOMBO, PAULO SALLES
2 KADANS WEBSTER, RAMIRO TRINIDAD, ALLISON TOFFOLON
3 UP STREAM, CHERYL MAZALESKI, UP THE CREEK FARM
4 SHANDOR 41, DAVID VALDIVIA, BROOK FARM LLC,
5 CASALITA 2, JENNIFER ROWLAND, JENNIFER ROWLAND
6 MACARTHUR, VICENTE CRUZ, VICENTE, SUSAN FRIED