Wellington, FL – March 17, 2010- Richard Spooner up on his mount Lady Like, owned by C&S Partnership, captured the victory in today’s $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m timed first round. Second place honors were awarded to Lauren Hough and Prezioso S, owned by Highlife Farms. Laura Kraut and Tortola, owned by Beverly Widdowson, rounded out the third spot.
The tenth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Equine Couture/TuffRider and runs through Sunday, March 21. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
The CDI 3* dressage competition is the highlight in the International Arena this week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday at 7 p.m. The FTI Great Charity Challenge, a pro/am relay competing for a targeted $500,000 in money to be distributed to 24 Palm Beach county charities, is on Saturday, March 20, with festivities starting at 6 p.m. The $75,000 Equine Couture/TuffRider Grand Prix, CSI 2*, is on Sunday, March 21. It is scheduled, weather-pending, to be held at The Stadium at 3 p.m.
Alan Wade of Ireland designed the course in the DeNemethy Arena for a field of 33 starters in today’s 1.45m class. The timed first round had 11 numbered obstacles and the time allowed was 76 seconds. The course included an in-and-out to a careful skinny, a tight rollback turn to a solid wall, and multiple inside turn options.
There were 13 clear rounds and the first competitor to set the pace in a very fast time was Laura Kraut up on her mount Olmifon D’ As, owned by Happy Hill Farm. The pair displayed all of the inside turn options and whisked through the timers in 63.610 seconds, which would hold up for fourth place.
The next of the competitors to take the top spot was Lauren Hough on her horse Prezioso S, owned by Highlife Farms. The duo captured the lead when they stopped the timers at 60.726 seconds. This round held the lead for nearly all of the class, but would be good enough for the second spot in today’s class.
Laura Kraut returned on her second mount Tortola, owned by Beverly Widdowson. The pair displayed a flawless effort in a time of 63.068 seconds. This would assume the third place spot at the end of the class.
It was not until the second to the last competitor entered the ring that there was a change at the top. Richard Spooner aboard Lady Like, owned by C&S Partnership, proved to the best of the morning. After stopping the clock at 58.974 seconds, which was about two seconds faster than the current leading time, they would go straight to the top and receive first place honors.
Spooner and Lady Like are no strangers to the victory circle. The eleven-year-old Holsteiner mare won this same class in the International Arena in week 7. Spooner spoke of the consistency of his mount, “She is a fantastic horse that is unbelievably careful and she will go weeks at a time without having a rail.” He continued, “We call her the machine because she continually goes out there and has clean, fast rounds.”
As for the course, Spooner didn’t think he could do the first inside turn and make the four stride line work, but he explained, “I counted on how careful the mare is and the line was very long and she just stretched out over the oxer.” He continued, “I think that’s what got the win done for me.”
Spooner’s future plans with Lady Like are to keep her in 1.45m classes at the FTI WEF and possibly do classes on the European tour.
Tomorrow’s jumper action will feature the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 in the DeNemethy Ring at 1 p.m. For full results and more information, please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $8,000 Sentient Jet 1.45m Jumpers
1. LADY LIKE, RICHARD SPOONER, C&S PARTNERSHIP: 0/58.974
2. PREZIOSO S, LAUREN HOUGH, HIGHLIFE FARMS: 0/60.726
3. TORTOLA, LAURA KRAUT, BEVERLY WIDDOWSON: 0/63.068
4. OLMIFON D’AS, LAURA KRAUT, HAPPY HILL FARM: 0/63.610
5. AVAILABLE VERSACE, LAUREN HOUGH, CHLOE D REID LLC: 0/66.037
6. LUCIFER, MARILYN LITTLE-MEREDITH, RAYLYN FARMS INC.: 0/66.876
7. MURKA’S RUBERT R, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 0/67.702
8. KIMBER, JOE FARGIS, HIDDEN TRAIL FARM: 0/68.150
9. NAVALO DE POHETON, SCHUYLER RILEY, WOLFSTONE STABLES: 0/70.362
10. OLINDA, TODD MINIKUS, HOULIHAN LAWRENCE: 0/73.954
11. AVENSIS 4, ALEXANDER HUFENSTUHL, SABINA ILLBRUCK: 0/74.027
12. MURKA’S NEVADA VI, PETER CHARLES, OLGA WHITE: 0/74.606
The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment. FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
During the 12 weeks of WEF, “Saturday Night Lights” headlines the entertainment each Saturday night where spectators not only enjoy the Grand Prix class, but a street carnival, live music, and numerous dining options with box seats, sports bars, and the famed Tiki Hut for front row fun.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.