Wellington, FL – March 4, 2015 – The Ridge at Wellington’s Turf Tour visited Tonkawa Farms to kick off the ninth week of competition. The sun shined all day over the gorgeous polo fields on the private estate. Manicured hedges bordered the property and created a tranquil setting for the horses and riders to enjoy beautiful courses designed by Nick Granat in the main ring and Michel Ismalum in the second ring. Many of the riders took advantage of the incredibly close proximity to the show grounds and nearby farms and hacked over.
Conor Swail rode several horses today in the 1.30-1.35m classes and set the time to beat on his winner from earlier weeks of the Tour. Susan Grange’s Fortis Fortuna blazed around the course, stopping the clock at 31.708 seconds. This pair’s time held up for the majority of the day.
Just before 2:30 p.m., Christina Firestone entered the ring aboard Graham Fletcher’s Wilhelmus S. She flew around the track, giving Swail a run for his money. When the clock stopped, there was a new leader for the $2400 1.30-1.35m class- the time read 29.917 seconds.
Wilhelmus S is a new mount for Firestone, having just acquired the ride about a week ago. “It’s really exciting to come out here and go this well. The course rode great! I love jumping on the turf; I think the horses go better on it. They were really friendly courses, the striding was right on, and I didn’t have to question any of it.”
Firestone was happy to be supporting the Turf Tour. “We’ve been doing the same classes every week over at the other horse show, and I wanted to change it up. It’s great that they have two rounds back to back, so that if you make a mistake in the first round you can go back and fix it in the next one. I think it’s really nice that they have the friendly 1.40 Grand Prix on Friday, I’ll for sure be back for it!”
The second $2400 1.30-1.35m class was won by McLain Ward on HH Eli Cash for Double H Farm. The world-class athlete piloted the 8-year-old to an unbeatable time of 30.291 seconds. Ward made his jump off round look effortless, leaving out strides and wasting no time in the turns on his way to the victory.
McLain Ward and HH Eli Cash
Ward spoke about his mount that he has brought to many of the stops during the Turf Tour. “He’s an eight year old, owned by Double H Farm. I’ve just been developing him here in this series and he’s coming along quite nicely. He’ll continue to compete in this series; he’ll do the 1.40 on Friday and probably do one more before the end of the season. He’s an exciting talent.”
He continued, “The course rode beautifully. Nick Granat’s done an unbelievable job this whole season for the young horses. The venues are spectacular. Really for the young horses it’s a far better, more tranquil and more productive experience than the back rings at the other show. It really gives them some great experience for the future so it’s really nice to have.”
Second went to Dafnina, ridden by Diego Gonzalez Cremer for Claudia Licousi. As the last rider of the day, Diego did his best to catch Ward’s time, but fell short finishing in 31.096 seconds. Third went to Miranda Scott riding her long time partner Quick Latinus, posting a time of 32.062 seconds.
The Young Horse series, in partnership with Classic Champions, Inc., was highly successful today, with an abundance of entries into the 5,6 and 7-year-old divisions. The 5-year-old division was dominated by Baloumerang SV, owned by Genevieve Edwards and ridden by Josh Dolan. McKayla Langmeier piloted Laney in the 6-year-old Young Jumper class to rack up another win for owner Linda Langmeier. In the 6-year-old Young Jumper Championship qualifier class, Everton, owned by Wolver Hollow and ridden by Matthew M. Matell triumphed. The highlight of the day in Ring 2 was the $2000 7-year-old Young Jumper class. Skara Glen’s Prescence cashed in during that class, winning for owner Skara Glen Stables with Paul O'Shea in the irons.
Class: 201 - $2400 1.30M-1.35M Jumper Table II Sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 472 HH Eli Cash Double H Farm McLain Ward
2. 830 Dafnina Claudia Licousi Diego Gonzales Cremer
3. 1574 Quick Latinus Miranda Scott Miranda Scott
4. 1243 Ciske Van Overis Double H Farm Quentin Judge
5. 1570 Fortis Fortuna Susan Grange Conor Swail
6. 1579 Cruz Z Wendy Ritter Peralta Wendy Ritter Peralta
7. 1573 Game Ready Susan Grange Conor Swail
8. 1563 Cyon Z Wolver Hollow Matthew Metell
Class: 202 - $2400 1.30M-1.35M Jumper Table II Sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1595 Wilhelmus S Graham Fletcher Christina Firestone
2. 1598 information unavailable
3. 1570 Fortis FortunaSusan Grange Conor Swail
4. 1247 Swagger Centennial Farm Debbie Stephens
5. 716 Cover Girl Finca Horses Inc Nina Fagerstrom
6. 1575 Tahiti Island Blue Hill Farm LLC Conor Swail
7. 1246 Chill Haze Paul Yanke Paul Yanke
8. 1591 Kodaline Beth Underhill Beth Underhill
Class: 101. Low Schooling Jumper 1.1-1.15 Table II sec 2.2.1
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1596 Royal Diamond Linda Sheridan Linda Sheridan
2. 1569 Catwoman Tiffany Avon Tiffany Avon
3. 1578 Kandice Olivia Rathgeb Olivia Rathgeb
4. 1576 WF Rocket Windridge Farm Taylor McMurtry
Class: 102. Low Schooling Jumper 1.1-1.15 Table II sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1578 Kandice Olivia Rathgeb Olivia Rathgeb
2. 1580 Florien Diana Walters Diana Walters
3. 1567 Cadente Arturo Altamar Miguel Sarmineto
4. 1566 Napoleon Fernando Cardenas Katelyn Hess
5. 1568 Sokrates Arturo Altamar Miguel Sarmineto
6. 1569 Catwoman Tiffany Avon Tiffany Avon
Class 103. Medium Jumper 1.20-1.25m Table IV Sec 1
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1242 Kandel Iron Horse Farm Catherine Sullivan
2. 457 Airport du Chateau Hollogne Samantha Johnson Sarah E. Wayda
3. 601 Contentus Rian Miller Sarah E. Wayda
4. 1552 Virtuoso de Talma Paul O’Shea Paul O’Shea
5. 1581 Durosa W Linda Langmeier McKayla Langmeier
Class 104.Medium Jumper 1.20-1.25m Table II Sec 2b
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1587 Zuidam Robert McNeel Robert McNeel
2. 601 Contentus Rian Miller Sarah E. Wayda
3. 1555 Bachelor Tequestrian Farms Paul O’Shea
4. 1566 Napoleon Fernando Cardenas Katelyn Hess
5. (TIE) 1553 Skara Glen’s Prescence Skara Glen Stables
5.(TIE) 1554 Gatsby 165 Whipstick Farm LTD
7. 1242 Kandel Iron Horse Farm Catherine Sullivan
8. 457 Airport du Chateau Hollogne Samantha Johnson Sarah E. Wayda
Class 501. 5-Year-Old Jumper
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1600 Baloumerang SV Genevieve Edwards Josh Dolan
Class 502. 5-Year-Old Jumper YJC Qualifying Class
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1600 Baloumerang SV Genevieve Edwards Josh Dolan
2. 1576 WF Rocket Windridge Farm Taylor McMurtry
Class 601. 6-Year-Old Jumper
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1582 Laney Linda Langmeier McKayla Langmeier
2. 1583 Edington Kyla Makhloghi Kyla Makhloghi
3. 1559 Expresso Holly Caristo Martha Redman
Class 602. $500 6-Year-Old Jumper YJC Qualifying Class
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1562 Everton Matthew M. Metell Matthew M. Metell
2. 1582 Laney Linda Langmeir McKayla Langmeier
3. 1583 Edington Kyla Makhloghi Kyla Makhloghi
4. 1552 Virtuoso de Talma Paul O’Shea Paul O’Shea
5.(TIE) 1559 Expresso Holly Caristo Martha Redman
5.(TIE) 1599 Diabolo D’esquelmes Ronda Stavisky Jennifer Ramsey
Class 701. 7-Year-Old Jumper
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1245 Carle Paul Yanke Paul Yanke
Class 702. $2000 7-Year-Old Jumper YJC Qualifying Class
Place Entry Horse Owner Rider
1. 1553 Skara Glen’s Prescence Skara Glen Stables
2. 1554 Gatsby 165 Whipstick Farm LTD
3. 1591 Kodaline Beth Underhill Beth Underhill
4. 1245 Carle Paul Yanke Paul Yanke