David Blake Scores Victory During Tryon Spring II at TIEC
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| David Blake and DY Zento. Photo Credit ©Sportfot. |
“Last week was his first week under the lights and I was delighted with him,” commented Blake. “He was a top horse in the class and was double clear. I went as quick as I could to get him some experience against the clock, and my aim was to come back tonight just to firm everything up. Tonight, once again, he proved how good of a horse he is, clear and very solid. He’s really only been against the clock a couple of times and Juan’s horse is quite experienced, so I was surprised that we were quicker, but the horse is getting faster and more experienced every week.”
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| David Blake, Juan Ortiz, and Brittni Raflowitz in their presentation ceremony with Paul and Pamela Deck, Owners of McCurry-Deck Chevrolet Buick GMC, alongside Sharon Decker, COO of Tryon Resort. . Photo Credit ©Sportfot. |
Blake plans to take the coming months to gain miles on the mount, taking a few weeks off before beginning their summer show schedule. “He’s going to get a couple of weeks off now with a few other upcoming shows,” he explained, “and then come back to this ring to do some of the bigger shows toward the end of the summer to step it up a bit. Hopefully big things to come.”
The Tryon Spring Series will continue with four more weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition, concluding on Sunday, June 10, before the start of the 2018 Tryon Summer Series on Thursday, June 14, through Sunday, July 22.
Jumper Highlights
Earlier in the week, Jimmy Torano of Wellington, FL, and Armageddon, owned by Cenci Jumper, LLC, blazed the trail in the $5,000 1.40m Welcome Stake, topping the class on a jump-off time of 38.486 seconds. Samantha Kasowitz of New York, NY, and Fair Play Farm’s Charlie rode to second after crossing through timers in 39.22 seconds. Third place was awarded to Catherine Tyree of Chicago, IL, and Mary and Joseph Tyree’s Enjoy Louis, jumping to a time of 40.614 seconds.
Larry Antonini of New Orleans, LA, rode to victory aboard Rocking The Boat, owned by Mary Antonini, in the $300 Tryon Estates Low Adult-Amateur Jumper Stake, after stopping the jump-off timers in 29.389 seconds. Wendy Dixon of Coatesville, PA, and her own Hardwish 711 took second place with a time of 29.568 seconds. Elizabeth Phillips of New Canaan, CT, and her own Fascinate earned third place after a jump-off round ending in 32.36 seconds.
The $300 Low Children’s 1.0m Jumper Stake saw Paige Demarco of Fort Mill, SC, and her own Cardent D.D.L. take first place with a jump-off time of 30.613 seconds, while Carlee McCutcheon of Aubrey, TX, and Turnabout Farm, Inc.’s Aspen finished in second place with a first round time of 60.979 seconds and four faults. Sydney Murdoch of Frisco, TX, collected third place with M & M Sport Horses Sales LLC’s Nicolosi, after finishing with four faults and a time of 61.379 seconds in the first round.
The $2,000 NAL/WIHS 1.10m Children’s Jumper Classic was won by Erin Floyd of Austin, TX, and her own Russell, after crossing through jump-off timers in 29.404 seconds. Kelsey Spence of Bloomfield Hills, MI, and Imperial Show Stables Clive earned second place with a time of 31.578 seconds. Alexandra Doyle of Canton, GA, finished in third place with Carto’s Star after contesting the course in 28.569 seconds and with four added faults.
Ava Ellis of Annapolis, MD, and Clear Ride, LLC’s Quickley 3 rode to victory in the $3,000 NAL 1.20m Low Junior Jumper Classic after completing their jump-off trip in 29.781 seconds ahead of John Angus of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Leroy, owned by Jimmy Torano, who took second with a time of 31.111 seconds. Isabella Durnell of Suwannee, GA, and Pelham Bay, owned by Lee Hughes, earned third place after riding to a jump-off time of 32.882 seconds.
The $3,000 1.20m Low Amateur Jumper Classic awarded the win to Katherine Bakker of Wadmalaw Island, SC, and her own Darabi, with a jump-off time of 31.554 seconds. Addison Gierkink of Harpswell, ME, and Kadley Holdings LLC’s S & L Slingback were presented with second place after completing the track in 32.828 seconds. Samantha Kasowitz of New York, NY, placed third with Fair Play Farm’s Felini de la Pomme collected third place in the class with a jump-off time of 32.993 seconds.
The $5,000 1.30m Medium Junior Amateur Jumper Classic saw Carly Dvorkin of Parkland, FL, and Pine Hollow Farm’s Carlotta 168 take first place, stopping the jump-off timers in a quick 41.138 seconds. Dvorkin also took home second place aboard Pine Hollow Farm’s Fuego after finishing the track in 41.689 seconds. Ava Ellis of Annapolis, MD, scooped up third place aboard Remmits Delphi, owned by Remmits Dressuurpaarden and Van Doren Sporthorses, finishing with a time of 41.912 seconds.
The $10,000 1.40m High Junior Amateur Jumper Classic awarded the win to Quinn Larimer of Mableton, GA, and the Nestledown Equine Services, LLC owned Limboy von Worrenberg, with a jump-off time of 43.012 seconds. Daneli Miron of Delray Beach, FL, and MD Serenade de Montsec, owned by Miron, were presented with second place after completing the track in 41.364 seconds but with four added faults. John Angus of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, placed third with Stephanie E. Angus’ Ninetwofive after riding through the first round in 81.909 seconds and with four faults.
The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby saw Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, AL, and Barbara Risius’ Longstreet take the championship title after earning a total of 184 points after the conclusion of competition. Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, RI, and Patricia Fulchino’s Uppercut, secured reserve champion honors on 174 points. Shepherd also won the yellow ribbon aboard Helen Brown’s Tybee, after riding to 173.5 points.
Dylan Driver of Macon, GA, was awarded champion of the Large Pony Hunter Division with winning mount Silverwood Full Sail, owned by Jennifer Darst. Reserve champion was presented to Philippa Ammann of Detroit, MI, and Childs Play Hot Topic, owned by Mia Albelo.
Nicole Davis of Charlotte, NC, and her own Per Se, were champions of the USHJA Hunter 2’3″ Division. Reserve champion was awarded to Catherine Tucker of Huntersville, NC, riding Grayson Shelton’s Pandora.
The USHJA Hunter 3′ Division champion was awarded to Denise Monopoli of Loxahatchee, FL, riding Coralie, owned by Cindy Gerhart. Reserve champion was awarded to Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, RI, and Fiach Byrne Inc.’s Hardwell.
The USHJA Hunter 2′ Division was won by Jennifer Bryant of Apex, NC, and Piano Man, owned by Bryant. Linda Bakker of Charleston, SC, and her own Cimy Von Kielsluck captured reserve champion honors.
Katherine Ballentine of Columbia, SC, and her own Lyons Creek Contador took top honors in the Marshall & Sterling Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division. Sara Ketcham of Columbus, NC, and Uptown Funk, owned by Still Creek Farm, rode to reserve.
Ashleigh Colantuoni of Raleigh, NC, aboard Bold Dream, owned by Colantuoni, secured champion honors in the Small/Med Pony Hunter Division, ahead of Katalena Prusso of Woodstock, GA, aboard Magnum Opus, owned by Lizzy McCrady.
Cole Battershall of Ada, MI, and Amalfi Coast, owned by Battershall, finished atop the Pre-Adult 2’6″ Hunter Division ahead of Nicole Davis of Charlotte, NC, who collected reserve champion with her own Per Say.
Competition will resume at TIEC on Wednesday, May 16, with the third week of the Tryon Spring Series continuing through Sunday, May 20. For more information please visit www.Tryon.com.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.