David Blake Scores Victory During Tryon Spring II at TIEC

The Tryon Spring II competition concluded on Sunday, May 13, at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) and saw a win for David Blake of Wellington, FL, aboard Pine Hollow Farm’s DY Zento in the $25,000 McCurry-Deck Chevrolet Buick GMC Grand Prix. Second place was captured by Juan Ortiz of Loxahatchee, FL, piloting Nenuphar’Jac, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms Inc., stopping jump-off timers in 46.684 seconds. Third place was awarded to Brittni Raflowitz of Palm City, FL, and ESI Show Jumpers Inc.’s Hilton Van de Breepoel, after completing their fast track round in 44.863 seconds.

Five of the original 24 entries moved forward to contest the short course, and Blake and his mount raced around the evening’s course designed by Manuel Esparza (MEX) to complete the jump-off in 40.018 seconds. After scoring a top ten finish in the Tryon Spring I $70,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix CSI 2*, Blake and the Dutch Warmblood gelding returned to Tryon Stadium to clinch the blue.

“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.”

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.

Jillian Letersky of Clayton, NC, and her own Tara Justly championed the $2,000 NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur 1.10m Jumper Classic, after completing their jump-off round in 29.23 seconds to best the class. Sawyer Evans of Canton, GA, and Contendra, owned by Evans, collected second place with a time of 29.752 seconds. Elizabeth Steinour of Austin, TX, achieved third place aboard her own Fiarado-Zeldenrust, rounding out the top three with a time of 34.593 seconds.

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.

Ava Pirich of Columbia, SC, was awarded champion of the Short/Long Stirrup 2′ Hunter Division aboard winning mount Harrington Sound, owned by Mariah Gaudet. Reserve champion was presented to Mina Lott of Alpharetta, GA, and Denali, owned by Alison Courtney.

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.