| Christina Webb of Bahama, North Carolina piloted Fox View Farm’s FVF Sailor Man to the win in yesterday’s $1,500 1.35 m Open Jumper Stake after posting double clear rounds in a second round time of 38.701 seconds over a course designed by Olympic Course Designer, Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida. The first round was set with a time allowed of 84 seconds, with only five advancing to a second round opportunity. “It was a deceptively tough course,” commented Webb. “The lines looked easier and I thought it walked longer than they would be,” she added. Of the eleven horse and rider teams, only five would advance to a second round opportunity with a time allowed of 48 seconds. Zachary Parks of Charlottesville, Virginia in the irons of Jill Greiner’s Indigo Z would be the first to advance to a second round. The pair earned four jump faults in a time of 42.500 seconds. Samantha Tuerk of Wellington, Florida aboard Stony Ridge Management’s Camryn followed in the order with a clear first round and their fault-free second round in a time of 39.155 set the new time to beat. The lead was short lived, as Webb and FVF Sailor Man were next up and with their fault-free second round in a time of 38.701 seconds, took the lead. “I watched the course before I had to show and that’s when I decided to make some adjustments to my plan. My horse hadn’t shown since the beginning of March in Ocala. You always hope that you’ll go in and pick up where you left off,” she laughed. “He was really good and the second round was much smoother for him,” she added. The next to advance to a second round opportunity was Ashley Foster of Brookeville, Maryland riding Rolling Acres’ Stardust. Four jump faults in a time of 40.084 seconds would see them finish in fourth place. Sitting in the enviable last to go position was Shelly Zimmerli of Fairfax Station, Virginia in the irons of Zimmerli Show Jumping, LLC’s Haydn. Their fault-free first round qualified them for a second round opportunity and although the pair had the fastest second round time in 38.353 seconds, four jump faults would see them finish in third overall, leaving Webb and FVF Sailor Man with the win and Tuerk and Camryn in second. “Steve [Stephens] is a tough course designer and it’s always nice to be able to ride one of his courses and especially win,” said Webb. Fifth place was awarded to Parks and Indigo Z and sixth went to Ann De Michelle of Haymarket, Virginia and Cantatu, LLC’s Canmore 2 for their four-fault first round in a time of 67.351 seconds. For more information, please visit horseshowsonline.com. |
