Wellington, FL – Oct. 3, 2021 – The final day of the ESP Summer Series saw contestants compete for the grand prize in the $10,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Open Stake. Following the first round of riding, the highlight class of the ESP Rita & Irish Flynn Memorial saw seven pairs advance to the jump-off, designed by Héctor Loyola (PUR). Of the seven pairs, Diego Vivero (ECU) and his own Flipper Lady led the pack as the quickest of only three combinations that finished the class with no faults. 

The ESP Rita & Irish Flynn Memorial is the final competition in the ESP Summer Series, but the ESP Fall Series will begin soon. The first show of the seven-event circuit, ESP October, will take place October 7-10, 2021. To view the ESP Fall Series Prize List, please click HERE.

Though the partnership of Vivero and Flipper Lady is a new one, the team has already found success in the ring in Wellington. In August at Equestrian Village, Vivero and Flipper Lady rode to second place in the Premier Equestrian 1.35m Stake and then returned to the ring in September to claim victory in the Ford’s Garage 1.35m Stake, in addition to other standout placings.

“Flipper Lady is a Dutch [Warmblood] mare that I bought two months ago. I’m really happy with her because she’s very fast and clean and she’s already won three classes this season,” commented Vivero. “My plan with her is to compete in the CSI3* grand prix in the next couple of months and then [the Winter Equestrian Festival].” 

On Sunday, Vivero was joined in the jump-off by six international riders representing nations such as Canada, Lebanon, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile. The sixth out of seven pairs to go, Vivero and Flipper Lady were up against the leading time of Vivero’s own student, Tanimari Macari (MEX) on her own Isla De Muze. The pair sat at the top of the leaderboard with the only double-clear ride thus far in 44.28 seconds. During their turn around the grass Derby Field, Vivero and Flipper Lady managed to slice almost a second off of the leading time to take the top spot with only one pair left to ride.

“The first course was good. I saw the jump-off with my student, Tanimara, so I tried to beat her,” remarked Vivero. “She’s probably not happy that I did it because she won this class last week! For the jump-off, I thought the inside turn from one to two was difficult, and the inside turn to the double was challenging, as well. My plan in the jump-off was to go fast and do all the inside turns. It worked out for us today.”

The final challengers, Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Ilan Ferder’s Huberth B gave a stellar effort for the blue ribbon, but fell just short of the time needed. Behind winners Vivero and Flipper Lady, Ballard and Huberth B claimed second place with no faults in a time of 44.15 seconds. Third place went to Macari and Isla De Muze, the final penalty-free pair of the class.

For the full results of the $10,000 Bainbridge Companies 1.40m Open Stake, please click HERE.

Earlier in the week, the $5,000 CCTV Agent 1.35m Jumper Stake on Friday saw 27 entries test the track, with ten returning for the jump-off. Ballard produced the two fastest of the clear jump-off rounds with Ilan Ferder’s Matahari HL and Nanini Van D’Abelendreef, co-owned by Ferder and Esperanza Imports, LLC. Ballard topped the leaderboard with Matahari HL after clearing the jump-off in 32.66 seconds, while earning second-place honors with a clear jump-off time of 33.31 seconds aboard Nanini Van D’Abelendreef. Vivero and his own entry, Flipper Lady, secured a top-three finish after stopping the jump-off timers at 33.42 seconds with no faults. 

Sunday morning’s Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Equiline, saw Lacy Morrone Cramer of Wellington, FL, and Equi-Sport LLC’s Iris E.S. take home top honors after being the only pair to advance to the jump-off. The duo completed the jump-off in 50.44 seconds with four faults. Lauren Esdale of Seagrave, ON, piloted Missy Van de Neerheide, owned by Pauline Esdale, to a second-place finish with a first-round time of 80.19 seconds, just missing the jump-off due to one time fault. Rounding out the top three was Sophia Ahearn of Wellington, FL, and Jack Sparrow Z, owned by Esperanza Imports LLC, with a first-round time of 72.89 seconds and four faults. 

In the Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, presented by Fleur-de-Lis International Realty, five pairs advanced to the jump-off. Of that group, just three finished the class without any faults, and leading the pack with a double-clear time of 47.80 seconds was Lauren Brody of Wellington, FL, and Nutou, owned by LJB Equine LLC. Morrone Cramer found herself in the top-two once again, this time with Cincinnati, owned by Equi-Sport LLC, with a clear jump-off time of 49.03 seconds. The third and final pair to clear the jump-off was Katarina Ammann of Detroit, MI, who stopped the clock at 49.16 seconds with Stakan 4, owned by Ammann Equestrian LLC. 

The recipient of the 2021 Rita Flynn Memorial Trophy was Alan Korotkin, presented by David Burton, Jr. The trophy is awarded annually to a trainer that “best exemplifies Rita Flynn, by being courteous and prompt. Setting the example by having their clients to the ring and prepared timely, thereby helping to keep the show running smoothly.”