Edited Press Release
Eleanor Rudnicki and Cici Top topped the field of fourteen horse and rider combinations in Wednesday’s $15,000 Pin Oak Welcome Stake sponsored by Smith Equine Performance. They sped around the immediate jump off track in a time of 37.587 seconds, taking the win by just one tenth of a second ahead of Genevieve Gilmore.
Rudnicki and Cici-Top, the ten-year-old Danish Warmblood mare by Cicero Z out of Top Joy have had a lot of success in their two-year partnership together, including at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. “I’ve been riding her for the past two years. She’s owned by my trainer, Berry Porter of Brookside Pine Farms and she’s been lovely. She was second in the Under Twenty-Five Welcome and Grand Prix last week so I’m really glad she was able to win today,” Rudnicki spoke of the mare.
The Welcome course was designed by Manuel Esparza of Mexico, and there were eight clears after the first round. Rudnicki made a daring inside turn that paid off, shaving off just one tenth of a second to gallop away with the win.
Genevieve Gilmore and her beloved partner Contendro Star, the eighteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Contendro I out of Gloria, put in two speedy and consistent performances, finishing in second with a time of 37.682s. Gilmore knows this horse so well and they have a great connection that shines in the show ring.
Hannah Rohrbach and Luck Be a Lady LLC’s Lady Like, the ten-year-old Holsteiner mare by Lint out of E-Calma, put in a smooth effort with a double clear ride and crossed the timers in 40.474 seconds in the jump off.
The $15,000 Welcome was sponsored by the Smith Equine Performance, where advanced veterinary care and expert rehabilitation come together. Recover stronger. Perform longer. Smith Equine Performance – building better athletes.
Rudnicki and her team are locals to Pin Oak. “I think they make Pin Oak really special. You walk into the main indoor ring and the jumps look great and the staff, managers, and starters are really nice.”
Watch the winner interview with Eleanor Rudnicki here.
Results
Placing – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1 – Cici-Top – Eleanor Rudnicki – Brookside Pine Farms LLC – 0/0/37.587
2 – Contendro Star – Genevieve Gilmore – Genevieve Gilmore – 0/0/37.682
3 – Lady Like – Hannah Rohrbach – Luck Be A Lady LLC – 0/0/40.474
4 – Oreo FS – Trapp O’Neal – Cathy Potts – 0/4/39.451
5 – Hocus Pocus 111 Z – Peter Petschenig – Petschenig Showjumping LLC – 0/4/40.554
6 – Mufasa – Nicolas Gamboa – October Hill Farm Inc. – 0/8/39.826
7 – Incredible Loma – Trapp O’Neal – TKO Sporthorses – 0/12/36.317
8 – Sooper Trooper – Allison Kroff – Allison Kroff – 0/17/54.166
9 – W Senna – Alwaleed Alrashid – W.A Farm LLC – 4/64.840
10 – W Specter – Alwaleed Alrashid – W.A Farm – 4/68.806
11 – Galanthos SHK – Peter Petschenig – Petschenig Showjumping LLC. – 8/64.896
12 – Indigo – Olivia Cliver – Mary Elizabeth Cone – 8/66.371
