Dominican Republic’s Juan Jose Bancalari Elmudesi closed out the ESP Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment, on Sunday with the win in the $25,000 IDA Development Grand Prix.
Navigating two mounts in Sunday’s Spring Grand Prix, Elmudesi managed to secure himself a spot in the jump-off with his own entry, Ballypatrick Flamenco, providing himself the opportunity to secure the victory in this week’s highlight event.
With only four combinations advancing to the shortened course, Elmudesi had a high probability of making podium. The pair were first to take on the jump-off, stopping the timers with a clear 41.075 seconds, earning themselves the victory.
Coming up just shy of Elmudesi’s time was USA’s Marilyn Little and La Contessa, owned by Marilyn Little LLC. The duo put forth a time of 41.325 seconds, settling into the second-place position. Rounding out the podium was Hector Florentino Roca (DOM) with a time of 43.193 seconds.
Kicking-off competition for the week on Thursday was the 7-Year-Old Young Jumpers, sponsored by Keyflow Feeds USA. Mexico’s Daniel Rihan bested the field with a jump-off time of 42.7 seconds aboard Lucky Bay International LLC’s Chacoon S Konzerta PS. Earning second with a clear time of 44.681 seconds was Alexis Bodo (USA) with her own entry, Timeless, while Alejandro Karolyi (VEN) concluded the podium aboard Kristall, owned by Nexthorse LLC, with a time of 45.413 seconds.
Friday featured the $10,000 1.40m Open Jumper Stake, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies, on the derby field at Equestrian Village. A total of 21 horse-and-rider-pairs tested the course with 9 advancing to the shortened course. Putting it all on the line, Luis Fernando Larrazabal of Venezuela emerged victorious aboard Baroness, owned by Leeann Ablin. The duo secured the blue ribbon with a clear jump-off time of 36.104, just overtaking the time of runner-up Nicole Velazco Magana’s (MEX) time of 36.528 seconds with her own entry, Only You Z. Rounding out the podium was Gabriel de Matos Machado (BRA) and Legaland Sandro, owned by Kirsten Kopp Real Estate LLC & Bay Winds Equestrian, with a clear 37.262 time.
Eleven combinations took to the Annex Derby Field for the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by Arion Sellier, Friday afternoon. Over an efficient hunt-and-go format, USA’s Marcus Au captured the win with scores of 88 and 89, for a total score of 177 aboard Continental Stables LLC’s, Desiigner. Jorge Zamudio (ARG) finished second with a score of 173 riding his own entry, Quigano. Rounding out the top-three placings were Samantha Senft (USA) and La Roux 11, with scores of 83 and 77 for a total score of 160.
Brazil’s Gabriel de Matos Machado stole the show in Saturday’s highlight class, the 1.40m Open Jumper, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies. With only 6 of the 24 contenders returning for the shortened track, Machado clocked in the quickest zero-fault time of 36.476 seconds aboard his own entry, Conthachalu. Piloting his own entry to a second-place finish, Anselmo Alvarado (VEN) rode Charatinus to a clear result of 37.415 seconds. Finishing third was USA’s Samantha Kasowitz and Morfine de Muze, owned by Fair Play Farm, with a fault-free time of 37.574 seconds.
Action-packed competition returns to Equestrian Village for ESP June Equitation Day #1 on May 30th and continues into ESP June I from May 31st through June 2nd. Explore prize lists and schedules HERE, and prepare for exciting summer competitions with our newly released Summer Series Prize List.
