CONYERS, GA.—NOVEMBER 11, 2007– The roll continues for Daniel Geitner of Aiken, S.C.’s DFG Stables and the remarkable Trading Places. After winning the $25,000 Ameriprise Financial Halloween Grand Prix last week, the team retuned to the winner’s circle today to claim the $25,000 Central Equine Grand Prix, held at the Georgia International Horse Park and one of three highlight events that concluded Week II of the Atlanta Fall Classics.
“They are both so on right now,” said a jubilant Geitner of the Kyle Register-owned Trading Places and his second mount of the class, Sympa (who ended in 10 place with one rail down), owned by Mrs. Charles Bostwick. “They are both just now coming into their 8-year-old year, they are maturing, and they are finally coming together.”
In all, 28 riders came to contest the Pierre Jolicieur-designed course of 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts on a beautiful fall Sunday. The course was “very nice,” commented Geitner. “It walked nice, and–typical of Pierre–it rode a little tougher than it walked.” When the first round concluded, only eight were left for what promised to be a blistering jump off.
First to enter the arena for the six-fence finale was Debbie Stephens in the irons on Centennial Farms Inc.’s Quik, who posted a solid time of 36.64 but had an unfortunate 12 faults. Stephens was followed by two clear rounds: Alex Grayton aboard the Patricia Smith-Grayton-owned Grand Duca, who stopped the clock at 39.12, and Pablo Barrios aboard Bonnie Smith’s Tibor, who had a final time of 37.88. Hardin Towell and Iago Du Quesnoy dropped two rails before the timer revealed a 43.41 second round, while Henrik Gundersen and Lauritz.com Colorado went clear in 40.76. Sixth in the lineup, Geitner and Trading Place raised the bar, going clear in 37 flat. Next, Angel Karolyi and Empire, managed to keep the fences intact but his time of 40.99 was no threat to Geitner.
Last on course was Roberto Teran, Sr. with the stunning black stallion High Five. “I actually thought he had me,” said Geitner, “but he was just a nickel slow. That horse has been jumping fabulous and has been very, very close in all the classes I’ve seen.” Close indeed, but not close enough. Teran’s final time: 37.35.
Following his second victory gallop of the week, Geitner added with a laugh: “We were obviously lucky that Sergio [Campos, winner of this week’s Welcome Stake with his rapid mare Shakira do Jacare] was not in the jump off. There isn’t anyone quicker than him!”
Geitner admits the competition was certainly some of the toughest Trading Places has faced in recent months. “You had Debbie Stephens and Roberto Teran Junior and Senior, and Pablo Barrios,” he noted. “Trading Places is just 8-years-old, and for a show jumper that’s pretty young.” As for the future: “We’ll do some of the bigger grand prixs in Ocala next year and maybe the World Cup Qualifier in Jacksonville. We’ll just let the horses tell us how they are doing.”
The final result: In 2nd place was Roberto Teran, Sr and High five, 3rd went to Barrios and Tibor, 4th was Alex Grayton and Gran Duca, while Henrik Gundersen and Lauritz.com Colorado ended in 5th.
Earlier in the afternoon, Lebanon, TN.-native Alexis Bodo, aboard her mare Frimousse Du Bec, captured the $25,000 Barry Lane Memorial Grand Prix, a Jumper Classic specifically for Children and Adult riders.
Bodo and Frimousse were one of 58 horse and rider teams to attempt the 13-obstacle course, which was set at a solid level 4 for the Horse Park’s Grand Prix arena again by designer Jolicieur. All of the riders were clearly challenged by the course, which proved to be a true test of technical prowess and conditioning. “The course was very technical, which I liked,” said Bodo, 20, currently a sophomore at Western Kentucky University. Obviously, so did her mount, a 14-year-old Selle Francais who secured the class with a dazzling jump-off time of 39.179 out of an allowed of 47 seconds. “In all I think everyone overall rode well, the times were really close,” said Bodos. “But my horse is just so fast across the ground. She turns well, she’s fast, and she’s got so much scope, and I really think that’s what you need to win this class.”
Bodos also landed in 3rd place aboard her new mare Penelope, a Columbian Sport Horse that she has only be partnered with for five months. The team was a very close second with a jump-off time of 40.895 “I lost my stirrup during the jump-off,” laughed Bodos. “It was scary, but she is so good—for a 7-year-old she knows a lot.”
In the Barry Lane, 2nd place went to Emily Colella Straw aboard Filibuster, with a double clear rounds and a jump-off time of 40.414; 4th went to Kristianna Lindgren aboard John 3:16, with a jump-off time of 41.301; and rounding out the Top 5 was Bonnie Laurich and Ivgeni de Hogue with a final second-round time of 42.347.
Lastly, the event that kicked off the weekend off was the National Classic Equitation (NCE) Final, sponsored by Connections and held Saturday, Nov.10 in the Charles J. Walker covered arena. The classes were open to riders in any of the eight divisions who have competed in a NCE class during 2007, though exhibitors may compete in only one division for the finals. For each division, one single round determined the class champion. Winners, listed below, and their trainers were presented with matching black letterman jackets and winners also received an embroidered cooler.
NCE Finals Champions
Juniors: Donavan Hasbrouck, trainer Don Stewart and Bibby Hill
Amateur Owner: Carly Hunt, trainer Don Steward and Bibby Hill
Adult: Joan Ehrhart, trainer Don Stewart and Bibby Hill
Childrens: Jessica Thaxton, trainer Stephanie Cumming
Pony: Emily Weeks, trainer Brad Spragg
Pre Child-Adult: James Fisher, trainer Pat Vogtle
Short Stirrup: Mary Hemingway, trainer Julie Curtain
Childrens Hunter Pony: Nina DeCristofano, Trainer Julie Curtain
Congratulations to all!
The final week of the Atlanta Fall Classic will continue through November 18th with showing taking place Wednesday through Sunday. Classes begin daily at 8am until approximately 4:30pm and the public is invited. Admission is free and each Sunday will host an exciting $25,000 Grand Prix jumper classic at 2pm. For more information or results on the Fall Classics visit www.classiccompany.com or call the show office at 770-602-2510.
Flashpoint Media Services, based in Harrodsburg, KY, is a comprehensive public relations firm specializing in the equestrian sports. For additional information contact Robbi Meisel, 859-734 3713, [email protected] or Cynthia Grisolia, 347-423 7322, [email protected].
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Photo: Daniel Geitner and Trading Places ©Flashpoint Photography
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