WELLINGTON, Fla., Dec. 16-Kent Farrington added a bittersweet bookend victory on the European-owned gray mare, Nerina, in winning the $25,000 Palm Beach Toyota Grand Prix Sunday. In the few months he has been riding Nerina, he won the $50,000 Ariat Congressional Cup at Washington, a World Cup qualifier, in October and then Sunday in a jumpoff of five horses from a field of 29 starters at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
“Really good horses are hard to find so I will definitely miss her,” said the 26-year-old Wellington, Fla. resident. “But the owners want her back for their daughter to ride in Europe.”
Up Chiqui, on whom Farrington recently won the Rolex/USEF National Show Jumping Champion title in Wellington to cap a year of 15 Grand Prix victories in 42 starts, will be his main mount for the forthcoming $5 million Winter Equestrian Festival.
He described the all-weather footing “as better ” because of dousing rains before the Grand Prix.
As the four combinations that preceded him were not as fast as he thought Nerina could traverse the course, he rode the first part of the jumpoff in a measured stride then increasing speed throughout to cross the timers in 41.398 seconds, 0.565 secs. ahead of Margie Engle on the Hidden Creek-owned Caraya Z. This was Engle’s first Grand Prix since the death last week of Hidden Creek’s Wapino, one of her top international mounts for many years.
Angela Moore on Claus was 3rd, Engle on 7-Up 4th and Allison Robitaille 5th on Louisiana.
Results $25,000 Palm Beach Toyota Grand Prix
1. Nerina, Kent Farrington, Javier Salvador, 0,41.398
2. Caraya Z, Margie Engle, Hidden Creek Farms, 0,42.963
3. Claus, Angela Moore, Stealaway Farm, 0,44.498
4. 7-Up, Margie Engle, Jamie Schmidt, 0,44.764
5. Louisiana, Alison Robitaille, Bertram Firestone, 8,49.182
6. Voblesse, Kent Farrington, Jessica Speiser, Round 1 4,83.248
7. Lauritz.com Colorado, Henrik Gundersen, Henrik Gundersen,Round 1 4,86.020
8. Kaiser De La Cour, Emily Williams, Emily Williams, Round 1 4,86.260
9. Qarco V’T Merelsnest, Robin Sweely, Acorn Hill, Round 1 4,86.422
10. Shakira, Keean White, Angelstone Farm, Round 1 4,86.663
11. Colina, Michael Kearins,Addison Phillips, Round 1 4,86.968
12. Topliner, David Jennings, Nora McDonald, Round 1 4,87.349
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