Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II Wrap-Up
RELEASE: June 28, 2007
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Phelps Media Group
The highlight of the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II was held on Saturday, June 23, at the Lamplight Equestrian Center and was the $50,000 Wachovia Securities Grand Prix, sponsored by Wachovia Securities, LLC. The rain lifted just in time, and a huge crowd at the Lamplight Equestrian Center saw 19-year-old Haylie Jayne of Elgin, IL, have her second career grand prix victory. Jayne piloted Merlin 369 to the win over Wilhelm Genn and his two mounts, Chantal and Ariado.
Almost 1,000 Wachovia employees, friends and family braved the weather to enjoy a day of top show jumping action. Wachovia Securities also donated smart polo shirts that the riders donned in the class.
The course was designed by Hector Loyola of Puerto Rico. He set a pleasant track of 13 numbered obstacles in the first round that included a liverpool and a triple combination. Seven entries were clear in the first round to advance to the jump-off, while two were caught by the timers in the first round. Alex Granato and Mad Season had just one time fault to finish in eighth place, while Maggie Jayne (Haylie's older sister) had two time faults on Varnese. Haylie's older brother Charlie was the fastest four-faulter in the first round on Thomas Edison.
Haylie Jayne was second to last in the order with Merlin 369, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood that her father Alex purchased just a few short months ago. This was only their fourth show together, but they looked like old pros in the jump-off.
The handy bay gelding easily made the difficult rollback in the beginning of the course. "That was the one turn that I was worried about," she said. "It's such a complete turnaround and especially in the mud, you worry about turning that quickly. Once that turn was done, I thought I was okay." They galloped to the last jump, which stayed up for a clear round in a new leading time of 35.298 seconds.
Jumper ResultsCanada's Beth Underhill and Rhiannon proved last is the best when they sped to the win in the $10,000 Canterbury Farm Open Jumper Welcome Stake. Underhill beat her leading time with Rhiannon and finished second with Magdaline. Chuck Waters and 747, the only other double clear round, were the third-place finishers.
The non-professional jumpers took center stage on Friday in the grand prix ring at the Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II. Opening up the morning was the $1,500 Marshall & Sterling Children's Jumper Classic, sponsored by Vermeer Midwest. Cisco and Nicole Wagner had the best time in the jump-off to ride for the blue ribbon. Abigail McArdle and Calvin set a blistering pace to win the $1,500 Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Children's Jumper Classic, sponsored by Forest Hill Farm and Ashley Hill. In the $1,500 WIHS Adult Jumper Classic, sponsored by White Oak Farm Premium Organics, Cleopatra and Alexis Bodo were the fastest in the speed phase to take the win.
The Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II came to a close on Sunday afternoon with a schedule full of exciting events. In the grand prix ring, the $10,000 Wachovia Securities Low Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic came to a gripping conclusion when Haylie Jayne and Kinda Blue scored victory with the only double-clear round. They led the victory gallop over Theo Genn on Cohiba and Dana Waters with Biloxi.
Hunter ResultsIn the $1,000 Children's/Pony Hunter Classic, Zoey Hertz and her own Coco Chanel who took home the top prizefight second classic of the day, the $1,000 Pre Green Hunter Classic, sponsored by Messenger Hill, was won by Maria Rasmussen and Indiscreet. The 5-year-old bay Warmblood mare is owned by Wisconsin-based trainer Linda Valetic.
In the professional hunter divisions, Cookie Beck cleaned up with Safari and Winter Place in the Green Conformation and First Year Green divisions, respectively. She earned all of the blue ribbons in both divisions. Both horses are o