Erynn Ballard wins $2,500 Osphos 1.35m Jumper Stake
Adrienne Sternlicht of Greenwich, CT galloped to victory aboard Starlight Farms 1 LLC’s Just A Gamble in the $209,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The pair raced through the timers in 44 seconds flat to take home the champion ribbon. Kristen Vanderveen of Wellington, FL piloted her Bull Run’s Risen to a close second, stopping the clock at 45.91 seconds in the second round. Conor Swail of Ireland claimed third place with Koss Van Heiste, owned by Eadaoin Collins, after a 46.39-second jump-off round.
The first night class of the ESP Holiday Series saw a total of forty-six entries contest the track, built by FEI designer Anthony D’Ambrosio. The course challenged many riders in round one, with only four total combinations finishing with double-clear efforts at the end of the evening. Sternlicht explained, “For the first round, there were a few elements that I had to be disciplined about as a rider. My horse is extremely hot, and I knew I had to add [strides] in several places. With her, I worry about managing her anxiety a bit, so I wanted to be smart and take my time in necessary spots, while also getting myself a good position for the second-round.”
The top twelve riders returned for a second round. Sternlicht and Just A Gamble were the penultimate pair, and had a lot to prove in this class: “It’s my horse’s last class of the year and we’ve had some serious ‘four-fault-itis,’” commented Sternlicht. “We’ve had four faults in the past seven Grand Prixs that we’ve jumped, so I wanted to end the year on a different note and I knew I had nothing to lose! She is incredibly fast naturally and has great foot speed, and she’s so willing and brave, so I tried to take advantage of all those attributes as well as her big stride. I sort of believed in that double leave out to the last jump, and it worked out so I’m very thankful!”
Jumper Highlights
The $36,000 Dever Golf Cars 1.50m Classic was bested by Kristen Vanderveen of Wellington, FL and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC, after a 36.56-second jump-off. Santiago Lambre of Mexico took home second place aboard his mount, Cetano Van Aspergem Z with a jump-off time of 37.472 seconds. Adrienne Sternlicht of Greenwich, CT and Starlight Farms 1 LLC’s Pembroke rounded out the top three after crossing through the timers at 37.784 seconds.
The $36,000 Dever Golf Cars 1.50m Classic was bested by Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili. Pictured with ringmaster Steve Rector and Tony Navolio of Dever Golf Cars. ©ESP
Luis Larrazabal of Venezuela rode Asombrada, owned by San Francisco Stables LLC, to victory in the $1,000 Osphos 1.30m Jumper Stake with a 58.21-second round. Rebecca Conway of Wellington, FL and Salitos 8, owned by Hilington Farm, clinched second place after a 61.68-second performance, while Dana Ventrice of Pompano Beach, FL and her Dollard Jessy Stable K.V.H.L. finished the course in 65.487 seconds to claim third.
The $2,500 Osphos 1.35m Jumper Stake saw Canadian Erynn Ballard take home top honors after her 56.493-second round with Ilan Ferder’s Bettina Des Celtes. Victoria Birdsall of Topsfield, MA and Maestro Van Het Binnenveld, owned by Ilan Ferder, flew through the timers in 58.324 seconds to receive the red ribbon, while Venezuelan Pablo Barrios piloted Paul Walker, owned by Gut Einhaus, LLC, into third-place position in 58.653 seconds.
The ESP Holiday Series began on November 27, and will continue through the new year until January 5, 2020.
To view the full results of the $209,000 Holiday & Horses Grand Prix CSI 4* presented by Palm Beach County Sports Commission, please click here.
More from Horse Sport:
