Kristen VanderVeen (Wellington, FL) and Bull Run’s Divine Fortune ended Tryon Fall 3 on a high note, stopping the jump-off timers in 38.099 seconds to take the win in Sunday’s $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Riding Chuck Berry 8, the 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Chacco Blue x Winzerin B) owned by Atlas Equine Holdings, LLC, Abigail McArdle (Wellington, FL) grabbed second on a time of 40.764 seconds, while Wilhelm Genn (Lebanon, OH) and Bugatti, the 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Heartbreaker x Nona Bella) owned by Eduardo Leon, earned third-place honors after their 41.546-second jump-off performance.

The Catsy Cruz (MEX) course saw 35 entries test the first round, with five returning to test the jump-off track. “The time was a little bit tighter than it’s been all week, which helped get the numbers a little bit smaller in the jump-off. She’s naturally my speed horse, with her natural fast canter, and the time allowed actually suited us quite nicely,” VanderVeen shared. “So, that was great, and then the jump-off was just fun. I just went as fast as I could, and she’s such a fighter in the jump-offs – it’s really her specialty.”

VanderVeen emphasized that she “kept it simple” with the Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC-owned 2009 Dutch Warmblood mare (Padinus x Amhilavsca Fortuna), who has accrued multiple speed stake wins with VanderVeen in the irons and specializes in speed. “My jump-off plan was to go as fast as I could from jump one to the last… I kept it really simple. She kind of has two speeds – slow and fast – and there’s not a lot in between. Once you get into the fast gear with her, you just stay there!”

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