Contact:
Jennifer Wood of Phelps Media Group, Inc.
at (561) 753-3389 or at pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com Tampa, FL - March 28, 2008 - Kate Levy of Katonah, NY and Pacific Beach showed everyone at the Tampa Equestrian Festival, held at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center that they know how to step on the gas, as they bested a field of 13 horse and rider combinations to take first place in the 1.40m Jumper Speed class where fast and careful will take you to the winner's circle.

The first clear round of the class wasn't seen until Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Calippo 12 entered the ring.  Engle and the big grey were fast but careful and completed the course of jumps in a time of 63.079.

The next rider in the ring was Todd Minikus aboard Romy. The pair made every effort to cut some distance off the track that Engle had taken, but were unsuccessful in beating her time. They finished with no penalties in a time of 64.912.

Ben Maher and his Pablo V followed, to try their luck and although they did not look like they were moving that quickly, they managed to shave almost three seconds off the leader's time finishing in 60.563 seconds.

Levy had the advantage of watching nine riders try to navigate the course before she and the fiery bay mare entered the ring. Levy knew what she had to do to come out on top, deliver a round that was fast and precise with a little luck thrown in.

Levy asked, and the little bay delivered. They sped around the course with no problems to cross the timers in an astonishing 57.423 seconds.

"She's got a big stride and is fast, careful and easy to ride," said Levy. "She really tries to win. I just tack up and go. I've only had her for three weeks. She was shown by other riders in Wellington. I did one class here last week and she was second. She is naturally fast and stays relaxed at that speed. She does what you tell her and is so confident."


"I love mares." Levy continued. "I have one big horse who is a gelding, but right now all the rest are mares. It's a nice group of horses and Pacific Beach is so good. She's just a winner."


Results:

Place/Horse/Rider/Faults/Time
1. Pacific Beach/Kate Levy/0/57.423
2. Pablo V/Ben Maher/0/60.563
3. Hidden Creek's Calippo 12/Margie Engle/0/63.079
4. Romy/Todd Minikus/0/64.912
5. Via Volo/Alison Robitaille/3/77.683
6. Alina/Mary Lisa Leffler/4/61.728
7. Larioso/McLain Ward/4/64.711
8. Ormsby Hill/Jimmy Torano/4/66.945
9. Intrepide Du Valon/Alison Robitaille/4/78.121
10. Equinox/Norman Dello Joio/5/75.728
11. Magic Cruise/Jimmy Torano/8/58.733
12. Phillipa/McLain Ward/18/92.219

Competition in the Tampa Bay Classic CSI***-W continues until Sunday, March 30. The Tampa Equestrian Festival runs from March 19-April 6, 2008. The final event at the Festival for the jumpers is the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, held at Raymond James Stadium at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 5. For more information on the Tampa Equestrian Festival and the American Invitational, please visit www.stadiumjumping.com.