Articles: Press Release

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Jenny Ross Koning of Phelps Media Group, Inc.
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Lexington, KY - July 29, 2009 - The Kentucky Summer Classic launched into action today at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. The 1.45m and 1.40m Open Jumper classes started off the morning in the Sheila C. Johnson Ring at the New Outdoor Stadium. The Kentucky Summer Classic will continue at the park through Sunday, August 2, 2009.

The 1.45m Open Jumper class was scored under a Table II.2(b) format, and Michel Vaillancourt designed the course. Aaron Vale and Chellapo Z scored top honors after they jumped penalty free in 33.532 seconds. Chellapo Z is owned by Mimi Abel-Smith of Middleburg, VA. Jorge Zamudio and Ultimo just missed taking over the lead when they jumped home in 33.615 seconds, which would result in a second place finish. Ultimo is owned by Stransky's Mission Farm in Miami Beach, FL. Third place went to Margie Engle and Candilio, who clocked in without fault in 36.237 seconds. Engle owns Candilio with Wyndhurst Farm of Wellington, FL.

"I rode Chellapo Z for Kathy and Gerry Newman," commented Vale after his win. "I showed him here in June in a few classes. He's a little bit of a green horse at this level, but he really tries hard. He tries to leave every jump up. He's a lovely ride."

Vale discussed the course and how it rode for his mount. "It was a nice, smooth course; it kind of got us around every corner of the ring," he said. "It put us a little closer to the pond and the flags today, which was a touch spooky. But, it was just a really nice 1.45m course. The jumps were high enough, and the ground feels great, even with the rain, so it's a perfect place to show here."

In the 1.40m Open Jumpers, Angel Karolyi and Galant earned the blue ribbon over the Table II, Sec 1, Time First Round course. They won the same class last week on opening day of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show. Kent Farrington and Utterhorn held the lead throughout the class with their time of 62.440 seconds. However, Karolyi, who was the final rider in the order, edged Farrington into second place after Galant crossed the finish line in 59.646 seconds. Galant is owned by McLain Ward of Brewster, NY. Luis Ferrando Larrazaba came away with third place aboard Maarten. Maarten jumped fault free in 63.076 seconds.

"Galant's amazing. He did it again," Karolyi smiled. "It was a nice course. This is a good ring for this horse because I have lots of room to just canter. This horse is a winner."

He added, "It was a very different course from last week," he explained. "This one was a little more technical and a little bigger. But, last week was the first week of the horse show, so [the courses] usually get harder as you go. With this one, you had to think a little bit more about it. You couldn't just run."

Karolyi will continue to show Galant in the 1.40m Open Jumpers this week and will also compete with his horse, James T. Kirk, in the grand prix classes. Karolyi resides in Aiken, SC, and works for Andrea King.

Show jumping will continue tomorrow at the Kentucky Summer Classic with the highly anticipated $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. This class is the fourth of seven grand prix events that compose the Hagyard Challenge Series. The series is a summer-long string of grand prix competitions held at the Kentucky Horse Park. The leading rider of the entire Hagyard Challenge Series will win a $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus at the conclusion of the final grand prix, held in September at the Kentucky National Indoor Horse Show.

1.45M OPEN JUMPER RESULTS

1 268 CHELLAPO Z AARON VALE, 0, 33.532
2 454 ULTIMO JORGE ZAMUDIO,0, 33.615
3 94 CANDILIO MARGIE ENGLE,0, 36.237
4 576 HOLIDAY SARAH SEGAL, 4, 34.372
5 900 LITTLE EMIR SHANE SWEETNAM, 23, 58.246
6 539 TARCO AARON VALE, 4, 65.826
7 533 WILKIE VAN'T MERELSNEST AARON VALE, 12, 66.606

1.40M OPEN JUMPER RESULTS

1 1020 ANGEL KAROLYI GALANT, 0, 59.646
2 921 KENT FARRINGTON UTTERHORN, 0, 62.440
3 639 LUIS FERRANDO LARRAZABA MAARTEN, 0, 63.076
4 1013 BRITTANY SUTTON PIM, 0, 64.121
5 924 KENT FARRINGTON UNITED, 0, 65.641
6 156 PAIGE JOHNSON QUIBBLE N, 0, 67.829
7 29 PABLO BARRIOS S & L CREW, 0, 67.885
8 178 ALISON ROBITAILLE VIA VOLO, 0, 69.110
9 1079 VICKY MILLER PICO BELLO, 4, 59.933
10 795 KARI MARTIN SOLINUS, 4, 66.147
11 897 SHANE SWEETNAM UNA DONJA, 4, 68.769
12 995 ROBIN SWEELY COROLATO, 4, 69.492

For more information on the Kentucky Summer Classic, please go to www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.