Articles: Press Release

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Wayne, IL - June 7, 2009 - In a day full of big money classics, the largest purse went to 19-year-old Anna Banks of Wheaton, IL. Banks rode Jubulent to the win in the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by Blue Gate Farm. Banks was fast and clean to post her second classic win of the summer over Lisa Goldman on Morocco and Kelsey Thatcher with Carlotta.

The courses for today's classes were designed by Dave Ballard of Canada. There were 27 entries in the class, and six were clear to advance to the jump-off. Taylor Land and Canaille just missed the jump-off by exceeding the time allowed of 75 seconds. They finished in seventh place.

Riders had the option to do their jump-off right away or come back at the end of the class. Thatcher and Carlotta stayed in and posted a double clear ride of 35.759 seconds to take the early lead, but would have to wait and watch how the rest of the five jump-off riders would go at the end of the class.

First back for the jump-off was Goldman on Morocco. They laid down a quick trip and took the lead by finishing clear in 33.381 seconds. Next in was Erin Haas on Chianti 67. A mishap at fence 4 led to elimination, and they finished in sixth place.

Banks and Jubulent were the next to contend the lead. Banks left out a stride in an early line and kept Jubulent's eye on the next jump through the turns. After clearing the final one stride, they saw that they had taken the lead by over two seconds when the scoreboard flashed a time of 31.287 seconds.

The last two horses on the jump-off course would not be able to complete without fault. Both Orley and Haylie Jayne and Laura Linback on Mohawk du Claire de Lune had refusals, which added up jumping and time faults. Linback would place fourth with 13 faults in 44.576 seconds, while Jayne finished in fifth with 16 faults in 47.355 seconds.

Banks said of the veteran Jubulent, "He's very versatile. You can gallop him all the way up to the jump and then just sit back for the last two strides and he'll keep it up. He loves jumping. I just have to make sure I have energy with him, and if I do, he jumps great. He's pretty uncomplicated."

Jubulent and Anna Banks Jubulent and Anna Banks won the $10,000 High Junior/A-O Jumper Classic

For today's class, Banks and her trainer Steve Schaefer set a plan and stuck to it, and she did not let other riders' tracks affect that plan. "I never watch the jump-off before I go," she admitted. "We planned on coming in and bowing the four (stride), and then galloping up in the six. Then, just taking the inside tidy turns from there. I left a stride out, which was the plan. It's easy on him. He has a monster stride."

This was Banks' second big classic win recently with Jubulent, who she has owned for three years. "It's really nice to win a class like this," she said. "He's a fun horse to ride. He's my only jump-able one right now. I have two babies coming up, so it's nice to be able to get in there and have one that can win it."

Caladesi and Anna Murphy The Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic exhibitors jumped today for a $7,500 purse, which was sponsored by Hinsdale Nurseries. There were 46 entries in the class, and the top ribbon went to Caladesi(left), ridden and owned by Anna Murphy (18) of De Pere, WI. Murphy is in her first amateur year as well as her first year competing in the jumpers. She has owned Caladesi, an 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood, since last August. The pair started in the Children's/Adult Jumpers, and moved up the Low division with success.

"We've been blessed with him," Murphy noted. "We couldn't necessarily afford the nicest jumper, so we got kind of a young one. He hadn't done a lot, but he's just been everything and more. He's been great. He turns really well, and he can open his stride up."

With such a large starting field and many doing the jump-off as they went, Murphy was not sure what the winning track would be. Her plan was to get up the first line early and turn tight through the rollbacks. "We practiced some turns in the schooling ring. I wanted to go double clear," she explained. "As long as I find the jumps, he can do it fine. I've had some times where I take a winger and have a rail in the jump-off. Today I turned and saw every distance, and he was right there with me. I saw Taylor Land go, and I didn't know I was going to be able to beat that. This is definitely my biggest win, with great competition."

Starting out the morning in the Grand Prix Ring was the $5,000 NAL Children's Jumper Classic. The first place prize went to TNT and Abbie Ross. The quick pony beat out a full entry list of bigger horses for the blue ribbon.

The winner of the $5,000 NAL Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Bill Kay Auto was yesterday's classic winners, Thursday and Katie Smith.

TNT and Abbie Ross Thursday and Katie Smith
TNT and Abbie Ross, Thursday and Katie Smith

The second week of the Showplace Spring Spectacular runs from Tuesday, June 9, to Sunday, June 14. Highlight classes of the week include the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Tuesday and the $50,000 Showplace Productions Grand Prix on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

For further information on Showplace Productions and the Showplace Spring Spectacular, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.

Final Results: $10,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by Blue Gate Farm

1, 605, JUBULENT , ANNA BANKS , ANNA BANKS, 0/0/31.287
2, 760, Morocco , Lisa Goldman , Lisa Goldman, 0/0/33.381
3, 189, Carlotta , Pony Lane Farm , Kelsey Thatcher, 0/0/35.659
4, 270, Mohawk Du Claire De Lune , Woodrun , Laura Linback, 0/13/44.576
5, 180, Orley , ALEX JAYNE , Haylie Jayne, 0/16/47.355
6, 140, Chianti 67 , North Face Farm , Erin Haas, 0/elim
7, 256, Canaille , Taylor Land , Taylor Land, 1/75.939
8, 389, Just An Illusion , Taylor McMurtry , Taylor McMurtry, 4/68.154
9, 601, Rupert , SKYE MACLEAN , SKYE MACLEAN, 4/69.609
10, 260, Nepal , Kim and Jay Land , Jay Land, 4/70.567
11, 196, Milous De Fontaine , Pony Lane Farm , Kelsey Thatcher, 4/70.626
12, 759, CENTURION B , Lisa Goldman , Lisa Goldman, 4/70.815

Final Results: $7,500 Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by Hinsdale Nurseries

1, 364, Caladesi , Anna Murphy , Anna Murphy
2, 257, Tusker , Pinetree Ponies , Taylor Land
3, 763, D'OR V'DOR-B , Lisa Goldman , Lisa Goldman
4, 258, Houston , Frances Land , Frances Land
5, 636, Sinatra IV , Thinks Like A Horse , Caitie Hope
6, 271, French Kiss , Woodrun , Laura Linback
7, 195, MERLIN 369 , ALEX JAYNE , Kelsey Thatcher
8, 566, Corsavita , Wilhelm and Patty Genn , Ryan Genn
9, 176, Caliente , Sherri Jamison , Sherri Jamison
10, 549, Triton , First Partners LP , Catherine Tyree

Final Results: $5,000 NAL Childrens Jumper Classic

1, 769, TNT , Lillie Ross , Abbie Ross
2, 698, ROCKY , Chuck Waters , Hayley Waters
3, 467, Tricky Cricket , Alexa Malevitis , Alexa Malevitis
4, 806, Fast Break , Tiffany Hammack , Ashley Reed
5, 552, Eurocommerce Rome , Chloe Wormser , Lauren Tyree
6, 793, LORD STANLEY , JULIA MURRAY , JULIA MURRAY
7, 715, ECLAIR DUBENY , NICOLE WAGNER , SAM WAGNER
8, 804, Lonestar , Stephanie Mengarelli , Stephanie Mengarelli
9, 805, Rebound , Tiffany Hammack , Barbara Ruziska
10, 553, Traveler , Katie Baron , Lauren Tyree

$5,000 NAL Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Bill Kay Auto

1, 319, Thursday , Katie Smith , Katie Smith
2, 616, Caribik Louis , Ashley Romano , Ashley Romano
3, 555, Pasific Sun , Salima Witt , Sarah Kirson
4, 455, Over the Limit , Amanda Williamson , Amanda Williamson
5, 556, Micenas , Norgan, Inc , Sarah Kirson
6, 517, Chagall 115 , Aja Vernon , Cynthia Hampton
7, 714, BROSIUS , SAM WAGNER , NICOLE WAGNER
8, 410, Perseus , Mark Domitrovich , Mark Domitrovich
9, 415, Never In Time , Mark Domitrovich , Jenna Korte
10, 791, Nikita IV , Lauren Jacob , Lauren Jacob