WELLINGTON, FL - March 8, 2004 - The Palm Beach Dressage Derby, the flagship show of the annual three-event Palm Beach Dressage Derby Series hosted by The Horse Park At Equestrian Estates, drew a stellar roster of competitors for the prestigious show, held March 5-7, 2004, in Loxahatchee, Florida. Walter and Mary Anne McPhail and their Fair Weather Properties, Inc. developed White Fences Equestrian Estates and the Horse Park.

The four-day 'Derby' presented 10 competitions in the CDI, which featured qualifying classes for the Dressage Team Selection Trials for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the USET Foundation Intermediaire I Championship and the USET Foundation Grand Prix Championship. The show also offered USEF recognized classes from Training Level through Grand Prix, including qualifying competitions for the GAIG/USDF Regional Championships and the BLM Championships.

Kicking off the competition on Friday, March 5, in the CDI, Ashley Holzer of Palm Beach, FL, riding Gambol for Canada topped a roster of 23 entries in the Prix St. Georges, scoring 71.350%. Shannon Dueck of Wellington, FL, riding for Canada won the Intermediaire II with Korona, besting the class of three entries with her score of 66.667%. Jodie Kelly of Destin, Florida, aboard Weltkaar won the Young Rider Team Test, earning 63.467% to top the class of 10.

Competition in the CDI continued on Saturday, March 6, with four classes contested. Ashley Holzer riding Gambol won the Intermediaire I scoring 72.167%, heading up a class of 24 horses. Seventeen horses competed in the Grand Prix B. Robert Dover of Wellington, FL, and Southampton, NY, dominated the class, taking the win with FBW Kennedy on a score of 71.333%, and placed second with Rainier who earned 69.500%. Ashley Holzer showed Imperioso to third place after Dover, receiving marks totaling 67.00%. Jodie Kelly claimed her second win in the Young Riders, besting a field of 11 horses with Weltkaar on a score of 67.250%.

Wrapping up the CDI on Sunday, March 7, four classes were contested. Catherine Morelli of Wellington, FL, and Bedminster, New Jersey, aboard Be Se won the Intermediaire I Freestyle, earning 70.300%, topping a field of nine entries. Nine horses contested the Grand Prix Special, and Robert Dover rode FBW Kennedy to the victory, scoring 70.880%. Michael Barisone of Loxahatchee, FL, and Long Meadow, NJ, aboard Neruda earned second place on a score of 65.240%. Mirja Block of Lake Worth, FL, riding for Germany aboard Asharhaddon took third place, scoring 64.760%. In the Grand Prix Freestyle, nine horses performed kurs, with Robert Dover and Rainier earning the win on the high score of the CDI, 75.550%. Ashley Holzer aboard Imperioso earned second place with 71.300%. Evi Strasser of Quebec riding Quantum Tyme for Canada placed third with 70.400%. And completing her hat-trick, Jodie Kelly and Weltkaar won the Young Rider Freestyle, scoring 66.050%.

In addition to the CDI in Ring 1, three other rings were in action showcasing the USEF-recognized classes. The most consistent winner in the FEI level classes was Olympic and Pan Am Games medallist Carol Lavell of Loxatchee, FL. She had a standout show, winning all three of her Intermediaire I classes with Much Ado, her 2003 Pan Am Games mount. Lavell and Much Ado earned 67.642% in the Intermediaire II; scored 72.250% in the Intermediaire I; and wrapped up the weekend with a 66.475% in the FEI Freestyle Test of Choice at I-I.

Bill Warren of Loxahatchee, FL, and North Smithfield, RI, also had a winning weekend, claiming a blue ribbon every day. He showed Brighella to the win in the First Level Test I Open, earning 74.074% on Friday; he won the Second Level Test 2 Open on Saturday with Romantic on a score of 73.514%; and then wrapped up his weekend with another win in Second Level Test 4 aboard Romantic, earning 72.549%.

Jodie Kelly was also successful in the lower levels, showing on another mount. She won the First Level Test 1 AA & Jr/YR aboard her mare On Broadway, earning 70.741%. On Sunday, she won First Level Test 4 AA Jr/YR, on a score of 74.815% - which was the High Score of the show.

For complete results, visit http://www.pbderby.com/