Ocala, FL – Eleven nations were represented on Thursday evening during the second $50,000 UF Health Grand Prix Qualifier CSI3* of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. In customary fashion, Aaron Vale (USA) and Thinkslikeahorse’s I.Adermie R 4’s performance wowed the crowd and the dynamic pair closed the night with a win.
Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) first round track was inviting, encouraging great jumping efforts from all of the equine athletes, allowing 18 pairs to earn a spot in the jump-off. However, the jump-off track presented unique challenges that allowed just six to go double clear from among the 18 qualifiers.
Aaron Vale found clear first rounds on both of his mounts I.Adermie R 4 and Prescott. Vale returned first aboard the careful 10-year-old KWPN mare I. Adermie R 4 (Den Ham Blue R x Namelus R).
Vale was determined to steal pathfinder Jad Dana’s slot on the leaderboard, “Jad Dana, I know is very fast. We competed together in Kentucky during the Three-Day Event. They have a speed class the first day and I think he won the speed class on that horse by six seconds. Not everybody went crazy fast, but still to win by six seconds, I know he can go!”
Vale strategized after he studied Dana and After Eight’s performance, “I was watching on the TV in the schooling ring, and it looked really quick. I thought I could be tighter back to the Golden Ocala oxer, and I think I was a bit inside of everybody’s tracks, but it costed me a stride to the double. I had to do seven there, but I only added one and saved about two in the turn. I was really tight back to the UF Health jump and was well inside of everyone’s tracks there. The last jump came up right in stride just running down there.”
The pair soared through the timers stopping the clock at a blistering 36.36 seconds to take the lead and ultimately gallop away with the lion’s share of the prize money.
Jad Dana (LBN) and After Eight, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare owned by Springhill Farm 1850, LLC slid into the second place position with a time of 36.79 seconds, just four tenths of second behind Vale and I.Adermie R 4.
Ashlee Bond (ISR) and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding Garfield (Chellthago Z x Numero Uno) added another podium finish to their list with a time of 37.71 seconds.
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Final Results: $50,000 UF Health Grand Prix Qualifier:
1 I.ADERMIE R 4: 2013 KPWN mare by Den Ham Blue R x Namelus R
Aaron Vale (USA), Thinkslikeahorse: 0/0/36.36
2 AFTER EIGHT: 2010 Swedish Warmblood mare by Diarado x Cardento
Jad Dana (LBN), Springhill Farm 1850, LLC:0/0/36.79
3 GARFIELD: 2011 KWPN gelding by Chellthago Z x Numero Uno
Ashlee Bond (ISR), Aurora Farms, LLC: 0/0/37.71
4 CROSSOVER 4: 2012 Hanoverian gelding by Cascadello x Chacco-Blue
Chloe Reid (USA), Team Reid LLC: 0/0/40.80
5 DANA DE KERGLENN: 2013 Selle Francais mare by My Lord Carthago x Shana De Kerglenn
Hunter Holloway (USA), Hays Investment Corp: 0/0/40.89
6 MTM CEDRIK: 2013 Holsteiner gelding by Colman x Vicky VI
Dorothy Douglas (USA), Nina Koloseike: 0/0/43.48
7 MTM APPLE: 2011 Danish Warmblood mare by Favorit Ask x Willemoes
Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0/4/34.90
8 VERDINI D’HOUTVELD Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Verdi TN x Caretino 2
Lauren Balcomb (AUS), Lauren Balcomb: 0/4/35.75
9 CHRYSTAL BLUE: 2011 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Calvaro F.C.
Samuel Parot (CHI),Samuel Parot: 0/4/35.90
10 WHOOP DE DOO: 2011 Warmblood mare by Mr. Whoopy x Double Trouble X
William Simpson (USA), 5 Roosters: 0/4/38.66
11 KAISER VAN HET LAMBROECK: 2010 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Nabab De Reve x For Pleasure
Kaitlin Campbell (USA), Camille Leblond: 0/4/40.16
12 SEA PLUS: 2012 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Catoki x Cruising
Captain Brian Cournane (USA), Captain Brian Cournane: 0/4/40.72
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV