Ocala, FL – The $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures prix saw 29 partnerships from 11 different countries compete over a winding track built by FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN). South America ruled the class taking the top three spots with Antonio Martinez (VEN) and Tack Up Stable Corp.’s Forman De Virton taking the lion’s share of the prize money.
Horses were showing off their scope in today’s class and an impressive 14 were able to jump clear in the first round. Of the 14 clear, nine were able to jump double clear.
The fastest double clear ride was secured by Antonio Martinez (VEN) and the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Forman Dr Virton.
“I have had Forman De Virton for a while. He was off for about a year with a small injury, but thankfully he came out just fine. He always jumps his heart out and tries his best. He’s a kind-hearted horse that loves to be in the ring.”
Martinez had a switch of plans after he watched some competitors try an inside turn in the jump-off, “A lot of people struggled with that inside turn to the double combination, when I walked it, I thought that was the route to take, but thankfully I was late in the order and was able to watch some people try it.”
Martinez and the speedy Forman De Virton galloped around the course, leaving out a stride in the last line to stop the clock at 30.637 seconds.
“When I jumped into the last bending line, he drifted right which landed us on the inside track to the last fence and the leave out was right there,” said Martinez. “In the end, it was a great class with really talented competitors. The course was challenging and technical, but not challenging to where the horses have a bad experience. I think that is the most important part for a course.”
Second place was captured by Luiz Larrazabal (VEN) and Victoria Heurtematte’s Hareina (Spartacus TN x Careina). Larrazabal and the 10-year-old KWPN mare were just behind the winning pair, with a jump-off time of 30.740 seconds.
Luis Pedro Biraben and his own eight-year-old Zangersheide stallion Chapeau PS Z (Comilfo Plus Z x Calato’s Lady PS Z) slid into the third place position in 31.365 seconds.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Forman De Virton, Antonio Martinez, Tack Up Stable Corp.: 0 | 0 | 30.637
2 Hereina, Luis Larrazabal, Victoria Heurtematte: 0 | 0 | 30.740
3 Chapeau PS Z, Luis Pedro Biraben, Luis Pedro Biraben & Miguel Madero: 0 | 0 | 31.365
4 Starfly, Tanimara Macari, Tanimara Macari: 0 | 0 | 31.671
5 Clip De La Haye Z, Leslie Howard, Laure Sudreau & Peter Howard: 0 | 0 | 31.923
6 Calicia 2, Alberto Michan, Franziska, Klause: 0 | 0 | 32.459
7 Chacco Lait, Avery Erickson, Avery Erickson: 0 | 0 | 33.094
8 Concanto, Joshua Tabor, Carat Group LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.334
9 Balou’s Penny, Luis Larrazbal, Alexia Thermiotis: 0 | 0 | 34.722
10 Corlencia BC, Senan Hayes, Windsor Show Stables: 0 | 4 | 33.509
Alberto Michan & Comedie De Talma Find $10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic Victory
The $10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic closed out Week VII of World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s 2022 USEF Summer Series. An even 20 partnerships took to the WEC Grand Arena to vie for the top prize of Peter Grant’s (CAN) challenging track. Alberto Michan (ISR) and Esperanza Imports, LLC’s Comedie De Talma (Kannan x Pepite De Talma) snagged the victory with a clean, fast jump-off.
Only seven contenders were able to leave all the rails up in the first round and five managed to jump double clear.
Michan and the 10-year-old Selle Francais mare were the fastest of the five double clean rides, “I watched the current leader, Luis Biraben and he went very fast, so I knew the only way to catch him was to go flat on and the mare was right with me.” The pair flew around the short course in 33.578 seconds, shaving nearly three seconds off the current leader, Luis Biraben’s time.
Comedie De Talma is a new mount for Michan, “I just got her three-weeks ago from Ilan Ferder Stables and Esperanza Imports. I was in need of an extra horse to jump the Major League Tour that I am doing. She is an incredible horse with a lot of experience. I am very excited to continue riding her.”
Second place was snatched by Tanimara Macari and her own Starfly (Starpower x Safrane De Messitert). Macari and the nine-year-old Warmblood mare soared around the course in 34.727 seconds, to claim the second place spot on the leaderboard.
Original pace setter, Luis Pedro Biraben and Chapeau PS Z (Comilfo Plus Z x Calato’s Lady PS Z) secured the third place spot in today’s $10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic. Just yesterday, the pair also earned the yellow ribbon in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Today, Biraben and the eight-year-old Zangersheide stallion found an efficient jump-off in 36.154 seconds, to ultimately round out the top three.
$10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic Results:
1 Comedie De Talma, Alberto Michan, Esperanza Imports. LLC: 0 | 0 | 33.578
2 Starfly, Tanimara Macari, Tanimara Macari: 0 | 0 | 34.727
3 Chapeau PS Z, Luis Pedro Biraben, Luis Pedro Biraben & Miguel Madero: 0 | 0 | 36.154
4 Nestor Van De Zuidakker, Ramiro Quintana, Quintana Show Stables, LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.455
5 Jonus, Cody Quintana, Patricia Becker: 0 | 0 | 38.460
6 Kometh Von Der Weretherbach, Peter Petschenig, Peter Petschenig: 0 | 4 | 36.367
7 Charatinus, Anselmo Alvarado, Anselmo Alvarado: 0 | 4 | 37.719
8 Cobalto, Anne Bingler, Anne Bingler: 2 | 85.396
9 Alfie Z, Payton Beerbower, Payton Beerbower: 4 | 79.508
10 Camino Imperio Egipcio, Hunter Holloway, Luis Sabino Goncalves: 4 | 80.698
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV.