Ocala, FL – Another beautiful sunny day at World Equestrian Center – Ocala set the scene for the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix for week V of the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series. FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN) built the opening tracks for 23 top-level combinations from six different nations, but none could best Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and her tried-and-true mount, Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili (Berlin x Bijou Van De Vijfheide) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC.
Eight of the 24 starting entries managed to find the path to a clear first round to qualify for the jump-off. It was a tight race to first place, with the top three placings separated by less than a second.
Kristen Vanderveen (USA) found two of the eight clear first rounds. Vanderveen led the way in the jump-off aboard Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.’s Bull Run’s Jireh (Uriko x Conella) in 43.288 seconds to set the pace.
Next in was Jill Gaffney (USA) and Freestyling Farms LLC’s FF Blade Runner (Air Jordan Z x Bright Eyes). The pair put in a good effort, but fell short with a time of 47.404 seconds.
Brooks Hull (USA) and Zechariah 3:9 owned by Derek Petersen navigated a fast track in 38.751 seconds, but had an unfortunate rail through the double combination.
Lauren Balcomb (AUS) and the speedy Verdini D’Houtveld Z (Verdi x Laska III) Z were the next pair to attempt Grant’s short track. Balcomb and the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding put forth a stellar effort stopping the clock at 40.196 seconds to take the lead.
Geronimo Marcello Viana Ciavaglia (BRA) and Arnoldo Wald Fiho’s Premier 2S (Emilion x GR Elektra) were just behind Balcomb with a time of 40.402 seconds.
Kristen Vanderveen returned with her final entry, Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili. Vanderveen and the 18-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion secured week I’s victory in the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix. Today, they repeated that victory.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili soared around the jump-off track, not hitting the brakes once to stop the clock at 38.905 seconds to secure the top spot on the leaderboard.
Tracy Fenney and the infamous MTM Apple followed and clocked a jump-off time of 37.181 seconds, but had a rail down along the way.
Sean Jobin (CAN) and Foxridge Farms’ Coquelicot VH Heuvelland Z were the final pair to challenge Vanderveen’s quick time. The pair gave a good effort, stopping the clock at 42.098 seconds, landing them in fourth place.
$24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix Results:
1 Bull Run’s Faustino De Tili, Kristen Vanderveen (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.905
2 Verdini D’Houtveld Z, Lauren Balcomb (USA), Lauren Balcomb: 0 | 0 | 40.196
3 Premier 2S, Geronimo Marcello Viana Ciavaglia (BRA), Arnoldo Wald Fiho: 0 | 0 | 40.402
4 Coquelicot VH Heuvelland Z, Sean Jobin (CAN), Foxridge Farms Stables: 0 | 0 | 42.098
5 Bull Run’s Jireh, Kristen Vanderveen (USA), Bull Run Jumpers Inc.: 0 | 0 | 43.288
6 FF Blade Runner, Jill Gaffney (USA), Freestyling Farms LLC: 0 | 0 | 47.404
7 MTM Apple, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 4 | 37.181
8 Zechariah 3:9, Brooks Hull (USA), Derek Petersen: 0 | 4 | 38.751
9 Primo Troy, Rowan Willis (AUS), Rowan Willis: 4 | 74.360
10 Alan 111 Z, David Cameron (AUS), Linda Huddy & Sally Watkins: 4 | 79.040
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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