Ocala, FL – Week VII of the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series came to a close this afternoon as a strong field of top-level competitors vied for the win in the $15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic. Pathfinder Kyle Dewar (CAN) and his tried-and-true mount Clever Van De Helle (Clearway x Mira VII) captured the win after the pair posted a blistering time that was simply uncatchable.
Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) laid the closing tracks for today’s event where three athletes managed to navigate a clear first round to advance to the jump-off.
Dewar commended Palacios for his tracks throughout the week, “Leopoldo is a genius. All week the tracks have been challenging. When Leopoldo builds you have to be very organized on how you plan for the week which is why I decided to save ‘Clever’, who is my older horse for this specific class.”
Dewar and the 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding made light work of the first round to qualify for the immediate jump-off.
“I had a simple plan, go as fast as I can. I left one out to the second jump then tried not to pull on the reins to the rest,” said Dewar.
The seasoned pair whipped around the short course stopping the clock at an unbeatable 44.270 seconds.
Dewar spoke about his longtime partner Clever Van De Helle, “I have had Clever for nine years. He isn’t jumping the big classes anymore because he is a bit older, but he’s still very capable. He’s actually going to transition to my daughter when she’s strong enough for him, and I just know he will be great for her. He has had an incredible career and was the leading national Canadian horse two or three years in a row. He doesn’t owe me anything.”
Brooke Kemper claimed second-place honors in today’s class aboard CM Sporthorses LLC‘s Seaview Demonstration (FSS Correlli Bravo x Galloway Star). Kemper and the eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding found a quick jump-off track just shy of the winning time in 45.689 seconds.
Robert Mendoza and Holly McPherson’s United M (Baloubet Du Rouet x United) continued their successful week with another fast and clean jump-off in 46.804 seconds, good enough for a podium finish. Mendoza and the 13-year-old KWPN mare also earned third-place honors in the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic on Friday.
$15,000 Taylor Harris Insurance Services 1.45m Jumper Classic Results:
1 Clever Van De Helle, Kyle Dewar, Kyle Dewar: 0 | 0 | 44.270
2 Seaview Demonstration, Brooke Kemper, CM Sporthorses LLC: 0 | 0 | 45.689
3 United M, Robert Mendoza, Holly McPherson: 0 | 0 | 46.804
4 Cornut GP, Vicente Guillen, Rafael Celis: 4 | 88.644
5 Hurbine, Kyle Dewar, Kyle Dewar; 4 | 89.172
6 Rozsa, Anthony Sauriol, Mi Casa Stables Inc.: 8 | 85.109
7 Vertigo Delorme, Penny Brennan, Penny Brennan: 8 | 86.805
8 Quantum Trot 3, Abby Grabowski, Abby Grabowski: 8 | 90.732
9 Eastpoint, Hillary Johnson, Hillary Johnson: 11 | 94.909
10 Caliber W, Ivy Nyberg, Ivy Nyberg: 22 | 87.363
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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