Ocala, FL – A beautiful sunny Florida day set the scene for the $100,000 IDA Development Grand Prix. An elite field of athletes representing 10 different nations gathered at the WEC Stadium early this morning to compete for the winning title over a challenging track set by FEI Level III course designer Joey Rycroft (CAN). In a three-horse jump-off, the dynamic duo of Tracy Fenney (USA) and MTM Farm’s MTM Apple (Favorit Ask x Kong’s Whipsie) seized the lead with a speedy performance, finishing nearly three seconds ahead of second place.
Scott Keach (AUS) emerged as the first athlete to successfully navigate Rycroft’s challenging first round to return for the jump-off. Piloting Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC’s Noble De La Chapelle, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Keach executed an efficient jump-off, stopping the clock at 42.963 seconds to set the pace for the remaining two competitors.
Tracy Fenney was the next athlete to find the clear, “It was a tough track. The jumps were big and wide, and there were a good amount of questions. The first half you had to be smart and in the second half you had to be careful. ‘Apple’ jumped pretty hard out there for me, and she did everything she could to keep the rails up.”
Tracy Fenney raised the stakes in the jump-off with her 13-year-old Danish Warmblood mare. “I watched Scott [Keach] and he looked like he went pretty fast, so I knew I had to just go for it.”
The pair left it all on the track, leaving out strides and taking tidy turns to stop the clock in 40.385 seconds to ultimately gallop away with their second grand prix victory of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series.
“It was a really good jump-off, all of the horses were fresh and having fun. I think I may have left out two from one to two because I was pretty long to two. Dorrie [Douglas] said I probably didn’t need to go as fast as I did, but sometime the faster you go with Apple, the better she is,” shared Fenney.
Last to go, Samantha Schaefer (USA) gave the track everything she had aboard Bonne Vie LLC’s 14-year-old KWPN gelding Frasier (Carambole x Bloem) but had a heartbreaking rail in the double combination with a time of 44.585 seconds to round out the top three.
Dorothy Douglas received the fastest four faulter award aboard Davenport Farms’ MTM Pablo with a quick first round time of 75.554 seconds with one rail down.
Maya Denis received the ‘Luck of the Draw’ award.
$100,000 IDA Development Grand Prix Results:
1 MTM Apple, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 40.385
2 Noble De La Chapelle, Scott Keach (AUS), Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.963
3 Frasier, Samantha Schaefer (USA), Bonne Vie LLC: 0 | 4 | 44.585
4 MTM Pablo, Dorothy Douglas (USA), Davenport Farms: 4 | 75.554
5 Clever Van De Helle, Kyle Dewar (CAN), Kyle Dewar: 4 | 75.983
6 The Gray Man, Caelinn Leahy (USA), Steve Schaefer: 4 | 76.714
7 ES Keminko N, Will Simpson (USA), Will Simpson Stables Inc.: 4 | 77.479
8 Vick Du Croisy, Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR), Sigma Stables LLC: 4 | 78.672
9 Champion League, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Della Wordley: 4 | 79.099
10 Chanel Du Calvaire, Francois Lamontagne (CAN), Fancois Lamontagne: 4 | 79.376
Spectators are welcome! From now until March 24, 2024, experience the thrill of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
A limited number of weekly stalls remain for the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, book your stall today!
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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