Wellington, FL – April 26, 2018 – The third installment of the ESP Spring Series concluded on Sunday, April 22, after a successful week of wins for Todd Minikus and Kevin Babington at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.
The week boasted yet another win for Todd Minikus of Lake Worth, FL, and Amex Z, owned by Chris Brems in the $25,000 Spring Welcome Grand Prix on Friday, April 22. This victory was Minikus’ fourth Grand Prix win of the series, and the second for this specific mount. The pair topped the class of 39 entries, blazing through fast track timers in 39.592 seconds. Second place was captured by Fabio Levias da Costa of Rio de Janerio, Brazil, and Tosca de L’esques after contesting the eleven-horse jump-off in 39.592 seconds. Third place was rounded out by Celso Ariani of Wellington, FL, and Dali T, owned by Rodrigo Padilla and Ricardo Romero, who completed the jump-off in 41.893 seconds.
A total of 31 entries contested the $40,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Grand Prix on Sunday, April 23, but none could catch Kevin Babington of Gwynedd Valley, PA, and Shorapur, owned by Shorapur LLC, who stopped the clock in a winning time of 39.258 seconds.
Second place went to Margie Engle of Wellington, FL, and Gladewinds Farm Inc.’s Bockmanns Lazio, who rode through the Richard Jeffery designed jump-off course in 40.409 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, took third with his own Hardrock Z, jumping-off in 40.867 seconds.
Avery-Anna Hogan of Wellington, FL, and her own Eurocommerce Tampa rode to victory in the $1,500 NAL Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic after completing their jump-off trip in 38.268 seconds ahead of Emerson Lane of Miami, FL, and Diddlina D’Ive Z, owned by Lane, who took second with a time of 39.756 seconds. Katie Sansone of Coconut Creek, FL, and Tropobella 3K, owned by Sansone, earned third place after riding to a jump-off time of 39.925 seconds.
The $10,000 Triple Crown Nutrition Open Welcome Stake awarded the win to Pablo Barrios of Wellington, FL, and Gut Einhaus, LLC’s Le Vio, with a jump-off time of 29.246 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, and his own Jenni’s Chance, were presented with second place after completing the track in 29.753 seconds. Joaquim Malta de Abreu of Wellington, FL, placed third with Two Swans Farm Arino du Rouet collected third place in the class with a jump-off time of 30.207 seconds.
The $5,000 Omega Alpha® 1.35m Stake saw Alexis Trosch of Wellington, FL, and her own Cortex Z, owned by Trosch, take first place, stopping the jump-off timers in a quick 33.929 seconds. Fabio Leivas da Costa of Rio de Janerio, Brazil, and Luziada Jmen, owned by Bonne Chance Farm LLC., took home second place after finishing the track in 34.601 seconds. Leslie Howard of Darien, CT scooped up third place aboard Flo, owned by GJ Stable, finishing with a time of 35.412 seconds.
PBIEC Press Release