Diego Vivero and Bijoux Score Win in $25,000 Dover Saddlery Grand Prix at ESP Holiday III

Wellington, FL – December 27, 2017 – The ESP Holiday III competition saw a win for Diego Vivero of Wellington, FL, aboard Bijoux in the $25,000 Dover Saddlery Grand Prix. Second place was captured by Todd Minikus of Lake Worth, FL, piloting Carlo, owned by North Face Farm, stopping jump-off timers in 40.753 seconds. Third place was awarded to Ian Millar and Future Adventures’ Vittorio 8, after completing their fast track round in 41.807 seconds.

Vivero and his mount raced around the day’s course designed by Andy Christianson, Jr., of Wellington, FL, and completed the jump-off in 40.018 seconds. Four of the original 22 entries moved forward to contest the short course. The ESP Holiday Series will continue with two more weeks of top hunter, jumper, and equitation competition, concluding on Sunday, January 7, before the start of the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Wednesday, January 10, through Sunday, April 1.

Jumper Highlights: 
The $10,000 Dover Saddlery Open Welcome Stake marked another win for Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, riding his own Garinco van de Lijnsaerd. The pair flew over the jump-off track in 42.397 seconds, ahead of Pablo Mejia of Loxahatchee, FL, and his own RL Queen Mary, who stopped timers in 43.695 seconds to achieve second place. The jump-off welcomed back only three horse-and-rider combinations, with Alejandro Karolyi rounding out that top three aboard Bo Hopson’s VDL Elliot, finishing in 42.048 seconds with four faults. 

Kelly Bauernschmindt of Bratenahl, OH, rode to victory aboard Belle Bleu S, owned by Bauernschmindt, in the $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic after stopping the jump-off timers in 39.595 seconds with four added faults. Robert Reyers of Wellington, FL, and his own Ignore Van Orshof took second place with a time of 45.289 seconds and four faults. Mariana Herrera of Loxahatchee, FL, and her own Da Vinci earned third place after a four-fault jump-off round and a time of 49.473 seconds.

The $1,500 Low Children/Adult Jumper Classic saw Joshua Baird of St. Charles, IL, and Pony Lane Farm’s Licapo take first place with a jump-off time of 40.961 seconds, while Claire Sieuzac of New York, NY, and her own Zandora De Shalimar finished in second place with a first round time of 70.956 seconds and one fault. Joshua Baird also collected third place with his own Lolipop S, after finishing with four faults and a time of 60.095 seconds in the first round.

Tracy Harris of Wellington, FL, and Une Etoile de L’ Eclypse, owned by Harkopp Farm, championed the $2,500 Accuhorsemat M&S Child/Adult Classic after completing their jump-off round in 43.136 seconds to best the class. Lexi Maounis of Greenwich, CT, and Roos, owned by Maounis, collected second place with a time of 45.427 seconds. Isabelle Wagener achieved third place aboard her own Balougris SL Z, rounding out the top three with a time of 46.665 seconds.

The $5,000 1.35m Stake was won by Pablo Mejia of Loxahatchee, FL, and RL Monaco, owned by Mejia, after crossing through jump-off timers in 37.409 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, and his own Anastasia Du Park earned second place with a time of 39.063 seconds. Andrade also finished in third place with Tupac Van de Vrombautshoeve Z after contesting the course in 39.468 seconds.

Hunter Highlights:

Sarah Sturges of Sunbury, OH, was awarded champion of the USHJA 2’6″ Hunter Division. Her winning mount was Spot On, owned by Haylee Jerkins. Reserve champion was presented to Kelly Mullen of Franklin, TN, and Valentino, owned by Warioto Farms, LLC.
Cecilia Perry of North Venice, FL, and Misty, owned by Montoga, Inc., were champions of the Small Pony Hunter Division. Reserve champion was also awarded to Perry, riding Fielding Stichman’s Sparkle.

The Performance Hunter 3’3″ & 3′6″ Division champion was awarded to Kelly Mullen of Franklin, TN, riding Fortuny, owned by Warioto Farms, LLC. Reserve champion was awarded to Melissadre Lincourt of Montreal, QB, and Brigitte Leroux’s Sugar Ray.

The USHJA Hunter 2′, 2’3″ & 2′ Division was won by Kelly Mullen of Franklin, TN, and Happy, owned by Warioto Farms Inc. David Laks of Bedford, NY, and Saint Laurent, owned by Elite Equines LLC., captured reserve champion honors.

Laurie Stevens of Boca Raton, FL, and her own Santiago, finished atop the division in the Low Adult Hunter Division. Blythe Goguen of Lexington, KY, collected reserve champion with Zjappoo Sow, owned by Kelly Goguen.

PBIEC Press Release