Darragh Kenny Does It Again With Babalou 41 to Claim $131k Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI3* at Kentucky

The evening awards ceremony of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show closed in a familiar fashion as the sun set on a victorious Darragh Kenny (IRL) who led the victory gallop around the Rolex Stadium aboard Babalou 41. On Saturday night, the pair claimed an exciting win in the $131,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI3*, just after capturing Thursday’s $35,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3* at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Darragh Kenny and Babalou 41. Photo by Phelps Media Group

With a starting list of 36 horse-and-rider combinations, Alan Wade’s (IRL) technical 17-effort track only produced four clear rounds for a thrilling and competitive jump-off. Todd Minikus (USA) and Quality Girl also returned to Saturday night competition in top form, delivering the long-awaited first clear round to the delight of the audience.

Minikus and the 15-year-old Oldenburg mare, owned by the Quality Group, returned first in the jump-off to set the pace with a blazing time of 36.050 seconds, but were just overtaken by Kenny in the end. However, Minikus and Quality Girl still managed another top award, finishing in second place and adding to Wednesday’s $35,000 Welcome Speed 1.45m CSI3* victory.

Todd Minikus and Quality Girl. Photo by Phelps Media Group

Eugenio Garza (MEX) and El Milagro’s Armani SL Z were the ones to guarantee a jump-off in round one as they produced the second clear effort of the evening. Garza and the 10-year-old Zangersheide gelding returned for a clean and careful jump-off in 40.160 seconds to earn the third place award. The team is no stranger to the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show series upon claiming last year’s $35,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3* at the 2017 Kentucky Spring Classic.

Eugenio Garza and Armani SL Z. Photo by Phelps Media Group

Once again though, it was Kenny and Jack Snyder’s Babalou 41 who claimed the fastest double-clear finish of the night, flying to a time of 35.500 seconds for the victory. Kenny and the 13-year-old Oldenburg mare are already on the fast track to success with notable FEI wins in this week’s Kentucky Spring Horse Show as well as top placings at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival.
“It was a tough course,” said Kenny, “but [Babalou 41]’s jumping amazing at the moment and I just knew to walk my course, pick my plan and stick to it and it really worked out well. For the jump-off [my plan] was just run. Todd [Minikus] was unbelievably fast and just amazing. It was either win or die trying.”

Darragh Kenny and Babalou 41. Photo by Phelps Media Group

Thankfully, Kenny’s mount was on board with his plan and went around effortlessly. “She’s so fantastic,” he boasted. “She’s so careful and tries so hard. She turns unbelievable and I think she’s going to be an incredible mare for the future. We’re really learning each other now and it feels so good and she’s jumping well, I’m just so happy with her.”
The first week of the Kentucky Spring Horse Show series concludes Sunday with the $35,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix and the USHJA International and National Hunter Derbies. The Kentucky Spring Classic begins on Wednesday, May 16, and will feature FEI CSI3* competition highlighting the $131,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix on Saturday, May 19.