Kent Farrington Speeds Creedance to Victory in Phelps Media Group $72,900 International Welcome Stake CSI4* at National Horse Show

Show jumping took centerstage Thursday, October 29 at the 137th National Horse Show as partnerships took to the Alltech Arena for the first day of jumper contests, with four classes offering opportunities to collect prize money. The evening’s highlight class, the Phelps Media Group $72,900 International Welcome Stake CSI4*, showcased the efforts of top-ranked international challengers hailing from seven nations, namely the United States, Israel, Ireland, Great Britain, Brazil, New Zealand and Canada. Speeding to the head of the rankings as the most efficient duo of the skilled pack, Kent Farrington (USA) and Creedance, the horse he co-owns with Haity McNerney, added another accolade to their lengthy list, topping a 9-horse jump-off field to claim the lead spot in the victory gallop. Earlier in the afternoon, the EquiJet $5,000 Junior Jumper’s swiftest trip came from Zayna Rizvi and North Run’s Quivive S Z. Turning in the quickest jump-off round ahead of a tight race, Julia Weiss and her own Dior topped the leaderboard in the $5,000 Amateur-Owner Jumpers to kick off their event on a high note.

Kent Farrington on Creedance in their presentation ceremony. Photo by Emma Miller/Phelps Media Group.

Attracting the likes of American competitors that included Longines FEI World No. 8 Beezie Madden (USA), No. 10 McLain Ward (USA), No. 11 Farrington, plus international entries such as Daniel Bluman (ISR), Mario Deslauriers (CAN) and Shane Sweetnam (IRL), the Phelps Media Group $72,900 International Welcome Stake CSI4* boasted a start list of elite talent. Well-respected veteran course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA) crafted the first-round track of 16 efforts, which effectively separated the best performers from the group. The trailblazers, Deslauriers and Uris De La Roque were the first to go and immediately logged a clear trip, and they were soon joined by Farrington on Creedance, Alex Granato (USA) riding Carlchen W and Adam Prudent (USA) with Baloutinue. A number more successful efforts followed from Lillie Keenan (USA) aboard Fasther, Devin Ryan (USA) riding Eddie Blue, David Blake (IRL) aboard Keoki, Sweetnam on Indra Van De Oude Heihoef and Spencer Smith (USA) with Quibelle to bring the total list of qualified jump-off contenders to nine.

Alex Granato on Carlchen W. Photo by Elaine Wessel/Phelps Media Group.

Whittled down to representatives from Canada, the United States and Ireland, the exhibitors in the tie-breaker round ultimately produced a mere four double-clear performances for the night’s highlight event. Proving why they are consistently ranked one of the top finishers in the world in upper-echelon competitions, Farrington and Creedance set the pace as the first partnership to leave all the rails in their cups for a second time, stopping the clock in 33.25 seconds. Though the seven subsequent teams tried to chase them down, none could catch the swift time set by Farrington and Creedance, solidifying them as the victors. Riding Page Tredennicks’s ever-speedy Carlchen W, Granato jumped to the runner-up spot in a fault-free 33.61 seconds, followed by Keenan and Chansonette Farm LLC’s Fasther in third position in 34.75 seconds to make for an all-American podium.

Show jumping will continue for two more days at the 2020 National Horse Show. Friday will feature $10,000 classes for juniors and amateurs, as well as the T & R Development $36,600 International Speed Class CSI4*. Saturday will serve as the premiere day of the show, when it hosts the $25,000 SJHF Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper Grand Prix and $213,300 National Horse Show Grand Prix CSI4*.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE: Kent Farrington
On coming to the end of the competition year:
“2020 was a crazy year, so I am definitely happy that I have such great support with great owners and great horses. I feel very lucky that we are still able to compete in our sport. The National Horse Show has done a great job here making it safe. All that being said, Creedence was fantastic. He was really on form today. I thought his jump off was Creedance at his best. He was careful and quick and that is what it took to win tonight.”
On the courses in the Phelps Media Group $72,900 Welcome Stake CSI4*:
“In the US we don’t get to jump a lot indoors. Luckily, Creedance has a lot of experience competing inside and around the world and I knew that I could count on him to bring him here and have him be reliable. The top three horses here today are competitive at any place with very strong riders and I think that we are all looking forward to the grand prix.”
Full Class Results – Phelps Media Group $72,900 International Welcome Stake CSI4*:
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time
1. Creedence / Kent Farrington / USA / Kent Farrington / 0 | 75.72 / 0 | 33.25
2. Carlchen W / Alex Granato / USA / Page Tredennick / 0 | 78.70 / 0 | 33.61
3. Fasther / Lillie Keenan / USA / Chansonette Farm LLC / 0 | 77.550 / 0 | 34.75
4. Quibelle / Spencer Smith / USA / Gotham Enterprizes LLC / 0 | 79.79 / 0 | 38.61
5. Indra Van De Oude Heihoef / Shane Sweetnam / IRL / The Blue Buckle Group / 0 | 77.71 / 4 | 35.09
6. Eddie Blue / Devin Ryan / USA / LL Show Jumpers, LLC / 0 | 79.690 / 4 | 35.52
7. Baloutinue / Adam Prudent / USA / Plain Bay Farm / 0 | 77.62 / 4 | 36.83
8. Keoki / David Blake / IRL / Pine Hollow Farm / 0 | 77.420 / 4 | 36.85
9. Uris de la Roque / Mario Delauriers / CAN / Aram Ampagoumian LLC / 0 | 76.79 / 4 | 37.69
10. HH Callas / Megan McDermott / USA / Counter Balance LLC / 4 | 77.40
11. Breitling LS / Beezie Madden / USA / Abigail Wexner / 4 | 78.39
12. Luibanta BH / Amanda Derbyshire / GBR / Gochman Sport Horse LLC / 4 | 78.39