Daniel Coyle and Grafton Secure First Win in Equiline Grand Prix at ESP Holiday Festival II

Wellington, FL – December 21, 2016 – Daniel Coyle of County Derry, Ireland, and Grafton secured their first major grand prix win in the $25,000 Equilline Grand Prix during the ESP Holiday Festival II competition at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). The duo bested the track in 47.029 seconds to take the victory. Captain Brian Cournane of Wellington, FL, and Javas Keltic Mist rode to second place after crossing through the timers in 49.144 seconds, while Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, and Bon Jovi secured third place with a time of 49.216 seconds.

Coyle impressed aboard Grafton in the class, in one of the duo’s first competition appearances together. Grafton, a 2010 Selle Francais stallion owned by Susan and Ariel Grange, has been a competitive mount in both national and international competition during his career and Coyle is looking forward to taking over the ride.

“All of the classes that I have been doing in the past week or two have allowed me to start to get used to horses and how they go in the competition arena,” detailed Coyle. “For the grand prix, I wanted to get a result and it was brilliant. I’m starting to figure out the horses a bit more. I’m very happy. This is an incredible opportunity for me.”

The pair bested a class of 50 entries, while only four combinations qualified to contest the jump-off track. Hector Loyola of Wellington, FL, held the course designing responsibilities for the competition. Coyle mapped a track for Grafton that he felt would give the pair the best possible chance to place in the class.

“The course rode a little bigger than I had expected and this horse is relatively new to me,” said Coyle. “I was just trying to get to the correct numbers and I know that a lot of people were doing the vertical to an oxer in four strides, but I did three and I think that made a big difference.”

Noting that Grafton improved as the course went on, Coyle feels that he is beginning to solidify a strong working relationship with Grafton. He commented, “That was really it from there. That’s where the lines just kept getting better and better – I had a good chance at taking the class because I was feeling my way around the course and he was responding perfectly.”

Coyle is making sure to take his time getting to know each of the horse at Lothlorien Farm, which is a process he has enjoyed. With a number of top grand prix mounts ready for the upcoming season, Coyle feels honored to have been given the chance to compete the talented string of horses based at the farm.

“The main thing for me right now is to get to know the horses and then we can decide what we want to do and where we want to go,” he explained. “I want to get to know them for me, so I’m going to take it one day at time and hopefully have a lot of success. There’s a huge team at Lothlorien who are behind this operation and that’s what makes it easier for me.”

“I want to thank the whole Lothlorien team, the grooms, the work riders, the Granges and everyone – they’re the people who truly make results like this possible,” he concluded.

Todd Minikus of Lake Worth, FL, and Vita 24 took top honors in the $10,000 Open Stake presented by Equiline as the pair completed the track in 33.346 seconds. Daniel Coyle of County Derry, Ireland, and Dillinger collected second place after finishing the jump-off with a time of 35.001 seconds. Emanuel Andrade of Wellington, FL, and Cortina 186 rounded out the top three finishers with a time of 36.517 seconds.

Elizabeth Lang of Hillsborough, CA, and her own Sothis D Ouilly rose to the top of the leaderboard in the $1,500 NAL Child/Adult Jumper Classic with a time of 39.337 seconds. Taje Warrick of Wellington, FL, and her own Dersey concluded the competition in second place after stopping the jump-off timers in 39.53 seconds ahead of Andrea Hippeau Vogel of New York, NY, and her own Jackpot, who finished the short course track in 43.897 seconds.

Maggie McCormack of Ocala, FL, and Chapeau, owned by Marker’s Mark LLC, captured victory in the $2,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic after the pair finished nearly five second faster than the rest of the competition. Andrea Hippeau Vogel of New Yok, NY, and her own TH Apart collected second place with a time of 46.134 seconds, while Dana Ventrice of Pompano Beach, FL, and her own Gerbeaud were presented with third place after completing the track in 46.98 seconds.

The $2,500 NAL Low Junior/Amateur Owner Classic saw Isabella Russekoff of Greenwich, CT, and Castor van de Kranenburg, owned by Lexus Arbuckle, take top honors with a competitive jump-off time of 44.119 seconds. Katie Tyler of Lyme, CT, and her own Shet du Thot were presented with second place for their jump-off round, which they finished with a time of 45.249 seconds. Katherine Benard of Cumberland Foreside, ME, and Alaika, owned by Sagamore Farm Inc., rounded out the top three after adding four faults to their jump-off time of 44.71 seconds.

Daisy Farish of Versailles, KY, and Balance, owned by Chansonette Farm LLC, finished at the top of the leaderboard in the $2,500 High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic presented by Equiline after collecting two time faults on the short course to finish in 53.523 seconds. Alonso Valdez Prado of Wellington, FL, and his own Chief, took second place after adding four faults to their time of 48.93 seconds. Caitlin Creel of Kildeer, IL, and her own Liberty Son 2, finished in third place with a single time fault from the first round.

Rodrigo Pessoa of Wellington, FL, and Chaco 34, owned by Francesca Damasceno, captured first place in the $5,000 1.35m Jumper Classic, besting a class of 27 entries for the win. The pair stopped the timers in 41.777 seconds ahead of Carlos Quinones of Wellington, FL, who took second and third place respectively. Quinones piloted Sato Yama, owned by Michelle Navarro-Grau, to second place with a time of 42.518 seconds, while Tazman, also owned by Navarro-Grau, earned third after adding four faults to their competitive time of 38.302 seconds.

Sophia Thomson of Jupiter, FL, guided The Winter Solider to first place in the $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic presented by Equine Couture & Tuff Rider after finishing a speedy jump-off and earning a time of 26.465 seconds. Chloe Jhin of Lake Forrest, IL, and her own Liberty, followed closely behind for second place with a time of 26.614 seconds. Samantha Johnson of Skillman, NJ, and her own Gallant earned third place after crossing through the timers in 26.772 seconds.

Jean Sheptoff of Littleton, MA, and her own Heartcore captured top honors in the $1,000 Junior/Amateur Owner Hunter Classic (3’3″ & 3’6″) presented by Sweet Oak Farm after earning a two round score of 169. Samantha Kramig of Lake Worth, FL, and her own Disclosure earned a 164 for second place while Ellie Ferrigno of Newtown, CT, and Quintessential, owned by Dapple LLC, received a total score of 161 for third place.

Alexa Elle Lignelli of New York, NY, and her own Rollingwoods Knee Deep finished at the top of the class in the $500 Small Pony Hunter Classic presented by Moorcroft Inc. Lignelli also guided her own IParty to second place, while Chloe Watrous of Evanston, IL, and Page 6 rounded out the top three placings.

The $500 Medium Pony Hunter Classic presented by Moorcroft Inc. saw Zayna Rizvi of Greenwich, CT, and Anderin’s Momento, owned by Ella Bikoff, take first place. Rizvi then piloted No Drama, owned by Peacock Ridge, LLC, to second place. Kyla Sullivan of Wallingford, CT, and Not So Secret, owned by Jill Shulman, were presented with third place.

Ella Bostwick of Wellington, FL, and Zimba, owned by Grace Busch, won the $500 Large Pony Hunter Classic presented by Moorcroft Inc., ahead of Ansley Wright of Manalapan, FL, and Serenade In Blue, owned by Deborah Brown-Moon, who took second. Fox Creek’s Antony Quinn, ridden by Anna Richardson of Granbury, CT, and owned by Dianna Orona, took third place for their efforts.

Julie Pignataro of East Northport, NY, and Harlan, owned by First Blue LLC, rode to the championship in the Children’s Hunter Division presented by UHealth, while Chloe Peebles of Coral Gables, FL, and her own Lord Nelson took reserve.

The Green Hunter 3’3″ Division saw Katherine Newman of Wellington, FL, and Dandelion, owned by Allwyn Court Inc., take the divisional championship, while Ed Copeland of Brewster, NY, and Nickle, owned by Trelawny Farm, LLC, captured reserve.

The Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″ Division saw Tracy Scheriff-Muser of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and her own Quincy take the divisional championship, while Martha Ingram of Nashville, TN, and Ice Time, owned by John & Stephanie Ingram, LLC, finished the weekend with reserve champion honors.

Katherine Newman of Wellington, FL, and Upswing, owned by Jennifer Tavitian, championed the Performance Hunter 3’3″ Division, while Taylor Kain of Boynton Beach, FL, and Market Trend, owned by Tanna Seltzer, captured reserve champion.

Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA, and her own Unexpected secured champion accolades in the Green Hunter 3’6″ Division, while Farmer also guided High Priority, owned by Zenfield Farm, to reserve in the division.

For more information on Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) and to see a full list of competition results please visit www.pbiec.com.