ESP June Spring Series: Week I Highlights

Thursday, June 4 at ESP’s June Spring Series Week I jumper competition opened with the $5,000 Omega Alpha 1.35m Stake in the Van Kampen Covered Arena, during which Canada’s Erynn Ballard claimed the top position with Hilco, owned by Pauline Esdale, in a quick 37.681-second jump-off. Kim Farlinger of Wellington, FL and Sher-Al Farm Inc.’s Stanley Stone were close behind, crossing through the timers in 37.708 seconds to take the red ribbon, while Andrew Bourns of Wellington, FL piloted his entry, A Toi De Prim into the third-place position after a time of 38.279 seconds.

Erin Ballard on Hilco. Photo by Anne Gittins Photography.

During Friday’s $10,000 Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center Open Stake, Alberto Michan rode Cosa Nostra to victory in 49.611 seconds, while Emily Ward and Millioninmind placed second after a 50.391-second round. Erynn Ballard came in third with Ilan Ferder’s Bettina Des Celtes in 50.663 seconds.

Alberto Michan on Cosa Nostra. Photo by Anne Gittins Photography.

On Sunday, the $2,500 Equiline Medium Junior Jumper Classic followed the Grand Prix on the Derby Field with Mia Albelo of Miami, FL taking home the blue ribbon riding her Larocque De Revel in 42.918 seconds. Hallie Grimes of Houston, TX claimed both second place and third aboard Can We Keep It? LLC’s Ace in 45.17 seconds and Leasure Z, also owned by Can We Keep It? LLC, in 46.728 seconds, respectively. 

A total of 32 trips competed in the $2,500 Equiline Medium Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, which also took place on the Derby Field Sunday afternoon. New York, NY’s Samantha Kasowitz captured the top spot with Tixie Des Hayettes, owned by Fair Play Farm, after a 47.146-second round. Catherine Kubiak of Lake Forest, IL piloted Somerset, owned by Over Fences Farm, LLC, to second place in 51.917 seconds, while Brittany Hildebrand of Houston, TX rode Hilington Farm’s Clearblue Z to third in 50.75 seconds and four faults. 

Over in the Van Kampen Covered Arena, the $2,500 Equiline Low Junior Jumper Classic took place early Sunday morning. Mia Albelo and her Cassandra Dreams secured the blue ribbon after a second-round time of 32.359 seconds. Hallie Grimes rode Quickly Stated, owned by Can We Keep It? LLC, to second place in a time of 33.509 seconds, while Caroline Mawhinney of Woodside, CA finished in third aboard her entry Billy Porter after a 34.753-second jump-off. 

Alexandra Davidson of New York, NY and her mount Vassilisa won the $2,500 Equiline Low Amateur Owner Classic after stopping the clock at 33.296 seconds. Coming in second place with a jump-off round of 34.45 seconds was Sheer Levitin of Delray Beach, FL atop Quantico 946, while Dolores Funes of Wellington, FL claimed third upon completing the course in 35.002 seconds with JK Horse Trucks Chantilly.

The $1,500 M&S Children’s Jumper Classic presented by Score At The Top gave Mia Green of Wellington, FL the blue ribbon for her efforts with Forget Me Not Farm’s Levisto Alpha Z after the pair crossed the timers at 37.023 seconds. Second place was awarded to Hensley Humphries of Austin, TX and Duty Free De Chamant, owned by Stormfront Sales, LLC, who finished the course in 38.016 seconds. Mia Green returned to the winner’s circle, this time aboard Healthfield Hunters, LLC’s Cornetto with a final time of 35.179 seconds and four faults. 

Meanwhile, Petra Sobotova of Naples, FL took home the blue ribbon in the $1,500 M&S Adult Amateur Jumper Classic presented by Score At The Top after completing the jump-off in 34.863 seconds atop her entry Fontanel Van T&L. Close behind with a jump-off time of 34.896 seconds was Carine Pignatti of Lake Worth, FL and Chanel B 2, owned by Take the High Road, LLC, to claim second place. Rounding out the top three was Kimberly Swenson of Wellington, FL piloting her Eloma through the course in 35.94 seconds. 

The $1,500 Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic presented by French Horse Exports saw Sophia Bruny of Bradbury, CA take home the blue ribbon aboard Quarto Mail, owned by Elan Farm, after completing the course in 31.452 seconds. Ana Lisa Carr of Franklin, TN rode her E-Wally through the timers in 32.037 seconds to claim second, while third place went to Nora Keefe of Dover, MA and her mount, Delft Blue after they finished in 33.184 seconds. 

Over in the Equestrian Village International Ring, the $250 CCTV Agent 0.85m Classic took place Sunday afternoon with Jesus Alejandro Rigu of Wellington, FL receiving top honors aboard his entry Kascaya Z after a 35.425-second jump-off. Manuela Gomez of Wellington, FL raced through the timers in 38.942 seconds with Jorge Gomez’s Coignard Katalei to claim the red ribbon, while Jayden Rivas of Delray Beach, FL piloted Unzipped, owned by Brandy Rivas, to a third-place finish in 71.37 seconds and four faults in the first round.

The ESP June Spring Series, hosted at Equestrian Village, will continue this week with the second Equitation Day on June 10, followed by the USEF “A” National & Jumper 4* competition from Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14.  No spectators are allowed on-site, but friends and family can view all classes via the SGL live stream here.  To learn more about safety protocols at the horse show, click here.