Crete, IL – June 20, 2017 – Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas, placed 1st and 3rd in the $50,000 Adequan Grand Prix on Saturday, June 17th at HITS CHICAGO during the Showplace Spring Spectacular II Horse Show at Balmoral Park.
Fenney mesmerized spectators as she earned the blue ribbon riding MTM COMO NO, a magnificent eight-year-old dappled grey Holsteiner stallion who soared high over the jumps with effortless beauty. And atop COMO’s stablemate, IGOR VAN DE HEIBOS, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood Stallion, Fenney collected the yellow ribbon. Both horses are owned by MTM Farm.
The fact that neither of the stallions had competed in the Grand Prix Stadium prior to the $50,000 Adequan Grand Prix amplified the victory. “I didn’t do any classes during the week so it’s nice to know that they can walk right into the big ring, and do so well after no jumping,” said Fenney. “They are just getting to the point where they pick up on stuff faster, like their foot speed for example is getting faster for the jump-offs.”
The Guilherme Jorge designed course cleared only seven of the 33 entries to advance to the jump-off. The shortened course allowed for lengthy gallops which perfectly suited COMO and IGOR. Fenney, was the first to return for the jump off on COMO. The pair jumped clear, and crossed the finish line in 36.069 seconds. Fenney said, “he was fresh and felt great and he kind of has an idea of what he is doing now, he just stayed right with me the whole time.”
When Fenney returned with IGOR she had only her own time on COMO to beat. IGOR jumped enthusiastically and clear. But his time of 36.980 would only suffice for third place in the standings. “COMO’s edge is in his big stride,” Fenney said. “He always pushes back at the jumps, so I could go right at him, and he answered with great jumps, and he kept his momentum through the tight turns.”
The rival who separated Fenney’s stablemates was Maggie Jayne, of Elgin, Illinois, riding EVERYTHING owned Pony Lane Farm. EVERYTHING jumped fault-free and stopped the clock in 36.682. Jayne was very pleased with her horse’s performance, but in rethinking the round she said she thought she could have been a little faster in one of the turns.
Dorothy Douglas, who also rides for the MTM Farm, caught a rail in the jump off which put her in fourth with S&L ELITE.
Lisa Goldman of Red Coat Farm had also secured two berths in the jump-off, one with Barbara Disko’s SOVEREIGN, and the other with her own CENTURION B. Each incurred jumping faults and placed 5th and 6th respectively.
Derek Braun and LACAROLUS, last week’s Grand Prix winner, finished in 7th.
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