Lexington, Ky. – May 19, 2019 – The final day of the Kentucky Spring Classic concluded jumper competition in the Rolex Stadium with the $35,000 Bluegrass Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington. Thirty horse-and-rider combinations tested Kelvin Bywater’s (GBR) 16-effort first-round track where eight pairs returned to challenge the abridged jump-off phase. Athletes chased a double-clear finish, but Sunday’s finale saved the best for last as Ryan Genn (USA) and Dieta stopped the timers fault-free in 38.234 seconds to clinch the grand prix victory.
Ryan Genn and Dieta
The first entry, Nicholas Dello Joio (USA), was the early pathfinder for a clear round to return as the first to contest the 8-effort jump-off round. Schuyler Riley (USA) and Kevin Babington (IRL) followed, but a double-clear finish was not seen until Juan Manuel Gallego Martinez (COL) entered aboard his own Kayack to produce a clear jump-off round in 41.904 seconds. Lorcan Gallagher (IRL) challenged his finish, riding Southern Arches LLC’s Cassandra F to a clear time of 40.010 seconds to take over the temporary lead. Hayley Barnhill (USA) would try her hand with a fault-free finish, but fell just short of Gallagher with a time of 40.658 seconds. Genn returned as the final contender in the jump-off and flew to the quickest time of 38.234 seconds to best all three double-clear efforts and capture the win.
Genn’s grand prix lap of honor was followed by the presentation for the Leading Open Jumper Rider Award, sponsored by Envisian Products, which he earned in part with Alex Granato (USA). Both athletes tied for points to share the award after Granato rode to first place in Saturday night’s $134,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix CSI3* with Carlchen W.
Genn and Dieta concluded a successful week of competition at the Kentucky Spring Classic after finishing in second place in Friday’s $5,000 1.45m Open Jumpers. The 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood is a special mare to the Genn family as they have partnered with her for five years and built her up through the levels together with Ryan’s father, Wilhelm, and brother, Theo.
Lorcan Gallagher and Cassandra F
Gallagher ultimately earned the second place award with the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, Cassandra F, which he just began riding in March 2019. Barnhill rounded out the top three with Ecanto J, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Barnhill and Cheska.
Earlier in the day, the sport’s up-and-coming athletes took to the ring in the $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix in the Rolex Stadium. Eighteen horse-and-rider combinations tackled Bywater’s course, which asked pairs to complete 14 efforts under the time allowed of 71 seconds. The course proved challenging for many pairs, especially in the triple combination (vertical-oxer-vertical) where many fell victim to rails and refusals. However, it was Brian Moggre and MTM Los Angeles who tackled the course expertly to ultimately walk away with the blue ribbon.
Brian Moggre and MTM Los Angeles
Operating under a two-phase format, five combinations advanced to the jump-off phase where they challenged each other to produce the fastest fault-free round. First to go in the jump-off was Virginia Bonnie and Kimberley Prince’s Corneel. The pair set the bar for the remaining rounds by leaving all of the rails up and coming in under a time of 31.60 seconds. The following competitors, Jacqueline Steffans, KC Van Aarem, and Summer Hill, produced rounds that challenged Bonnie’s time, but ultimately ended with jumping faults.
Entering the ring next was Moggre and Major Wager LLC’s MTM Los Angeles. As the last to go in the jump-off Moggre had to not only go clear, but also beat Bonnie’s swift time. With seven efforts to tackle, Moggre utilized the 7-year-old Westphalian gelding’s large stride to stop the clock at 29.954 seconds, sealing their win. Up next, Moggre will campaign the promising young horse at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada. Moggre is ending his two weeks at the Kentucky Spring Horse Show series on a high note, after winning both the $36,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3* and the $36,000 Welcome Speed CSI3*.
Ultimately finishing in second was Bonnie, while Steffans and Double C Stables’ Freaky Liefhebber claimed third with four faults and a time of 30.989 seconds in the jump-off.
Kentucky Horse Shows will continue at the Kentucky Horse Park for its summer series, which will begin with the Kentucky Summer Show from July 24 through 29. Highlights will include the $5,000 National Hunter Derby, sponsored by World Equestrian Center and Kentucky Horse Shows, and the $50,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix. The Kentucky Spring Classic will take place directly after on July 31 through August 5.
View the original article on Phelps Sports.