Molly
Ashe And Lutopia Win $20,000 1.5m Classic At Winter Equestrian Festival
TAMPA,
FL March 27, 2004 Molly Ashe, 33, of Wellington, FL,
riding Lutopia for owner Jane Forbes Clark won the $20,000 1.5 Meter
Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Tampa, FL, today. Ashe
topped a field of 41 entries at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center,
host venue for the Tampa Bay Classic, the ninth week in the 10-week
circuit. Laura Kraut of Oconomowoc, WI, aboard Miss Independent
for the Pasmore Stables placed second. Kate Levy of South Salem,
NY, in the irons on her own Lydia placed third.
This
is my Olympic hopeful horse, said Ashe of the 11-year-old
Dutchbred chestnut mare by Gentleman. The pair exhibited at only
one Grand Prix during the 2004 WEF and todays class was their
return to competition. I want to jump her in the Invitational
so I was letting her do her thing, which is let her go and stay
out of her way. She rose to the occasion. She was right back where
she should be, so that was a big sigh of relief. Ashe is a
two-time winner of the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational
with Kroon Gravin. This is the heir to the thrown, Ashe
said of Lutopia. Shes the next generation. She was second
in the million dollar grand prix in Spruce Meadows this fall and
shes a super, super horse. Shes every bit as nice.
The Budweiser American Invitational presented by Publix and The
Tampa Tribune will be held on April 3 in the Raymond James Stadium
in Tampa.
Ashe
rode three mounts over todays 15-effort Round One, which included
a triple at No. 7 and a double at No. 9, designed by Brazils
Guilherme Nogueira Jorge, who allotted an 84-second time allowed.
Twelve horses went clean for the jump-off, including two of Ashes.
The first round jumped nice, said Ashe who was the first
rider on course with Naomi owned by Full Cry Farm, and notched the
first clear for the Jump-Off. It was tricky enough but fair,
and the time was very fair, not generous, but fair. Ashe noted
that the triple posed the biggest challenge, and it was indeed the
bogey with 16 riders unable to clear it. It was a little bit
of a push to B and then C was very short, Ashe explained.
Going again 15th in the order aboard Lutopia, Ashe logged her second
clear, but as the 40th rider on course with King Louie for owner
Rosewood Glen Ltd. she had a rail and wrapped his day up in 14th
place.
Coming
back first for the seven-effort Jump-Off with time allowed set at
47 seconds, Ashe aboard Naomi had a refusal at the first jump, had
the third fence down, and added three time faults, ending up in
12th place. I was strategically lining up my inside slice
from one to three and I strategically blew right by the first jump,
Ashe admitted with a wry laugh. That was my fault. I was cutting
inside the pile of jumps before I jumped the jump itself.
Going
fifth in the order, Kate Levy and the gray mare Lydia posted the
first clear trip in 39.891. Ashe was next in the ring with Lutopia
and shaved more than four seconds off Levys time, clocking
in clean at 35.722, which held up through the efforts of the remaining
six riders, including three more clear rounds. Callan Solem aboard
Mianta for Quiet Winter Farm broke the beam fault-free at 39.979
for fourth place. Kraut riding Miss Independent clocked in clear
at 36.014 for second. Danielle Torano came in clean on Cavalieri
for owners Christy and Elizabeth Russo at 40.502 for fifth.
Ashe
said she was faster everywhere in the tiebreaker. That mare
is incredibly fast. Just her natural tempo is very, very fast,
said Ashe of Lutipia. She slices and cuts with you.
Ashe
is on the US team headed for the World Cup Finals in Milan, Italy,
at the end of April, but she will take Resolute owned by Rosewood
Glen Ltd. and Naomi, saving Lutopia for the Olympic Selection Trials.
Jane Clark bought Lutopia for Ashe to ride three years ago and the
pair has been competing in the Grand Prix for a year. The class
today was part of Ashes revised path to the Olympics. Its
a good comeback because were running out of time, she
said, and credited owner Clark for her support through the weeks
off. You can make your plan and something always can come
up, but Jane has weathered many storms. Shes been in the sport
for a long, long time. I feel lucky to have somebody who understands
and is willing to take the step back and alter the plan and make
all the best efforts to turn it back around.
Erica
Garcia And Solo Win Childrens Jumper
In earlier competition today, Erica Garcia riding Solo for owner
Alex Jayne won the $500 Childrens Jumper 13 & Under, topping
a class of 36 horses. Eleven horses went clean over the 13-effort
Round One course and qualified for the seven-effort Jump-Off. Going
second in the tiebreaker, Garcia set the pace with the first clear
round, clocking in at 28.181, well under the 43-second Time Allowed,
which held up through the next nine riders, including four more
clear trips. Finishing just splits behind the winner were Margaret
Lenfest aboard Spendid for owner Stephanie McCarron, who broke the
beam at 28.434 for second place; and Nicole Lakin in the irons on
Kick The Clouds for Rolling Acres Farm and Mary Lisa Leffler, who
also rode fault-free, clocking in at 28.960 for third.
Studio
54 Claims AA Working Hunter 18-35 Championship
In
the hunter ring, Studio 54 with Kara Flynn up claimed the Adult
Amateur Working Hunter 18-35 Championship after two days of competition
over fences and on the flat. Damascus ridden by Lynley Reilly was
the Reserve.
For
complete results, visit www.stadiumjumping.com
2004
WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Show
days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival in Tampa, FL, are Wednesday
through Sunday, March 24-28, and Wednesday through Saturday, March
30-April 3. Gates open at 8:00am and action continues through late
afternoon. The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center is located off Orient
Road at the Tampa Fairgrounds. Admission and parking are free. For
additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com.
AMERICAN
INVITATIONAL
For
ticket information for the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational
Presented by Publix and The Tampa Tribune, visit www.TicketMaster.com
or call (813) 253-2782 or Toll-Free (877) 909-9436. Ticket prices
range from $20 to $70 for reserved seating at the Raymond James
Stadium.
2004
WEF SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIONS
March
24 - 28 Tampa Bay Classic CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian Center)
March
30 - April 3 Tournament of Champions CSI-W (Bob Thomas Equestrian
Center)
April
3 Budweiser American Invitational (Raymond James Stadium)
WEF
2004 MILLION DOLLAR GRAND PRIX SERIES
March
28 $75,000 Grand Prix of Tampa, presented by Kilkenny/ICH, CSI-W
April
3 $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational,
Presented by Publix and The Tampa Tribune
CHARLOTTE
JUMPER CLASSIC CSI****
Charlotte
Coliseum, Charlotte, NC
April
9 -11 Charlotte Jumper Classic CSI****
April
11 $150,000 Grand Prix of Charlotte For the Charlotte Bobcat Cup
.
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