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Molly Warmington and
Laudatius Win $25,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at Indio Desert
Circuit |
INDIO, CA (March 11, 2001)--Molly Warmington, 22,
of Newport Beach, California, riding Laudatius, bested a field of 64 riders to
win the $25,000 Junior/Young Rider/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the Indio
Desert Circuit in California today. The class was a Zone X Young Rider
Selection Trial for the 2001 North American Young Rider Championships and an
official Zone 10 Prix des States Qualifying Event for the 2001 Junior Jumper
Championships. Warmington has been riding since she was five years old and
currently trains with Ginnie Bryant in San Juan Capistrano. As owner/rider,
Warmington took home $7,500 in prize money for her victory.
Olympic Team Gold and Individual Silver Medallist, Conrad Homfeld of
Southampton, New York, designed today's course. Round One included a double at
Fence No. 5, another double at Fence. No 11, and a third double combination at
Fence No. 14, the final jump. Two riders were eliminated for refusals, six were
eliminated in falls, and five riders elected to retire on course. Four riders
went clean and moved on to the Jump-Off.
Warmington rode two horses in Round One. With Mr. Pacific, who went 30th in the
order, she had a refusal and time penalties, for a total of 6-1/4 faults.
Laudatius was the 50th horse to go and was the second horse to have a clean
round. "It was a tough course," said Warmington. "I rode my
first one not very well and so I kind of kicked myself. I said, 'I've got to
ride this better'. With Conrad's courses you have to be so right on because
it's so technical. So the second ride--Laudatius--was very good. He listened at
all the places when I sent him forward and when I collected him back to the
tight spots. He's a very clean-jumping horse. That worked totally to my
advantage out there. He cleared all the oxers. He just wants to be careful. He
doesn't want to touch a rail. He's a stallion, so he really hates being in
trouble. He really is a person-pleaser and he loves it when he's good for me.
"
For the Jump-Off, Homfeld built a seven-obstacle short course with no
combinations. Andrea Strain of Langley, British Columbia, riding her Airmail
was first in the order and set the pace with a clear round in 39.162, but she
ended up in second place, taking home $5,500. Warmington on Laudatius was next
to go, and took the lead with a clear round in 37.400--a time that proved to be
unbeatable. Travis Lubow of Bell Canyon, California, on his Ukase du Marais was
third in the order and had a rail for four faults in 40.262 finishing fourth
for $2,000. Last to go was Ashlee Bond of Hidden Hills, California, on her
Lapaloupe, who gave the leaders a run for the money, clocking in clear at
39.416, but she had to settle for third place and $3,250.
Warmington had a precise strategy in mind for the Jump-Off. "I watched the
first girl go and luckily I could see her tracks," said Warmington.
"I just stayed about a foot inside of her all the way around and I just
kept going. He's so careful that I can just push him in a jump-off and he gets
his legs out of the way."
Laudatius is a 16.1-hand, 12-year-old Oldenburg that Warmington imported from
Germany three years ago. "He hasn't done a whole lot in his life. He was a
breeding stallion for a couple of years," said Warmington. "He's a
great horse and he's gotten better and better. He's grown up. He did a couple
of Grand Prixes last year. We started him doing that. This was certainly big
enough--this was probably a small Grand Prix. That's where he's at right
now--still making the transition. He was doing 4'3" over in Germany. We've
taught each other along the way. I'm very proud of how he went today."
Today's class was also a qualifying Grand Prix for the Cosequin® U.S. Grand
Prix League Invitational Finals to be held in Culpeper, Virginia, September
26-30, 2001.
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