Amanda Flint of Long Valley, NJ, topped the $10,000 New Balance Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets, aboard VDL Coverboy on Thursday, July 14 during the second week of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival in East Dorset, VT. The Vermont Summer Festival runs for six consecutive weeks at Harold Beebe Farm from July 5 through August 14. Flint and the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she piloted for The Coverboy Group bested four double-clear efforts to claim the top spot over a field of 23. Paul Jewell of Lambertville, NJ, took over the reins in the Grand Prix Ring during Week 2 of the Vermont Summer Festival in his debut as course designer at the location. Entering the ring second in the original order, Flint and VDL Coverboy produced an early time to beat in the immediate jump-off format. They stopped the clock in 43.37 seconds, which stood as the winning time. August Torsilieri of Flemington, NJ, and Samy de Revedy, owned by Briland Farm Ventures, LLC, did their best to catch Flint, but a clear jump-off round in 44.60 seconds settled them into second. Wendy Peralta of Geneva, FL, jumped her own Cruz Z, into third just fractions shy of Torsilieri’s time in 44.76 seconds. Katie Gray of Essex, VT, and her own Q Two claimed fourth in 47.76 seconds, while Danielle Menker of Riviera Beach, FL, and Beluga, owned by Emily Wygod, clocked the fastest four-fault round in the jump-off for fifth place. “I went really early and took a shot at it,” said Flint of her win aboard VDL Coverboy. “I thought a couple were going to have me on the clock, but they ended up pulling rails. It was just one of those lucky days.” Luck seems to be on Flint’s side at the Vermont Summer Festival, having won both the welcome stake and the grand prix during Week 1 with VDL Coverboy. “He really seems to like it here,” said Flint of Coverboy’s adjustment to his first year in the grand prix ranks at Vermont. “He has been trying his heart out and the results have been fantastic.” Flint has been competing at the Vermont Summer Festival for 15 years and noticed a significant increase in participants this year. “I have never seen it this busy,” she said. “But the rings are running smoothly and management works hard to make sure that everyone has a good experience. They do such a nice job.” $10,000 New Balance Welcome Stake, presented by Manchester Designer Outlets – Thursday, July 14, 2016 Rider Hometown Horse Faults Time 1. Amanda Flint Long Valley, NJ VDL Coverboy 0:0 43.37 2. August Torsilieri Flemington, NJ Samy de Revedy 0:0 44.60 3. Wendy Peralta Geneva, FL Cruz Z 0:0 44.76 4. Katie Gray Essex, VT Q Two 0:0 47.76 5. Danielle Menker Riviera Beach, FL Beluga 0:4 43.84 6. Andres Alvarez Saratoga Springs, NY Cash Z 0:4 44.05 7. Wille Tynan Wellington, FL KEC City Limits 0:4 44.94 8. Brandon Howard Flower Mound, TX HF Costa Rica 0:4 46.79
