Three months ago, 18-year-old Emanuel Andrade and recent mount Clouwni rode to the top of the $34,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic CSI3* during the Kentucky Spring Classic. Sunday, on the final day of the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show, Andrade mimicked his spring effort, riding to a 1-2 finish with Clouwni finishing at the pinnacle of the $40,000 Bluegrass Festival Grand Prix leader board, and claiming second place with veteran mount ZZ - Top VH Schaarbroek Z. Out of a start list of 33 horse and rider combinations, only 13 were able to master Allen Rheinheimer's opening track and continue onto the speed round. Andrade was the first to break the beam with one of three horses qualified for the jump-off. Using his own Boy IV to feel out the eight-obstacle track, riding to a four-fault score, Andrade planned his strategy for his following mounts. Luke Dee (AUS) was the next to tackle the track, riding Auckland de l'Enclos, owned by Ashland Stables. Trained by Sharn Wordley, Dee has worked with the grand prix rider to hone his skills in the jumping ring. Today, his hard work paid off, as he set the first of the clear rounds in 41.525 seconds. With several fast contenders hot on his heels, Dee wore a target on his back, yet he eventually earned the third place finish. "My plan today was to go clear. There were 13 in the jump-off, so I knew that there were a lot of fast people out there, and I am not as fast as everyone else," Dee said. "I was second out, and I knew that if I could get a clear round and be efficient, then I would have a chance at a top six placing. Top three works as well [laughs]. I think I got a bit lucky there today." "He [Auckland de l'Enclos] is a fairly green horse, I have been riding him since beginning of April. He had a year off as an 8-year-old, but now as a 9-year-old he is still fairly green. We had a plan to just keep it smooth and not go crazy. We wanted to build his confidence and get him some speed over some more rounds. That was our plan, but we weren't expecting to come in the top three," Dee stated. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) gave Andrade a run for his money, stopping the clock in 36.810 seconds, just a tick faster than Andrade's time with Clouwni. An unfortunate rail in the double combination pushed him into fourth place though with Eregast Van'T Kishane, owned by Spy Coast Farm. He also picked up the fifth place award with Easy Contact Humlan, owned by Sweet Oak Farm, tripping the timers in 37.218 seconds and finishing with his second four-fault effort. With three horses qualified for the speed track, Andrade still had one play left in his hand-his first grand prix horse, ZZ - Top VH Schaarbroek Z. Although they did not aim to beat Clouwni's speed, Andrade knew that if he went clear he could take the second place, as well. "He doesn't show every week, he is 14 years old, so we try to save him," Andrade said. "I pick his classes and try to do well. He was very good. I was planning to go for the second place, because he is not that fast. We were lucky today because we had a couple of rubs, but it was a great way to end the Kentucky Summer series for us." Andrade is now aiming his string of top mounts towards the big money classes at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, HITS Saugerties, as well as gearing up for several European competitions. The sixth place of the class was awarded to Juan Ortiz and Dulien van de Smeets, owned by the Synchronicity Group, for their four-fault effort in 37.315 seconds. Denise Wilson and Catuso, owned by Blue Gate Farm, captured the seventh place, while Pablo Barrios and Chaco 34 took the eighth place finish.
