Aaron Vale and Palm Sunday ended on top in the 1.45m Open Jumpers at Kentucky Spring Horse Show yesterday. Schuyler Riley was the trailblazer aboard Andretti, owned by Southbeach Stables of Wellington, FL, but in an effort to leave all the rails in place she posted a conservative time of 38.112 seconds that would place fourth. Ian Millar and Baranus, owned by The Baranns Group of Perth, Ontario, were the next to leave all the fences intact, and they took home the third place honors for a time of 36.735.
Aaron Vale and Palm Sunday, owned by Amen Corner Farm of Folsom, LA, were the next to show over the short course and they blew by Millar's time. They easily maneuvered all the turns and had a nice, open gallop to dash across the finish line in a quick 33.611 seconds. Ireland's Andrew Bourns and Carmina attempted to best Vale's time. They were just a touch short of the winning time in 34.478 seconds to claim second place and seal Vale's victory.
"Palm Sunday felt super," noted Vale. "I didn't show last night, I wanted to space his classes out a little bit to aim for Sunday's grand prix. I was just trying to get home to go smooth and canter around nicely. He rode really well for me, stayed relax, and he's a pretty quick horse, so it wasn't a lot of work to get around in the pace. Hopefully I've got him set up well for Sunday." Vale added, "I just let him gallop a little and the turns were pretty good. I didn't do anything crazy. If I have to I can whip and drive a little harder on him, so that wasn't crazy for him, but I was really happy with the way he rode around the first round."
The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows have been on Vale's schedule for many years and he is happy to be back at the prestigious event. "The footing is great no matter the condition, wet or dry," he commented. "They put a great course of jumps out there; we have super footing and a good course designer. It's great showing and good mileage for the young horses."
Tomorrow's jumper action in the Rolex Stadium will kick off with the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, beginning at 8 a.m. The weekend concludes with the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix on Sunday at 4p.m., but the riders will return to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Kentucky Spring Classic, scheduled for May 15-19, 2013.
RESULTS: 1.45m Open Jumpers
1 791 PALM SUNDAY/AARON VALE
2 976 CARMINA/ANDREW BOURNS
3 857 BARANUS/IAN MILLAR
4 443 ANDRETTI/SCHUYLER RILEY
5 446 CARNEYHAUGH MANX/SCHUYLER RILEY
6 102 BROOKLYN BLUES/ALEXANDRA PAILLOT
7 860 PICCOBELLO DU VAL DE GEER/JORDAN MACPHERSON
8 100 REGINA DE CHAMANT/ALEXANDRA PAILLOT
9 634 CROSSFIRE 10/EMANUEL ANDRADE
10 819 CASSINJA/ALISON ROBITAILLE
11 864 HH SANDOR/AMY MILLAR
12 794 SPIRIT OF ALENA/AARON VALE
© equnews.com
Aaron Vale and Palm Sunday ended on top in the 1.45m Open Jumpers at Kentucky Spring Horse Show yesterday. Schuyler Riley was the trailblazer aboard Andretti, owned by Southbeach Stables of Wellington, FL, but in an effort to leave all the rails in place she posted a conservative time of 38.112 seconds that would place fourth. Ian Millar and Baranus, owned by The Baranns Group of Perth, Ontario, were the next to leave all the fences intact, and they took home the third place honors for a time of 36.735.
Aaron Vale and Palm Sunday, owned by Amen Corner Farm of Folsom, LA, were the next to show over the short course and they blew by Millar's time. They easily maneuvered all the turns and had a nice, open gallop to dash across the finish line in a quick 33.611 seconds. Ireland's Andrew Bourns and Carmina attempted to best Vale's time. They were just a touch short of the winning time in 34.478 seconds to claim second place and seal Vale's victory.
"Palm Sunday felt super," noted Vale. "I didn't show last night, I wanted to space his classes out a little bit to aim for Sunday's grand prix. I was just trying to get home to go smooth and canter around nicely. He rode really well for me, stayed relax, and he's a pretty quick horse, so it wasn't a lot of work to get around in the pace. Hopefully I've got him set up well for Sunday." Vale added, "I just let him gallop a little and the turns were pretty good. I didn't do anything crazy. If I have to I can whip and drive a little harder on him, so that wasn't crazy for him, but I was really happy with the way he rode around the first round."
The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows have been on Vale's schedule for many years and he is happy to be back at the prestigious event. "The footing is great no matter the condition, wet or dry," he commented. "They put a great course of jumps out there; we have super footing and a good course designer. It's great showing and good mileage for the young horses."
Tomorrow's jumper action in the Rolex Stadium will kick off with the $20,000 Bluegrass Classic, beginning at 8 a.m. The weekend concludes with the $75,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix on Sunday at 4p.m., but the riders will return to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Kentucky Spring Classic, scheduled for May 15-19, 2013.
RESULTS: 1.45m Open Jumpers
1 791 PALM SUNDAY/AARON VALE
2 976 CARMINA/ANDREW BOURNS
3 857 BARANUS/IAN MILLAR
4 443 ANDRETTI/SCHUYLER RILEY
5 446 CARNEYHAUGH MANX/SCHUYLER RILEY
6 102 BROOKLYN BLUES/ALEXANDRA PAILLOT
7 860 PICCOBELLO DU VAL DE GEER/JORDAN MACPHERSON
8 100 REGINA DE CHAMANT/ALEXANDRA PAILLOT
9 634 CROSSFIRE 10/EMANUEL ANDRADE
10 819 CASSINJA/ALISON ROBITAILLE
11 864 HH SANDOR/AMY MILLAR
12 794 SPIRIT OF ALENA/AARON VALE
© equnews.com