Alex Granato (USA) rode home with blue in the $35,000 Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital 1.50m Qualifier CSI 4* with Carlchen W at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Granato dashed through the jump-off in 37.454 seconds to secure the win aboard the 2008 Mecklenburger gelding (Celline x Continue) owned by Page Tredennick. Jumping in close behind, Luiz Francisco De Azevedo (BRA) secured second place in 37.477 seconds riding Collin, a 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Oberlina x Amethist), owned by Santa Cecilia Stables. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) clinched third place aboard Bull Run's Almighty, a 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Queen x Quidam De Revel), owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC, with a jump-off time of 37.849 seconds.
Among 45 pairs, Granato remained victorious with his tidy turns in the course set by Anthony D'Ambrosio (USA). "I was really happy with him today. He felt super. He is a naturally quick horse and with going first, I wanted to be prompt and efficient and just let him carry his own motor and now have to ask for a whole lot extra since we have another big class this week," he commented.
"It was a pretty nice course and it was smooth. I was more focused on rideability early in the first turn, because [from fence] one to two was a pretty big gallop across the ring, and in one of the tight turnbacks from the second jump back to the liverpool oxer. I just wanted to keep him pretty focused there so that he had a tidy turn and was rideable. He did that really well - he galloped to the vertical and then really sat down and rolled back well. From there, I just wanted to keep it smooth and stay tidy to be as efficient as we could," stated Granato.
Granato relayed his plans for the upcoming week, saying, "Today was our warm-up for the Grand Prix on Saturday. Tomorrow will be a relaxing day for him. He's a naturally hot-blooded horse, so tomorrow we'll do a long, relaxing flat to just get his focus and his rideability back and hopefully he comes out Saturday ready to jump the same way."
Alex Granato (USA) rode home with blue in the $35,000 Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital 1.50m Qualifier CSI 4* with Carlchen W at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Granato dashed through the jump-off in 37.454 seconds to secure the win aboard the 2008 Mecklenburger gelding (Celline x Continue) owned by Page Tredennick. Jumping in close behind, Luiz Francisco De Azevedo (BRA) secured second place in 37.477 seconds riding Collin, a 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Oberlina x Amethist), owned by Santa Cecilia Stables. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) clinched third place aboard Bull Run's Almighty, a 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Queen x Quidam De Revel), owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC, with a jump-off time of 37.849 seconds.
Among 45 pairs, Granato remained victorious with his tidy turns in the course set by Anthony D'Ambrosio (USA). "I was really happy with him today. He felt super. He is a naturally quick horse and with going first, I wanted to be prompt and efficient and just let him carry his own motor and now have to ask for a whole lot extra since we have another big class this week," he commented.
"It was a pretty nice course and it was smooth. I was more focused on rideability early in the first turn, because [from fence] one to two was a pretty big gallop across the ring, and in one of the tight turnbacks from the second jump back to the liverpool oxer. I just wanted to keep him pretty focused there so that he had a tidy turn and was rideable. He did that really well - he galloped to the vertical and then really sat down and rolled back well. From there, I just wanted to keep it smooth and stay tidy to be as efficient as we could," stated Granato.
Granato relayed his plans for the upcoming week, saying, "Today was our warm-up for the Grand Prix on Saturday. Tomorrow will be a relaxing day for him. He's a naturally hot-blooded horse, so tomorrow we'll do a long, relaxing flat to just get his focus and his rideability back and hopefully he comes out Saturday ready to jump the same way."