The $40,000 Amalaya Investments 1.50 Meter Welcome was the featured event on the card at the Split Rock Jumping Tour's Columbus International CSI 3* held at the Brave Horse Show Park in Johnstown, Ohio.
Carlchen W, a 9-year-old Mecklenberg gelding owned by Paige Tredennick, and rider Alex Granato, USA, were one of eight horse and rider combinations out of 46 starters to make it around two-time Olympic Course Designer Olaf Petersen's extremely tough track.
The jump-off was just as demanding, with only Granato and David Raposa, USA, on S & L Sage, able to turn in clear rounds. Raposa, going first in the jump-off, had the disadvantage. Granato went in the ring and turned in a much quicker round, 48.63 seconds, to take the class. Raposa, with a time of 50.42 was relegated to second place.
"This horse is a real competitor," said Granato. "He is probably more game than I am to go in and win each time. We have a long partnership, I have had him since he was a five-year-old, so four and-a-half years together. We know each other quite well at this point. He has had a super year."
Emanuel Andrade, VEN, and Jenni's Chance were the winners of the $5,000 Booth Show Jumpers 1.40 Meter Speed/U25 Welcome Stake. With half of the class turning in clear rounds, it became a speed duel, and Andrade excels at getting speed from his horses. The winning ride was clocked at 54.971 seconds.
Tina Yates and Cicomein VDL, owned by HKC Collection LLC placed second in 55.214 seconds with Andrade and Boy IV, 57.098, in third.
When asked what his secret to success has been over the two weeks of SRJT's Columbus events, Andrade just smiled and said, "Ohio likes me!"
Sloan Hobson and her Costa Rica VH Waterschoot Z denied Francesca Bolfo a sixth trip to the podium at the SRJT, as she and 'Costi' took the blue ribbon in the 1.40 Meter Junior/Amateur Owner Speed class. Bolfo had been at the top of the leaderboard, but Hobson, last to go in the class, took the lead in 64.258 seconds.
"She is a 9-year-old mare," said the diminutive 17-year-old. "I've had her for seven months now. She has been really good for me and I love her a lot."