BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y.--World #12 McLain Ward on First Lady won the $116,100, CSI5* Grand Prix Qualifier, successfully defending his title in the class on Friday, Aug. 28 at the Hampton Classic.
McLain Ward on First Lady (Photo by KindMedia)Despite the unenviable position of going first in a 12 horse jump-off, Ward finished clean in what turned out to be the uncatchable time of 49.93.
Egypt’s Nayel Nassar on Orphea HQ was just 0.02 seconds off Ward’s time, finishing in 43.95 seconds for second place , and Savannah Jenkins on Hector Du Ter was third with the only other clear jump-off round, finishing in 44.38 seconds.
World #28 Aaron Vale on Carissimo 25, the fastest of the five with four faults, finished fourth in 44.50 seconds, Charlotte Jacobs on Playboy JT Z was fifth in 45.22 seconds and Skylar Wireman on Barclino B was sixth in 45.43.
“It’s always nice to be in the winner’s circle here,” Ward said. “First Lady, Robin Parsky’s wonderful mare, is a great partner. She’s a very quick horse and very reliable, so I didn’t mind going early in the jump-off"
"BEING THE first can be extra challenging if you haven’t seen the track, and I knew with the number of riders behind me, there were some very fast ones," Ward said.. "I did the best I could everywhere and hoped things would fall a little my way. There are certainly some moments in certain competitions when you want to be at the end where it becomes a ‘take every risk’ situation, but a lot of the time, going early isn’t such a disadvantage when you know your horse well."
JJ Torano on Vitus K (Photo by KindMedia)For the Grand Prix, I have a relatively inexperienced horse here this year, Lestro VD Valckenborg, owned by a great supporter of ours, Marta Mattox from Texas,” he said. “He’s performed well at some big events already. He’s a big jumper, and I think he’s ready to perform here on Sunday. The Hampton Classic always has a challenging Grand Prix. It’s a 5* level, the highest in our sport, and we have a pretty strong group of riders here this year. I think it’s going to be a good challenge.”
Nassar now leads the $20,000 Rider Challenge for the 5* division with 200 points, Molly Ashe Cawley is second with 194 points and Jacobs has moved into third with 175 points.
Immediately following the Qualifier, JJ Torano of Mohrsville, Pa., on Vitus K won the $10,000 Junior/Amateur Welcome Stake over a field of 46, finishing clean in 35.417 seconds.
“The course worked out well for us today,” Torano said. “Vitus is very experienced. He’s been everywhere all around the country, and we know each other very well. We get along great, and we’re both 16 years old. For him, that’s a bit on the older side, but he clearly still loves his job, bucking around and having fun every round. I can’t thank him enough. He jumped great today and is such an amazing horse."
“He’ll jump the $30,000 Classic on Sunday, and I also have the 2* Grand Prix on Sunday,” he said. “We’ve had a good week here so far – second in the National Grand Prix, now winning this 1.40m class – and hopefully, we can keep it going and bring it home on Sunday.”
Alexa Elle Lignelli of New York, N.Y., on Zadora placed second in 36.645 seconds, and Violet Tatum of Los Angeles, Calif., on Flotylla finished third in 37.279 seconds.
