Marilyn Little and RF Casablanca Bound to Blue in the $25,000 Vita Flex® Grand Prix in the 2018 ESP New Years at PBIEC

Marilyn Little and RF Casablanca Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography
Marilyn Little and RF Casablanca
Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography

Wellington, Fla. – Jan. 1, 2019 – Marilyn Little (Frederick, MD) leaped to victory in the $25,000 Vita Flex® Grand Prix in the 2018 ESP New Years at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Little flew through the course in 40.158 seconds to secure the win aboard RF Casablanca, a 2010 Holsteiner mare (Cosido x Landos) owned by Raylyn Farms, Inc. Jumping in close behind, Manuel G. Torres (Waterford, VA) claimed second place riding Alejandro, a 2009 Rhenish Warmblood (Acorado’s Ass x Continue) owned by Santa Catalina Farm with a time of 42.787 seconds. Diego Vivero (Wellington, FL) earned third place jumping in tandem with Capiche ‘Ter Elzen’, a 2008 mare (Bamako De Muze x Nabab De Reve) owned by Javier Estrada earning a time of 40.373 seconds.

Jumping against 20 pairs, Little remained victorious in the course set by Jasen Shelly (Wellington, FL). “She’s been second in her last grand prixs, so I was really happy that she won. It was a great way to finish the year. She’s only eight, but I’ve had her since she was three, so it’s been really special to bring her up to this level,” Little stated.

Marilyn Little in her awards presentation ceremony with Victoria Newsom, Cadence Pence and Steven Rector, ringmaster. Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography
Marilyn Little in her awards presentation ceremony with Victoria Newsom, Cadence Pence and Steven Rector, ringmaster. Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography

“She’s quite small, but she doesn’t know it. Jumps look a little big from where you sit on her back, but she’s got an incredible heart, she’s fast, and has lots of game. She’s a really exciting horse coming into next year, and I’m really happy to have her,” concluded Little.

Jumper Highlights

The $10,000 Vita Flex® 1.40m Open Stake awarded Diego Vivero of Wellington, FL, with first place with Bijoux owned by Javier Estrada. The pair completed the course in 40.302 seconds. Manuel G. Torres (Waterford, VA) earned second place with Alejandro owned by Santa Catalina Farm with a time of 42.124 seconds. Shane Sweetnam of Wellington, FL, took third place earning a time of 44.102 seconds with Palina De L’escaut owned by Sweet Oak Farm, Spy Coast Farm, and Paul Tracy.

Diego Vivero in his awards presentation ceremony with Victoria Newsom and Steven Rector, ringmaster. Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography
Diego Vivero in his awards presentation ceremony with Victoria Newsom and Steven Rector, ringmaster. Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography

In the 1.35m Stake sponsored by Martha Jolicoeur, Hayley Barnhill (Collierville, TN) rode home with blue aboard Imprimis owned by Windswept Farm earning a time of 35.563 seconds. Leslie Howard of Darien, CT, claimed second place with Flo owned by GJ Stable. Howard flew through the timers in 35.611 seconds. Schuyler Riley (Wellington, FL) stopped the times in 36.912 seconds to secure third place with G-Force owned by Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc.

Hayley Barnhill in her awards presentation ceremony. Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography
Hayley Barnhill in her awards presentation ceremony. Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography

The Equiline 1.40m High Jr/AO Jumper Stake congratulated Jazz Johnson Merton (Oldwick, NJ) with first place with mount, Corona SB with a time of 41.3 seconds. Sabrina Lefebvre of Terrebonne, QC, claimed second place with mount, Alaska. The pair jumped through the course in 38.309 seconds. Anna Beth Athey of Enid, OK, took third with mount Miss Lucy HH earning a time of 83.884 seconds.

The $2,500 NAL 1.35m Medium Jr/AO Jumper Stake sponsored by Equiline congratulated Caitlin Creel of Arlington Heights, IL, with top honors with mount, Dynamis KC securing a time of 41.117 seconds. Jazz Johnson Merton (Oldwick, NJ) earned second with mount, Pandora VG, stopping the timers in 42.197 seconds. Elissa Reisman (Caledon East, ON) took third with Citizenguard Cadjanine Z owned by Taboo Holdings Inc. The pair earned a time of 40.047 seconds.

The Osphos® 1.30m Level 6 Jumper awarded Abigail McArdle (Barrington, IL) with first place riding Fire Rocky, owned by Plain Bay Stables. McArdle stopped the timers in 30.052 seconds to secure the win. David Matisz of Middleburg, VA, claimed second place riding Livorno Agropoint owned by Donna Gumbin earning a time of 72.396 seconds.

Brooke Kennedy of Greenwood Village, CO, secured first place in the $2,500 NAL 1.25m Low Jr/AO Jumper Stake sponsored by Equiline. Kennedy finished the course in 38.939 seconds with mount, Barry Z, to secure the win. Brianne Link (East Islip, NY) took second place with mount, Wednesday Mornin earning a time of 36.968 seconds. Annabella Sanchez (Glencoe, IL) claimed third place with Corlanda owned by Amanda Flint. Sanchez completed the course in 37.235 seconds.

In the $1,500 M&S 1.15m Children’s Jumper Classic sponsored by Dover Saddlery, Ellen Mollerus (Larchmont, NY) jumped into first with Cardenfe owned by Abbey Soffer. The pair earned a time of 39.186 seconds. Lillie Parr of Marshall, TX, scored second with Oaks Valuna owned by Oakland Ventures LLC stopping the timers in 40.225 seconds. Ella Bostwick of Wellington FL, claimed third place riding Fiat, owned by Manuel Lecuona with a time of 43.741 seconds.

The $1,500 M&S 1.15m Adult Amateur Jpr Classic sponsored by Dover Saddlery awarded Stefani Green (Bernardsville, NJ) with top honors with mount, Wender R. Green jumped the course in 36.732 seconds. Lexi Maounis of Jupiter, FL, earned second place with mount, Roos, securing a time of 38.691 seconds. Maunis also earned third place riding Levistano Z owned by Heritage Farm, Inc. completing the course in 41.846 seconds.

The 1.0m Low Adult Jumper Classic awarded James Beranek of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, with first place with mount, Quintana. The duo stopped the timers in 38.623 seconds. Emily Ablin of Palm Beach, FL, jumped into second with Persimmon owned by Leeann Ablin. Ablin completed the course in 45.97 seconds. Juliet Johnson (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) stopped the timers in 38.639 seconds to secure third place with mount, Viva’s Roxanna W.

Hanna Vickers of St. Augstine, FL, rode home with blue in the $250 .85 Classic. Vickers jumped through the course in 44.402 seconds with mount, Arc En Ciel. Abigail Joshi of New Hope, PA earned second place with mount, The S.S. Violet. Joshi stopped the timers in 76.886 seconds. Cassie Warren of New Cannon, CT, took third place riding Dolly Doo owned by Whipstick Farm LTD with a time of 85.118 seconds.

Hunter Highlights

The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Vita Flex® congratulated Kyla Makhloghi of Sherborn, MA with top honors aboard Candy Crush owned by Woodridge Farm, INC in the course set by Randy Roy (King, ON). Makhloghi earned a score of 180 to secure the win. Geoffrey Hesslink (Shelbourne, VT) earned reserve honors with Elementary owned by Lindsay Maxwell with a score of 179. Jennifer Madden of Wellington, FL, took third place riding Scirocco owned by Margrethe Peggy Munkdale earning a score of 173.

Kyla Makhlogi in her awards presentation ceremony with ringmaster, Steven Rector. Photo: ©Anne Gittins Photography

In the $1,000 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive 3’6″/3’9″, Haylie Rolfe of Wellington, FL, took top honors with Queen Celeste owned by Pony Lane Farm. Rolfe secured a score of 80. Havens Schatt (Georgetown, KY) earned reserve honors riding Salt Creek owned by Caroline Moran with a score of 71.

The $1,000 #1 Education Place Junior Hunter 3’3″/3’3″ Classic awarded Stella Propp (New York, NY) with top honors aboard Inquisitive owned by Aquitaine Equine. Propp earned a score of 165 to secure the win. Henry Healy of Cincinnati, OH, took reserve honors riding Patton owned by Blue Mountain LLC earning a score of 160. Taylor Griffiths of Wellington, FL, earned third place with Broadway owned by Carol Ruth.

Jean Sheptoff of Littleton, MA, claimed first place in the $1,000 Adult Owner Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Classic with mount, Verdict. Kylie Schoelen of Toms River, NJ, earned second place with mount, Capone Z, and Olivia Notman of Boca Raton, FL, took third place with mount, Signature.

The $500 NAL/M&S Adult Hunter Classic congratulated Brett Lieb of Bridgehampton, NY, with first place with mount, Silhouette. Lieb earned a score of 152 to secure the win. Asta Torokvei (King City, ON) earned second place with mount, Anchorman. Julie Hogan of Hadley, MA, took third place with Dreamboy, owned by Linda Evans.

In the $500 NAL/M&S Children’s Hunter Classic, Ryan Seth of New Canaan, CT, was awarded with top honors aboard MTM Licorice owned by MTM Farm. Seth secured a top score of 163. Juliette Propp of New York, NY, was congratulated with reserve honors riding Wild At Heart owned by MDHT Equestrian, LLC with a score of 161. Emma Sartor of Vero Beach, FL, took third place with mount, Bat-Man earning a score of 157.

The Score At The Top Large Pony Hunter Conformation awarded Kat Fuqua (Atlanta, GA) with top honors with mount, Brighton. Kierstin Antoniadis (Middletown, NY) earned second and third place. Antoniadis won second riding Oliver Twist owned by Sophia Keoleian and won third riding Pokerface owned by Winter Tietjen.

The Children’s Hunter sponsored by JD Children’s Hospital congratulated Ryan Seth (New Canaan, CT) with first place riding MTM Licorice owned by MTM Farm with a score of 82. Juliette Propp (New York, NY) earned second place with Wild At Heart owned by MDHT Equestrian LLC with a score of 81. Cassie Warren (New Canaan, CT) took third place with Undercover, owned by Whipstick Farm LTD with a score of 80.

Brett Lieb of Bridgehampton, NY, claimed top honors in the Adult Amateur Hunter U/S sponsored by Platinum Performance®. Lieb secured the win with mount, Silhouette. Samantha Karp of Wellington, FL, earned second place with mount, Zentina B, and Catherine Cowie of New York, NY, took third with mount, Willow.

The Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal awarded Caroline Ellis of Weston, MA, with top honors aboard Zanetti owned by Cassandra Gallardo. Gillian Galvin of Greenwich, CT, took reserve honors with mount, Easy B, and Katherine Lebaron of New Canaan, CT, took third with Warran owned by Whipstick Farm LTD.

Competition continues at PBIEC with the 2019 ESP Holiday Finale showcasing top jumper and hunter competition before before launching the 40th annual Winter Equestrian Festival 2019 hosted at PBIEC.

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