Lexington, Ky. – July 26, 2020 – Junior and Amateur-Owner competitors took to the Rolex Stadium Sunday afternoon to compete in the Low, Medium and High Junior and Amateur-Owner Jumper Classics. In the $7500 Amateur-Owner/Junior High Jumper Classic, sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation and Audi of Lexington, junior rider Virginia Bonnie and Efodea put in an unrivaled performance early on in the order of go to emerge victorious.
The field of 23 competitors had to face off against Bobby Murphy’s (USA) 15-effort course Sunday afternoon which spread across the hallowed grounds of the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. Unfortunately for twelve of the starters in the line-up, the course’s challenging combinations got the best of them and rendered them unable to stay in the ring for the jump-off. The shortened track would demand that the 11 competitors who were able to issue a clear first round pick up the pace and execute sharp inside turns to rise to the occasion.
Sam Walker, representing the juniors in the field, and Epic Group LLC’s Concorde were the first to enter the ring and had no issue navigating Murphy’s first round. Staying in for the jump-off, Walker and the chestnut KWPN gelding were the early pathfinders for the day delivering a clear jump-off round on a time of 39.48 seconds. As the second to enter the ring, Bonnie and Efodea cruised their way through the first round and then kicked it up a notch in the jump-off to shave more than a second off of Walker’s time and stop the clock at 38.23 seconds.
Bonnie held her breath through the rest of the class, but try as they might, none of the following riders who attempted the jump-off could come close to Bonnie’s final score. Full of praise for her phenomenal 11-year-old KWPN mare, Bonnie shared how thankful she was to have the horse in her life and how special it is to compete at the Kentucky Horse Park where her grandmother Nina Bonnie has had such an impact.
Walker’s pathfinding time would secure him the second place ribbon, followed by amateur rider Danielle Torano and Feramoon G taking home third. Earlier in the day Anna Beth Athey and Cantero de Lagoa emerged victorious in the heavily contended $5000 Amateur-Owner/Junior Medium Jumper Classic, while Madison Kondracki and Magdelena 7 swept the field in the Junior division and Alex Parrish aboard Biendorado rose to success in the Amateur-Owner division of the $2500 Low Jumper Classic.
Jumper competition has concluded for the Kentucky Summer Horse Show but will resume on Tuesday, July 28th during the Kentucky Summer Classic. Feature jumper classes throughout the Kentucky Summer Classic include the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic on Thursday, July 30th and the $50,000 Kentucky Summer Grand Prix on Saturday, August 1st.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Virginia Bonnie – $7500 Junior/Amateur-Owner High Jumper Classic winner
On Efodea:
“I have had her for just under a year and she has been absolutely wonderful. She blows my mind every day. We did the U25 division at WEF and that was so much fun. She is amazing. She did the Junior Nations Cup at the Palm Beach Masters and she was wonderful. She has taught me so much and I am grateful for her every day. We went to Tryon before this and we had some really good results there. Effie won the High Classic and was third in the U25 and then ribboned in the $25,000 Grand Prix. She has been absolutely amazing.”
On her plan for the jump-off:
“Sam was really, really slick. He rode great, but he went around the tree in the ring so we thought if we did a similar plan but slipped inside we could catch him. I was definitely a little bit nervous watching other people go. There is always a little bit of room for other people to beat you, so I was holding my breath a little bit for the rest of the class, but Effie was fantastic. Even if we got second or third or any other placing, I would have been thrilled.”
On her experience showing at Kentucky Summer this year:
“The Kentucky Summer Horse Show is such a special place, especially with my grandmother who put a lot of work into it. It’s really special for me. It is a little personal, I always feel really proud and excited to drive down Nina Bonnie boulevard. I would really like to thank my trainer Kim, my grandmother and the entire team at Kim Prince LLC and our grooms.”
RESULTS
$7500 Junior Jumper High Classic, Sponsored by Johnson Horse Transportation and Audi of Lexington:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Efodea / Virginia Bonnie / Nina Bonnie / 0 | 80.57 / 0 | 38.23
2. Concorde / Sam Walker / Epic Group LLC / 0 | 76.42 / 0 | 39.48
3. Feramoon G / Danielle Torano / Danielle Torano / 0 | 80.75 / 0 | 41.55
4. Vox Dei / Daneli Miron / Daneli Miron / 0 | 80.367 / 0 | 41.85
5. Cassina 64 / Raleigh Hiler / Kurt Hiler / 0 | 79.04 / 0 | 46.36
6. Dior / Julia Weiss / Julia Weiss / 0 | 80.17 / 4 | 39.80
7. Nat King Cole / Anna Beth Athey / Anna Beth Athey / 0 | 78.95 / 4 | 41.03
8. Echo D / Reid Arani / Seabrook LLC / 0 | 76.55 / 4 | 41.31
9. Ziezo / Reid Arani / Islay Jumpers LLC / 0 | 76.67 / 4 | 41.45
10. Balou’s Captain / Mallory Vale / Thinks Like a Horse / 0 | 78.91 / 4 | 43.70
11. Zandora Z / Ashley Vogel / Ashley Vogel / 0 | 78.58 / 8 | 40.40
12. Grasshopper / Emma Irwin / tonepine Stables LTD / 1 | 82.81