In other Charlotte Jumper Classic action on Saturday…..

Cayce Harrison and Quickstar II Z Win $10,000 Amateur Owner Jumper Top Score

Twenty top Amateur Owner jumper riders got the Saturday evening performance underway with their Top Score Competition. When the dust had cleared Cayce Harrison and Quickstar IIZ emerged victorious with a total of 1040 points which included the 200 bonus points Harrison collected at the 5’1” Charlotte Bobcats vertical.

Lumina 2 and Georgina Bloomberg set the early pace with a 920 point total.

The only threat to Harrison’s lead came at the eighteenth spot in the order when Lisa Silverman and Obelix fell just 10 points shy of Harrison’s total. Silverman finished in second place with 1030 points.

“It was a great win. I’m very excited. Surprised, really,” admitted Harrison. “I’ve never done well in Gamblers Choice classes and I was dreading doing two in the same day.”

“It helps to have a plan, and then leave the jumps up so you can ride the plan you worked out. That happened for me tonight, said Harrison. “And McLain (Ward, her trainer) talked with me earlier and told me the key to these classes is not going fast, but staying calm and being direct and definitive about your plan.”

Results Class # 6 -Amateur Owner Top Score Competition – 04-09-05 – Charlotte Coliseum

• 1- Cayce Harrison -Quickstar II Z -1040 -56.825
• 2 -Lisa Silverman -Obelix R -1030 -59.770
• 3 -Georgina Bloomberg -Lumina 2 -920 -54.310
• 4 -Danielle Torano -Mirage -870 -53.899
• 5 -Sophie Coppedge -Anvia -830 -59.043
• 6 -Cara Raether -Olympus -800 -55.992
• 7 -Katherine Miracle -Outkast -770 -60.143
• 8 -Robin Sweely -Discovery -630 -58.568
• 9 -Derek Braun -Jet Blue -610 -60.266
• 10 -Miranda Fischer -De Lempicka -570 -75.168
• 11 -Alexa Weeks -Riane -530 -52.054
• 12 -Larry Hollahan -Sky King -500 -52.612

Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet Outscores USA’s Leslie Howard for International Top Score Win

Twenty-nine challengers elected to gamble on the $15,000 Arent Fox Top Score Competition, the featured event on the afternoon card at the 2005 Charlotte Jumper Classic. Scoring was FEI Art. 270, with a joker and a fixed time allowed. The competition is also known more popularly as the Gamblers Choice.

Ken Berkley and Maestro, owned by Rivers Edge Farm, took the early lead with 1140 points. Berkley rode out of the fifth spot in the order. He lost the lead seven horses later to Leslie Howard and Youp. Howard tallied eighty more points than Berkley to take the lead with 1220 points. Three horses later Aaron Vale, a winner on Friday night, just missed Howard’s top total, but moved ahead of Berkley into second place. Vale totaled 1200 points on Picasso S2, owned by Millstream.

A smooth and well thought out ride by Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet proved to be the best on Saturday afternoon. Wathelet was aboard IQ Bal Des Hayettes. Wathelet’s route over the Steve Stephens designed Gamblers Choice course netted the rider from Belgium 1050 points over the initial course and a fault free effort over the 200 point “Joker” secured the victory. Wathelet finished with 1250 points, thirty points better than Howard.

“I worked out a plan at the beginning and I stuck to that plan in the class, said Wathelet. “But, the one exception to the plan really worked to my advantage when I was able to catch a four stride instead of the five I walked. I didn’t see Leslie Howard, but one less stride might have been the one that won the class for me,” said a smiling Wathelet.

Wathelet was very emotional about hearing the national anthem of his home country of Belgium. “I was very excited and honored to hear my country’s national anthem being played,” Wathelet said. “I was the only rider representing Belgium in that class and to win is very, very special for me.”

Results Class # 3 - International Top Score Competition, “Gamblers Choice” –FEI Art 270 – 04-09-05 – Charlotte Coliseum

• 1 - Gregory Wathelet - BEL - IQ Bal Des Hayettes -1250 - 55.05
• 2 - Leslie Howard - USA - Youp -1220 - 56.32
• 3 - Aaron Vale – USA - Picasso S2 -1200 - 54.42
• 4 - Mclain Ward - USA - Goldika 559 -1160 - 53.98
• 5 - Ken Berkley – USA – Maestro -1140 - 57.51
• 6 - Aimee Aron - USA – Ostara -1130 - 58.43
• 7 - Candice King - USA - Caliskan -1120 - 54.97
• 8 - Laura Linback – USA - Quintin -1120 - 57.89
• 9 - Michael Whitaker – GBR - Flair Time -1040 - 52.23
• 10 - Jimmy Torano – USA - Morgan -970 - 54.41
• 11 - Robert Maguire – GBR - Mr. Cawley -880 - 54.31
• 12 - Margie Engle - USA - H C's Wapino -820 - 57.00

Auer and Regina Race to Win $10,000 Wells Fargo Junior Jumper Speed Stake

Earlier, on the Saturday matinee program, Cody Auer raced to the victory in the $10,000 Wells Fargo Junior Jumper Speed Stake.

Scoring was USEF Table III, Faults Converted Into Seconds and there were eight starters.

Auer, riding Esther Kane Waring’s Regina, was the first challenger and her speedy time held up through the class. Auer raced across the finish line in 47.95 seconds. Alex Parrish and Tandoori finished second in 48.88 seconds and the yellow ribbon for third place went to Ratina Z and Carolyn Kelly. Kelly clocked in at 49.69 seconds.

Results Class #9 - Junior Jumper Speed Stake –Table III – 04-09-05 – Charlotte Coliseum

• 1- Regina – Cody Auer – 47.95
• 2- Tandoori – Alex Parrish – 48.88
• 3- Ratina Z – Carolyn Kelly – 49.69
• 4- Blast – Carolyn Kelly – 58.29
• 5- Lorano – Nikko Ritter – 58.86
• 6- Cats Charly – Alex Parrish – 60.18
• 7- Jolie Dame Du Marais – Cody Auer – 60.87
• 8- Heaudine – Aimee Aron – 63.21

PHOTO CREDIT: Gregory Wathelet of Belgium aboard IQ Bal Des Hayettes won the International Top Score competition. Photo by Anne Gittins.