Beezie Madden and Play On Cruise to $20,000 1.50m Classic Win at Winter Equestrian Festival in Tampa

Tampa, FL – March 31, 2006 – Defending Budweiser American Invitational champion Beezie Madden tuned up for Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium with an easy victory on Friday in the $20,000 1.50m Classic at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. The Friday Classic was the last of the Open Jumper classes of the 2006 Florida tour before the Winter Equestrian Festival’s showcase event, the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, on Saturday night.

Twenty-one starters went to the post in the afternoon’s featured event, the $20,000 1.50m Classic, scored under USEF Table II, Sec 2 (a), Time First Jump-Off. Olaf Petersen, Jr. of Germany designed the courses throughout the week at the Covered Arena. Of the twenty-one, five qualified for a second go with a clean round over the initial course. Nine riders dropped a single rail, one had two knockdowns, and six had more than eight faults or were eliminated.

In the jump-off, Alison Firestone and Secret Love returned first. The duo posted a quick, efficient time to go along with her second clear effort of the afternoon. Firestone crossed the finish line in 48.722 seconds. Firestone’s clear was followed by rounds of four for Bob Kraut and eight for Mary Lisa Leffler. Beezie Madden locked up yet another Winter Equestrian Festival win when Laura Kraut followed with Panic and pulled a rail.

Madden, who bankrolled the most money on tour and a win in the FTI Rider Challenge during the first seven weeks of the festival, continued her winning ways in Tampa.

Aboard Play On for Allan Shore, Jr., Madden made it look easy as she sliced over two seconds off of Firestone’s time for the Friday win. Madden raced home in a speedy 46.449 seconds with her up and coming young equine star. “He (Play On) started out good the first week in Wellington (2nd in the GP of Palm Beach) and then did some speed classes along the way during the circuit,” explained Madden. “And now he finished really well here today. I’m really happy with the way he’s progressed during Florida.”

Madden detailed a number of spots on the course where she made up time today. “My horse turns right really well. So I got a good tight turn after the second fence,” she explained. “Alison (Firestone) did nine across to the double combination, and I did eight strides there, so that was faster. And to the triple bar headed home, I caught kind of a flyer off the turn there, and that made for a fast finish.”

Madden said she was looking forward to returning to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night. “It’s just a fun night. It’s exciting. It’s kind of your bonus at the end of the circuit here. The class is a great class to ride in, it’s fun to do, and I’ve got a horse that’s been there before, so I don’t have to worry as to how he’s going to react to the stadium.” And she added with a chuckle, “I hope.”

There have only been two riders in the thirty three year history of the Invitational that were able to post back to back wins in one of America’s toughest show jumping tests. Michelle McEvoy (Grubb) did it in 1974-5, and Molly Ashe repeated the feat in 2001-2. Does Madden think she can become the third to make history? “Authentic’s been in the stadium twice. He’s been great each time. He was second his first time out and won it last year, so I’m very confident. He’s been on his game and I hope to do well,” she said. “There are a lot of others though, that have a great chance tomorrow night.”

Madden explained that the Invitational is like no other event in the United States. “It’s a little nerve wracking I’d say, especially for a young rider just going in for the first time. There’s a totally different perspective at Raymond James. It surprised me the first time I showed there. With the stadium walls being so far out there, it almost plays tricks with your eye a little bit. But, it’s exciting, and there’s a lot of prize money,” she said with a smile.

Steve Stephens designs the demanding course for each year’s main event and always has some surprise in store. “You always wonder,” she laughed. “At most competitions, you get to compete over a Course Designer’s courses all during the week, and you can see them building up to what their going to build for their main event. With the Invitational, you have no idea until you walk in there on Saturday night what Steve has come up with.”

The 34th Annual $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational, presented by The Tampa Tribune and Kash n’ Karry, the showcase event of the Winter Equestrian Festival, takes place this Saturday, April 1, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. under the lights at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. The event, the richest and most prestigious outdoor show jumping event in the United States, will feature top riders from around the world.

Results of Class 1001 $20,000 1.50M Classic – Table II Sec 2 (a) – Covered Arena Tournament of Champions CSI – 3/31/06

• 1 284 BEEZIE MADDEN PLAY ON 0.00 84.902 0.00 46.449 $6000 ALLAN SHORE JR.
• 2 279 ALISON FIRESTONE SECRET LOVE 0.00 83.586 0.00 48.722 $4000 BERTRAM FIRESTONE
• 3 385 ROBERT KRAUT PROVIDENCE 0.00 86.145 4.00 46.918 $2000 PETER WETHERILL
• 4 379 LAURA KRAUT PANIC 0.00 85.310 4.00 47.357 $1400 PANIC PARTNERSHIP
• 5 409 MARY LISA LEFFLER GERONA 92 0.00 85.482 8.00 48.161 $1200 ROLLING ACRES FARM
• 6 134 LAURA CHAPOT SAMANTHA 4.00 80.627 $1000 SUNDANCE GROUP
• 7 529 BRIANNE GOUTAL ONIRA 4.00 81.856 $1000 CLOVERLEAF FARM
• 8 530 BRIANNE GOUTAL CASAR 4.00 83.883 $800 CLOVERLEAF FARM
• 9 108 ELIZA SHUFORD CANTATE 26 4.00 83.949 $800 ELIZA SHUFORD
• 10 146 MEGHAN MORAN QUARNAK DE LONGPRE 4.00 85.136 $600 MEGHAN MORAN
• 11 384 ROBERT KRAUT LIFE IS LIVE 4.00 85.643 $600 POLLY RICH FARMS
• 12 504 MAGGIE JAYNE RIVANO 4.00 86.302 $600 RACHEL SPENCER

PHOTO CREDIT: Play On with Beezie Madden aboard take the $20,000 1.50m Classic at WEF on Friday in Tampa. Photo by Randi Muster.