Douglas and MTM Pablo Win $35,000 Sidelines Grand Prix. Photo by Eye Was Here Photography
Thirty-five horse and rider teams tackled the $35,000 Sidelines Grand Prix and Dorothy “Dorrie” Douglas of Ocala, Florida in the irons of Davenport Farms’ MTM Pablo took the win!
Of the thirty-five horse and rider teams, only nine would advance to the jump off round with a time allowed set at 47 seconds.
According to Douglas, “It was an interesting class because it really was a mix of young horses, professionals and amateur riders. The first-round time allowed was a tough one to hit and you had to hustle, or you wouldn’t make the time. You needed to move fast in the first half of the round, or you wouldn’t have anywhere to make up the time in the latter half of the course. It was almost as if you had to ride the first round like a speed round at times. it was amazing that 9 moved on to the jump off."
Richard Spooner of Oxford, Florida and Serenity Spring Farm’s Oaks Burgundy were the first to navigate the jump off round. With 12 jump faults in a time of 38.133 seconds, the pair finished in ninth overall.
William Simpson of Ocala, Florida and High Rise Holdings, LLC’s Quentin VA followed in the order. The pair earned four jump faults and with their time of 38.369 seconds, finished in seventh overall.
David Raposa of Clinton, New York and Redfield Farm’s Lingote De Oro RFB followed in the jump off order, but eight jump faults in a time of 38.294 seconds earned them an eighth-place ribbon.
Maurice Beatson of Ocala, Florida and his own Central Park were up next. The pair posted a clear jump off round in a time of 44.688.
Sarah Invieta Williams of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Rowan Willis’ Billy Guilder followed. With their clear round in a time of 41.622 seconds, they took the lead.
The lead was short lived after Luis Sabino Goncalves of Ocala, Florida and Perla Boord’s Menetto PS turned in a clear jump off round in a time of 38.641 seconds, setting the new time to beat.
Sharn Wordley of Citra, Florida and Fernando Cardenas’ Valentine Car followed in the order. Four jump faults in a time of 36.563 seconds would see them finish in sixth overall.
The horse race continued when Vicente Guillen of Ocala, Florida and Tranquility Farm’s Rustica LS La Silla followed Wordley and turned in a fault free round in 38.729 seconds.
Sitting in the enviable last to go position, Douglas and MTM Pablo posted a clear round in a time of 36.738 seconds and secured the win, moving Sabino Goncalves and Menetto PSinto second place and Guillen and Rustica LS LA Silla into third.
Douglas commented, “The jump off was fast enough and it always helps to go last, but it definitely puts the pressure on.”
She continued, “I’ve had Pablo for enough time and I knew where I could make up time and where I could be careful. He’s naturally quick across the ground and I was pretty efficient everywhere.”
According to Douglas, “Mike [McCormick] was very helpful, as always, and gave me good advice. I have worked for MTM for so long, and I really appreciate him and Tracey [Fenney]. They are incredible horsemen and I constantly learn from them. They are always thinking about what has to be done for the horses next. The way they do business, and their work ethic is incredible. Even after we left the show today, we went back home and schooled some horses, then had clients over, and it was a full day. Just another fun, full day at MTM!”
Invicta Williams and Billy Guilder finished in fourth place and Beatson and Central Parkearned a fifth overall.
Alexandra Goetze Bell and Redfield Farm’s Iville earned a tenth-place ribbon for their one-time fault first round in 75.001 seconds and Tracy Fenney and MTM Farm’s S & L Cesamfinished in eleventh for their one-time fault first round in 75.450 seconds.
Spooner and Serenity Spring Farm’s SSF Freedom wrapped up the class with twelfth place as the fastest four-fault first round in a time of 70.126 seconds.
“The Florida Horse Park is so nice. Bob and Jonathan run a great show, Paul Jewell did a great job designing the course, the footing and stabling are great here and everyone is very easy to deal with. We like coming to this show because it is relaxing and we can actually visit with friends we haven’t seen for a while, and really enjoy ourselves here,” added Douglas.
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