Farrington and Uceko win the Grand Prix Pan American Cup

The ‘Pan American’ Tournament CSI 5* at Spruce Meadows concluded on Sunday with a fantastic win for Kent Farrington (USA) and Uceko in the $400,000 Pan American Cup presented by Rolex. The pair set an uncatchable pace in the jump-off that left McLain Ward (USA) and Rothchild to finish second. Egypt’s Sameh el Dahan and Suma’s Zorro concluded a great summer series with a third place finish.

International course designer Uliano Vezzani (ITA) set the track for the summer’s final grand prix with 33 entries and six to advance to the jump-off where four riders jumped double clear rounds over the short course. Farrington and RCG Farm’s Uceko were first to clear the jump-off course, and set the unbeatable pace of 35.33 seconds to win.

Sameh el Dahan and Suma’s Zorro, owned by el Dahan and Joanne Sloan-Allen, were next to jump clear in 37.29 seconds to earn third place honors. Next to go, Ward and Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild jumped into second in 36.66 seconds. Jumping last, Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Copin van de Broy were clear in 37.40 seconds to finish fourth.

With the winners share of $132,000, Farrington joined Spruce Meadows’ million dollar club for career earnings. In the jump-off, the rider hoped to be fastest, but knew the win was not certain with the riders that were still to follow.

“McLain has been beating me all week. I think he has won every class,” Farrington noted. “I hate sitting there and having to wait for him and the other riders to come after me. That’s not really my favorite thing. I would prefer to go last and know that it was over.”

Farrington’s finish was over one second faster than Ward this time, and Uceko got his second big win of the summer after nearly six months off from competition. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding (Celano x Koriander) never skipped a beat.

“I am thrilled with him. He took a long break,” Farrington stated. “He has always gone great here at Spruce Meadows and my plan all along was to build him up and jump him in the last grand prix. Last week he had a good win in the big class. He actually was ready to go a little bit sooner than what I thought. He feels great. He feels better than he even did last year, and I look forward to him for the rest of the summer as well.”

“I think like any partnership with a rider over time, I know the horse better, and he knows me better,” Farrington said of his relationship with Uceko. “I know his strengths and his weaknesses, which helps me strategize my jump-offs or even my first round plan. I think that over time you have better success, or more consistent success, with a horse as you know them better.”

Final Results: $400,000 Pan American Cup presented by Rolex

1 UCEKO: Dutch Warmblood / G / 13 Celano x Koriander
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), RCG Farm: 0/0/35.33

2 ROTHCHILD: Warmblood / G / 13 Artos Z x Elegant de l’Ile
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Sagamore Farm: 0/0/36.66

3 SUMA’S ZORRO: Irish Sport Horse / M / 10 Ard Vdl Douglas x Unknown
SAMEH EL DAHAN (EGY), Joanne Sloan-Allen & Sameh El Dahan: 0/0/37.29

4 HH COPIN VAN DE BROY: Belgian Warmblood / S / 12 Darco x Brown Boy
QUENTIN JUDGE (USA), Double H Farm: 0/4/37.40

5 UTOPIA: Dutch Warmblood / M / 13 Ircolando x Notaris
JOHN PEREZ (COL), John Perez: 0/4/38.75

6 CHILL R Z: Zangersheide / S / 11 Chellano Z x A Lucky One
CHARLIE JAYNE (USA), Alex R Jayne: 0/4/39.86

7 ANTARES: KWPN / G / 9 Manhattan x Cavalier
PABLO BARRIOS (VEN), Stal Thijssen: 4/83.79

8 DYNAMO: Belgian Warmblood / G / 11 Skippy II x Veritas
MEAGAN NUSZ (USA), Amalya Investments: 4/84.02

9 DIXSON: Belgian Warmblood / G / 11 Vigo d’Arsouilles x Olisco
IAN MILLAR (CAN), Susan & Ariel Grange: 4/84.06

10 WOKLAHOMA: Dutch Warmblood / M / 11 Sheraton x Calvados
ROBERTO TERAN (COL), ARK Partners LLC: 4/84.15

11 NAVALO DE POHETON: Selle Francais / G / 13 Cumano x Double Espoir
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc: 4/84.21

12 MARTHA LOUISE: Swedish Warmblood / M / 10 Maloubet de Pleville x Wolfgang
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Susan & Ariel Grange: 4/84.37