Paige Johnson and Dakota Win the Grand Prix CSI4*
USA's Paige Johnson and Dakota were the big winners in the $127,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4* at “Saturday Night Lights” in week 11 at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). Competing in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), Johnson won a four-horse jump-off, beating out trainer Kent Farrington (USA) with Gazelle in second. Ramiro Quintana (ARG) and Whitney placed third; Lisa Goldman (USA) and Centurion B were fourth.
Forty-three horse and rider combinations showed over Saturday night's course, set by Olaf Petersen Jr. of Germany. Four made it through to the jump-off, where Johnson and Farrington were the only two to clear the second round course.
Goldman was first to jump-off with Mary Goldman's Centurion B with one rail in 49.06 seconds. Quintana returned next aboard St. Bride's Farm's Whitney and also brought down one rail in a faster time of 45.41 seconds. Johnson and Salamander Farm's Dakota followed with the winning clear round in 47.47 seconds. Last to go, Farrington and Robin Parksy's Gazelle were clear, just shy of Johnson's time in 47.95 seconds.
Johnson and Dakota began their 2015 season with great results, including a win in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup in week six of the circuit. That win was in a speed class in daylight, but the pair stepped up to the plate showing in a major grand prix under the lights as well. Competing in the impressive atmosphere of a night class with an arena full of cheering fans, Johnson and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Calvados Ex Sable Rose x Cash) thrived.
“I came into this circuit hoping to win a WEF (Challenge Cup), and I did that week six. My next goal was to win a grand prix. I had no idea it would happen (in) the same season,” Johnson remarked. “You can imagine that I am super excited and happy. Kent is my trainer, so it feels like the hard work and the team and everything around us is really paying off, and that is a great feeling.”
Commenting on her round, Johnson detailed, “I was not as fast as Ramiro. I thought I would go what speed I was comfortable. For me it was not all out, but I did not want to be too slow because if I had a late rail, I would be third or fourth. I thought I needed to go fast enough to have Kent try to chase me. No, I did not think I was probably fast enough to beat him, but I knew he had a young horse, so that played in my favor tonight.”
“I think at night horses tend to be a little sharper, in a good way,” Johnson said, comparing her win under the lights to her week six victory. “It is definitely a different feeling and obviously the grand prix is bigger. The WEF I won was a speed, so it was a true 1.45m. This is scopier, and it rides differently under the lights. The horse usually needs more leg across the oxers because you have shine on the jump and what not. It is a different feeling, but a great feeling. I love showing under the lights.”
Final Results: $127,000 Engel & Völkers Grand Prix CSI 4*
1. DAKOTA: 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare by Calvados Ex Sable Rose x Cash
PAIGE JOHNSON (USA), Salamander Farm: 0/0/47.47
2. GAZELLE: 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare by Kashmir Van Shuttershof x Indoctro
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Robin Parksy: 0/0/47.95
3. WHITNEY: 2003 KWPN mare by Indoctro x Concorde
RAMIRO QUINTANA (ARG), St. Bride's Farm: 0/4/45.41
4. CENTURION B: 2002 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Rebel Z I x Indoctro
LISA GOLDMAN (USA), Mary Goldman: 0/4/49.06
5. COMANCHE 28: 2006 Oldenburg gelding by Coupe de Couer x Baloubet du Rouet
MEREDITH MICHAELS-BEERBAUM (GER), Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC: 1/85.02
6. SHORAPUR: 2005 Hanoverian mare by Stakkato Gold x Drosselklang II
KEVIN BABINGTON (IRL), Shorapur LLC: 1/85.83
7. QUABELLE: 2004 Selle Francais mare by Helrios de la Cour II x Kannan
BLYTHE MARANO (USA), Riverview Farm LLC: 1/87.21
8. AD RACKHAM'JO: 2005 Selle Francais stallion by Diamant de Semilly x
ATHINA ONASSIS DE MIRANDA (GRE), Athina Onassis de Miranda & Victory Equestrian Sport BV: 2/89.72
9. DON VHP Z: 2004 Zangersheide stallion by Diamant de Semilly x Voltaire
HARRIE SMOLDERS (NED), Copernicus Stables LLC: 4/79.91
10. FIRST CHOICE 15: 2003 Hessian Warmblood gelding by For Keeps x Angard
YANN CANDELE (CAN), Janice Aron: 4/80.85
11. CHAVENTYNO: 2006 Oldenburg gelding by Chacco-Blue x Aventyno
BEN MAHER (GBR), Legacy Stables LLC: 4/81.51
12. DEAUVILLE S: 2006 Holsteiner gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Lux
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Julius Peter Sinnack: 4/81.56