Lexington, KY – May 19, 2013 – Today marked the end of the 2013 Kentucky Spring Classic and the finale of a winning weekend for Jenna Selati and Greytful. Selati, a Chicago, IL native, will return home from the Kentucky Horse Park with the championship tricolor in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunter division.

 

Selati navigated Greyftul, or “Empire” to two blue ribbons yesterday over the Bobby Murphy designed courses in the Murphy Ring. She returned today to turn in equally impressive rounds in the Stonelea Ring with the seven-year-old gelding, finishing second in the both first class and over the handy course.

Jenna Selati and Greytful

“We got him in November, and he’s just so easy going and laid back. He’s like a big puppy,” Selati shared. “I thought the courses were challenging and fun, and he was great over them.”

 

Selati is unsure what the future will hold for herself and Empire, but she hopes to aim him at hunter derbies down the road. The young rider also hopes to be back in Kentucky.

“It’s beautiful here; the courses are great; and the weather’s been beautiful this weekend,” Selati concluded.

 

Finishing in reserve in the Large Junior 16-17 Hunters were Piper Benjamin and Corvine. Benjamin and Corvine bested the field in the handy class to claim the blue ribbon, and they immediately returned to win a second blue ribbon in the under saddle class.

 

Winning the championship in the Large Junior 15 and Under Hunter division was Vivian Yowan aboard Roc A Bye, owned by Marigot Bay Farm LLC of Dover, MA. Yowan picked up the catch ride aboard Roc A Bye, consistently turning in solid rounds. Today, Yowan finished second in both of the division’s over fences classes before being named champion of the division.

“He was a little tired today, because he showed a lot yesterday, but he was still really, really good,” Yowan explained. “I liked the handy course today. I thought it was pretty trick and there were different options that you could take. I did some inside turns in the Small Junior class that I didn’t do her.”

 

The blue ribbon in both of today’s over fences classes went to Meredith Darst and Vida Blue, owned by Elm Rock LLC of Bronxville, NY, earning them the division’s reserve championship.

Meredith Darst and Val D’Isere

Darst also earned a second tricolor today with Val D’Isere, owned by Natalie Allen-Barinsky of Mendota Heights, MN. Like Yowan and Roc A Bye, Val D’Isere is a new catch ride for Darst, but the pair connected quickly, finishing first and second over fences today and earning the division championship.

 

“Val D’Isere’s been great, and I’ve really enjoyed having the ride,” Darst said.

While the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows have come to an end, the ‘AA’ rated hunter and jumper competition will resume when the Kentucky Summer Horse Show comes to the Kentucky Horse Park on July 24-28, 2013.

 

For more information about the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, please visit www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.