Release Date: 2006-06-18 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Lisa Mills for PhelpsSports.com

Wayne, IL – June 18, 2006 - Despite the oppressively hot day, the $30,000 Dark Dog Grand Prix at Showplace Spring Spectacular II in Wayne, IL, provided a great show for an enthusiastic crowd. The field of 30 faced Course Designer Hector Loyola’s long, inviting course. “With 14 jumps, it’s a long course on a hot day,” said Loyola.

First to go was Kris Killam aboard Blaire Cudmore’s Renoldo. With 12 jumping faults, Killam exceeded the somewhat tight time-allowed of 90 seconds by one second. Next to go, Wilhelm Genn and Happy Z, thrilled the crowd with a clear first round under the time allowed. Following on Genn’s heels, Alex Granato and Mad Season gave the crowd another team for the jump off, just squeaking in under the time allowed.

After Granato’s round, the time allowed was adjusted to 93 seconds, giving the riders a little more breathing room. Watching at the gate before schooling Argentina, Brandie Holloway commented “It’s a long, somewhat technical course. For example, the vertical to vertical combination at 10a-b looks like it rides a little tight, especially coming after the Dark Dog plank going away from the ingate. That Dark Dog jump may require a pretty forward ride and then a big steady for that tight combination.”

The next clear round was posted by 21-year-old Kate Bomgaars with On Line, well within the time allowed. Then, last week’s Wachovia Securities $50,000 Grand Prix winning team of Karen Cudmore and the scopey Holsteiner stallion Ocelot served notice with a clear first round, that they weren’t resting on their laurels. Cudmore later posted another clear round with Southern Pride, despite having to wait for the jump crew to quickly rebuild fence number eight after it was blown down by gusty winds. And Genn returned twice more, and twice more earned additional spots in the jump off.

Succeeding where sisters Maggie and Haylie didn’t, home-town favorite Charlie Jayne deftly piloted Urbanus to a clear first round, with father Alex Jayne observing from his perch atop a mounting block at the ingate. This was only the second Grand Prix for the eight-year-old Belgian warmblood who the Jaynes imported last September. “I did the high A/O Jumpers with him in Florida and just moved up to the Grand Prix last week,” said Jayne.

Observing the first few rounds paid off for Holloway who was to return for the jump off with Argentina. And not to be discounted for the jump off was Chuck Waters aboard eight-year-old 747, who made his Grand Prix debut at this show one year ago. In all, 11 returned for the jump off.

For the jump off, Loyola moved jumps out of the middle of the course. “I wanted to open up the course, allowing for some long gallops and an exciting jump off for the crowd,” he explained. “While I raised the height on most of the jumps, I raised just the back rail on most of the oxers to make them more inviting.”

First to go clean in the first round, Genn and Happy Z also posted a clean jump off with a time to beat of 38.609. Next to go, Granato and Mad Season managed a time of 40.458 after four faults at the tight rollback to fence number two. Four faults seemed to be a theme with Bomgaars, Cudmore and Holloway all with one rail down.

Despite a stumble after jump two, Jayne and Urbanus were the second team clear with a time of 44.612. But Jayne soon was bumped to third place when Waters and the scopey 747 posted a clear round with a time of 43.815, even after taking the long way around the decorative island in the middle of the jump-off course.

Out of the 11, only Genn, Waters and Jayne negotiated clean jump off round.

With the first clear first round and the first to go clean in the jump off, Genn and Happy Z maintained their lead with the time of 38.609 to win the $30,000 Dark Dog Grand Prix. Genn has owned the eight-year-old Dutch mare for a little over two years. Since her first Grand Prix last July, the mare now has five Grand Prix wins to her credit. “She’s a happy horse and definitely the princess in the barn,” said Genn. “She’s very careful and has lots of endurance, which she needed today.”

The second place winner was another fairly young horse. Waters’ 747 started his Grand Prix career at this show last year. “We were fourth last year and it’s nice to come back and improve on that,” commented Waters. “He’s a scopey horse and very careful. We rubbed a jump near the end of the course and then he really finished up great.”

With the fastest four-fault round Cudmore and Ocelot captured fourth place in 39.670. Aboard Southern Pride, Cudmore placed 8th with 4 faults and a time of 40.463. “I’m really pleased with my horses,” said Cudmore. “They’ve been very consistent the past two weeks.”

For complete results, visit www.showplaceproductions.com/ShowData/Results.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Happy Z and Wilhelm Genn race to victory in the $30,000 Dark Dog Grand Prix at the Showplace Spring Spectacular in Illinois. Photo ©2006 by Jon Kassel