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Rain not an obstacle at Grand Prix riders
4/28/2008 12:21 AM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend

By BEN BAUGH
Staff writer
The inclement weather Sunday may have narrowed the field of competitors at Sunday's $25,000 Aiken Spring Classic Grand Prix at the Aiken Spring Classic Horse Shows, but it failed to lessen the excitement. Only nine entries would contest the class, with five horses going clear after the first round at Highfields Event Center.
When the dust settled, a 21-year-old rode with the poise and experience of a seasoned competitor; Angel Karolyi captured his first Grand Prix while in the irons on McLain Ward's Galant.
Karolyi and Galant went double clear, winning the class with a time of 41.799 in the jump-off, more than two full seconds better than Hardin Towell and Rockefeller, who finished with a time of 43.924. Rockefeller won last Sunday's Sundowner of Aiken Mini Prix. The second round featured seven jumping efforts. Karolyi went fourth in the order.
"It was fast, really fast. I watched Hardin Towell go; he was blazing fast," Karolyi said. "Daniel Geitner and Harold Chopping also went very fast with their horses. I just thought I would give it a shot. There was a lot to win and not much to lose. Andrea King is just amazing. She's really helped me come along with my riding, and I really appreciate that from her."
A total of five horses qualified for the jump-off, with four going clean in the second round. DFG Stable's Daniel Geitner was the only rider to qualify two horses for the jump-off. Geitner placed third with Mrs. Charles Bostwick's Sympa with a time of 44.656.
Harold Chopping was fifth on Kelly Maloney's Andante with a final time of 47.424 in the jump-off, and Geitner placed fifth with Kyle Register's Trading Places.
"It was a great class," Geitner said. "Unfortunately, we had a little bit of rough weather. The footing held up amazingly. I thought it was going to be a little slow, and we zipped right around there in the jump-off. I had an unlucky rail (with Trading Places in the jump-off). I had to give it a try; there were four double clean before me, so I thought I might as well give it a shot. We'll be back and try it again next week."
The Aiken Spring Classic Horse Shows continue Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Highfields Event Center. Next Sunday features a champagne brunch and the $30,000 The Carolina Real Estate Company Grand Prix.



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