Beezie Madden Plays On in $20,000 1.50m Classic in Wellington

By Jennifer Ward

Wellington, FL - For the second time this season, Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, N.Y., guided Play On to victory in the $20,000 Absorbine Myoplast 1.50m Classic.  Having also won the event on February 2, Madden and Play On were again the victors on Saturday, March 22, during the CSI2* Suncast Corporation, presented by Equestrian Club by Tavern on the Green, of the CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Seven jump-off challengers attempted the shortened track.  Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil had been looking to win the $20,000 Absorbine Myoplast 1.50m Classic for the third week in a row with his homebred Palouchin de Lingy, but an uncharacteristic stop at the first fence quickly ended his chances of a record third victory.

The third rider on course, Michael Walton aboard Fantastiek, was holding the lead with a time of 44.41 seconds when Madden entered the DeNemethy Arena.  With speed and accuracy, Madden managed to shave more than three and a half seconds off the time, stopping the clock at 40.80 seconds.  The final challenger, Amy Millar of Perth, Ontario, Canada, managed to better Madden's time by clocking in at 40.24 seconds, but two fallen rails ended her chances of victory with Piccobello du val de Geer.

"It was a very fair course and produced seven clear rounds, which is a nice number for this class," said Madden of the track set by British course designer Richard Jeffery.  "I had a light rub going in over 7a, but I got lucky.  This is Play On's last show of this circuit, and he's won two 1.50m classes."

Alan Shore Jr.'s Play On is an 11-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding sired by 1996 Olympic Champion horse, Jus de Pomme.

Show jumping took place in the DeNemethy Arena this week as CDI dressage competition took center stage in the International Arena.

"The ring itself is excellent, and it is nice to have a change of venue," noted Madden of the change of scenery.  "If they could get more atmosphere it would be really good."

The International Arena will host Sunday's $75,000 Suncast Grand Prix CSI2*, beginning at 1 p.m.  Madden, who won the $200,000 CN WorldWide Grand Prix one week earlier with her Olympic Team Gold Medal partner Authentic, will be riding the nine-year-old mare, Onlight, on Sunday.

Week 10 of the 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising, the CSI2* Suncast Corporation, presented by Equestrian Club by Tavern on the Green, concludes on Sunday with the $75,000 Suncast Grand Prix CSI2*, beginning at 1 p.m.  The 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising, attracts the best horses and riders from around the world to Wellington, Fla., and offers more than $5 million in prize money.  For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.

Results of Class 1001 - $20,000 Absorbine Myoplast 1.50m Jumper Classic

1 2111 PLAY ON BEEZIE MADDEN 0.00 74.362 0.00 40.806 ALLAN SHORE JR

2 6383 FANTASTIEK MICHAEL WALTON 0.00 77.301 0.00 44.418 MICHAEL WALTON

3 1833 CARLOTTA KEN BERKLEY 0.00 74.997 0.00 45.244 RIVERS EDGE

4 302 AMBRA 47 FEDERICO SZTYRLE 0.00 72.042 4.00 42.596 CHRISTIAN WOLFFER

5 2722 PICCOBELLO DU VAL DE GEER AMY MILLAR 0.00 69.962 8.00 40.242 MILLAR BROOKE FARM & IRISH OAKS FARMS

6 1453 ACERTIJO FRANCIS TRESS ROIG 0.00 72.202 9.00 58.538 J ADALBERTO ROIG

7 3046 MARENGO HILLARY DOBBS 0.00 74.255 12.00 41.347 THE DOBBS GROUP

8 7903 CHAMBERTINO LJUBOV KOCHETOVA 1.00 81.624 LJUBOV KOCHETOVA

9 1929 JOLLY MOME JUDY GAROFALO 4.00 69.979 JOLLY GROUP

10 2072 NOCTURNAL LAURA KRAUT 4.00 72.537 PIN OAK FARM

11 1444 KLM JIMMY NICK DELLO JOIO 4.00 73.360 WEMBLEY FARMS INC.

12 3329 FILIPE HOLLY MITTEN 4.00 73.390 WASSIE LLC

PHOTO:  Beezie Madden and Play On won Saturday's $20,000 Absorbine Myoplast 1.50m Classic at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising. Photo Credit: Ken Braddick, Horse Sport USA