Celano Ethna and Aaron Vale Score Win In $50,000 Ocala EMO Grand Prix
Equestrian News Release
Ocala, FL- February 13, 2006- On a cold day in Ocala, with temperatures hovering in the mid 40s and the winds gusting at twenty miles an hour, Aaron Vale and his mount, Celano Ethna, owned by Millstream, Inc., proved the best over a field of thirty-one entries in this first Sunday Grand Prix for the HITS Ocala series.
The EMO Grand Prix is sponsored by EMO Insurance and is a member of the United States Grand Prix League. The course designer for today was Mr. Kenneth R. Krome of Westminster, Maryland. He set a course of thirteen obstacles with two combinations: the seventh, a vertical with two strides to an oxer, and the tenth, an oxer in and out to a vertical in and out to an oxer. The time allowed was ninety-three seconds, but was shortened to eighty-eight seconds after three horses had gone. Eventual winner Vale commented on the design, saying, “It was a nice course, not a killer, obviously, with eleven in the jump-off. But the jump-off itself was quite technical.” The first round resulted in eleven clear, ten with four faults and ten with more than four faults.
The shortened course for the jump-off was seven obstacles with one combination, the first two fences of the the original tenth, the oxer in and out to the vertical. The first rider in to attempt the jump-off was Chris Sorenson, of Caledon East, Ontario, riding Ilian De Taute, owned by Ruth Armstrong. They were through the timers for a clear round and a time of 47.738 to set the pace.
Next in the jump-off was Rissa, owned by Sofia Campins and ridden by Manuel Torres. Torres is originally from Colombia but now calls Leesburg, Virginia home. Rissa and Torres made a tight turn to the second fence, cleared it safely, but caught a rail on the 10A combination to finish with four faults and a time of 47.106.
Aaron Vale had four horses clear for the jump-off. The first to attempt the shortened course was Droxello, owned by Hollow Creek Investments. Vale and Droxello also caught the 10A rail, and unfortunately, the fence six rail. The pair finished with eight faults and a time of 51.518.
Although Aaron Vale was due in next on another horse, Derek Petersen brought in Heaven Bound to keep things moving along. Heaven Bound is owned by Derek and Anita Petersen of Archer, Florida. Heaven Bound and Petersen executed the first two fences quickly but the 10A fence grabbed another victim as the top rail fell. The pair then flashed through the next few fences but the tight rollback from fence six to fourteen caused them to drop a rail on fourteen. They finished with eight faults and a very fast time of 43.675.
Aaron Vale then entered with his second jump-off ride, Arriscraft Soliel, owned by Angelstone Farm. Vale and the chestnut were looking good as they got past the 10A fence that was grabbing everyone, but they caught the 7B oxer. Then after a quick turn to the number six fence, they caught a rail there. The pair finished with eight faults and a time of 45.195.
Polyfax and Roberto Teran were next in to attempt the shortened course. This duo won the Jacksonville A to Z Grand Prix two weeks ago. Polyfax is owned by the KingRidge Stables. Teran, who rode for the Colombian Jumping team, now makes his home in Reddick, Florida. Success was not to be this week, as fence 10A once again claimed a victim. Teran and Polyfax finished with four faults and 45.016.
Tricia O’Connor and Cloverlea Farm Inc.’s Furistos Treasure were next in the arena. O’Connor, of Williston, Florida, and Furistos Treasure finished fourth in the Ocala’s Thursday $25,000 Grand Prix this week. Unfortunately they were not as successful today as they pulled rails on the numbered two, six, and fourteen fences. They finished with twelve faults and a time of 47.679.
Cable, owned by IMS Farm, and rider Ian Silitch, of Ocala, Florida, were the next to attempt the difficult jump-off. But they were able to negotiate it with ease and finished clear with a time of 48.705. This put them currently in second place. Even though there was a decent size crowd, one has to assume the lack of crowd noise was due to the scarves wrapped around faces and the gloves and mittens on the hands, muffling the cheers and clapping.
Celano Ethna, Vale’s next to last ride in the jump-off, was next. Vale and the grey made it look easy as they zipped around, making sharp turns and tight rollbacks, and galloping to the last fence. They finished clear with a blazing fast time of 43.030 to take first place. Only one rider stood between Vale and victory, but Vale himself had one more ride who could win over Celano Ethna.
Kilpatrick, owned and ridden by Tracy Magness, entered the arena with the final chance to beat Aaron Vale. The pair was looking good; they made it past 10A and fence six, only to pull a rail on the plank fence fourteen. They finished with a four faults and a time of 46.059 to finish in fifth place.
Aaron Vale rode in on his fourth and final horse of the day, Romulus 16, owned by Hollow Creek Investments. Vale’s hopes of grabbing victory on Romulus 16 were dashed quickly as the horse pulled a rail on the first fence. The pair then smoothly rode the middle part of the jump-off, but again caught a rail on fence fourteen and finished with eight faults and a time of 45.643 for ninth place.
In talking about the jump-off that designer Krome had set, Aaron Vale commented, “It was a tough turn back to the combination (10A and B) and then another tough turn to the oxer (7B). There were also two big verticals, one off a gallop and one off a spin turn. It was really a technical type jump-off and hard to go clear again.”
Celano Ethna has been with Vale for one year. Vale said of him, “He really handled the first round amazing. He was able to do it in the jump-off. I don’t have the most rideability with him yet. He’s a Terrell Owens kind of horse. He has a ton of talent; you just have to get his brain working for you. It seems to be going in the right direction right now. This is his second win of the season.”
Commenting on his own plans, Vale said, “I’m an alternate for the CSIO in Wellington, so I’m waiting to hear. I should know by Tuesday or Wednesday. I’m excited about that. If it happens, I’ll have to go down there to work with my horse Artur. So I’ll miss week three here in Ocala. I’ll just have to wait and see.”
Official Results: $50,000 Ocala EMO Grand Prix
1. Celano Ethna, Aaron Vale, 0/0/43.030
2. Ilian De Taute, Chris Sorensen, 0/0/47.738
3. Cable, Ian Silitch, 0/0/48.705
4. Polyfax, Roberto Teran, 0/4/45.016
5. Kilpatrick, Tracy Magness, 0/4/46.059
6. Rissa, Manuel Torres, 0/4/47.106
7. Heaven Bound, Derek Petersen, 0/8/43.675
8. Arriscraft Soliel, Aaron Vale, 0/8/45.195
9. Romulus 16, Aaron Vale, 0/8/45.643
10. Droxelle, Aaron Vale, 0/8/51.518
11. Furistos Treasure, Tricia O’Connor, 0/12/47.679
12. Shakira Do Jacare, Sergio Campos, 4/76.676
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