Tampa, FL – April 2, 2004 – Jeffery Welles of Pound Ridge, NY, riding Octavius for owner International Jumpers LLC won the $20,000 1.50-Meter Classic at the Tournament of Champions in Tampa, Florida today. Welles topped a class of 29 entries and was the fastest of three clear performances in a six-horse jump-off. Callan Solem of Colts Neck, NJ, aboard Mianta for Quiet Winter Farm placed second. Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA, riding Sansierra for owners Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone was third.

Belgium’s Luc Musette designed the course at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center, starting off with a Round One track of 15-efforts that included three double combinations – 3AB, 9AB, and 11AB – but no triple, with Time Allowed set at 80 seconds. The second of the three combinations caught the most riders on course, with nine horses faulting at that fence, however the big eliminator proved to be the time factor which ruled out 11 horses. Six horses went clear for the tiebreaker.

The eight-effort Jump-Off limited Time Allowed to 50 seconds. Solem led off with Mianta and set the pace with a clear round in 42.766, but her time proved to be only good enough for second place. Laura Kraut aboard Joyous for the Summit Partners picked up the pace with her time of 41.986, but she had the second fence down and placed 4th. Michael Morrissey riding Gera 28 for Eugene R. Mische incurred eight faults in 47.515 to take the 6th place ribbon. Then Welles took to the field and posted a clear round in 41.894 with Octavius – taking over the lead and keeping it for the remainder of the class. Clare Bronfman riding Limmitaire for Slate River Farm notched eight faults in 43.660 seconds, finishing 5th. Giving the leader a run for his money, Firestone and Sansierra were last to go and broke the beam clean in 43.811 but had to settle for third place.

Four of today’s six jump-off participants are scheduled to compete in the ‘Super Bowl of Show Jumping’ – the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational presented by Publix and The Tampa Tribune, which takes place tomorrow, April 3, starting at 7:00 pm in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. Welles will ride Equinox owned by JEM Partners; Firestone will be aboard her Olympic hopeful, Casanova, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone; Kraut will saddle up Allegiance for owner Pin Oak Farm; and Bronfman will be in the irons on Irco Son owned by Slate River Farm.

2004 WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Show days for the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival in Tampa, FL, are Tuesday through Saturday, March 30-April 3. Gates open at 8:00am and action continues through late afternoon. The Bob Thomas Equestrian Center is located off Orient Road at the Tampa Fairgrounds. Admission and parking are free. For additional information, visit www.stadiumjumping.com.

AMERICAN INVITATIONAL
For ticket information for the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational Presented by Publix and The Tampa Tribune, visit www.TicketMaster.com or call (813) 253-2782 or Toll-Free (877) 909-9436. Ticket prices range from $20 to $70 for reserved seating at the Raymond James Stadium.