Beezie Madden in Wellington Winner's Circle

By Jennifer Ward

Wellington, FL - Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden of Cazanovia, N.Y., made her first trip to the winners' circle in Wellington, FL, by winning the $20,000 1.50m Classic held Saturday afternoon during the Smart for Life CSI2*, presented by Gold Coast Feed, week three of the CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising.

Only three horses successfully cleared the first-round track set by course designer Luc Musette of Belgium to advance to the jump-off.  A total of 12 horse-rider combinations made a single error to miss their opportunity to advance to the tie-breaker.

Madden was the first rider to return for the shortened jump-off course, setting the pace with a clear round in a time of 42.33 seconds with Play On owned by Allan Shore Jr.  Ireland's Darragh Kerins followed and while he turned in a faster time of 42.01 seconds, his strong approach to the double combination with Night Train resulted in a dropped rail at fence 11a.  As the final challenger, James Benedetto of Northport, N.Y., was lightning fast riding Kannan's Gigi in a time of 40.33 seconds, but a fallen rail saw them settle for second.

"I didn't have to go in and try to race around with only three in it, I just wanted to go clear and make it risky for them to be faster and clear, and that's what happened," said Madden of her jump-off strategy.  "I liked the course, although the winner always says that!  This is a class for up and coming grand prix level horses and it was good to have the water and a plank that was careful.  I don't think that anyone got in trouble; the horses had a good experience."

Madden has been riding Play On, an 11-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding for the past four years.  "He is an over-achiever.  He is quite careful, sometimes he jumps too high, but his rideability is really coming along," she noted.

Madden will begin showing her 2004 Olympic Gold Medal partner, Authentic, during week five of the Winter Equestrian Festival and is hoping for a bye from participating in the U.S. Equestrian Team Olympic Selection Trials being staged in March.

To close out the week, the $50,000 Smart for Life Grand Prix CSI2* will begin at 1p.m.  The Smart for Life CSI2*, presented by Gold Coast Feed, marks the third of 12 weeks comprising the CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising and runs through Sunday, February 3, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.  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 - 1.50m Jumper Classic

• 1 2111 PLAY ON BEEZIE MADDEN 0.00 84.607 0.00 42.330 ALLAN SHORE JR
• 2 1613 KANNAN'S GIGI JAMES BENEDETTO 0.00 80.145 4.00 40.338 EQUINIMITY LLC
• 3 142 NIGHT TRAIN DARRAGH KERINS 0.00 79.371 4.00 42.019 DOUBLE H FARM
• 4 2114 TRUE LOVE SARAH SEGAL 4.00 75.302 ROBERT SEGAL
• 5 3485 REGINA V ADDISON PHILLIPS 4.00 76.849 ADDISON PHILLIPS
• 6 5948 H & M OBERON DARRAGH KERINS 4.00 78.496 BLACKLICK BEND FARM
• 7 1893 SINATRA PABLO BARRIOS 4.00 79.367 PABLO BARRIOS
• 8 5834 CAMPINO 103 PETER WYLDE 4.00 79.377 PETER WYLDE & LOUISBURG F
• 9 3349 ROMEO EVAN COLUCCIO 4.00 79.972 RAYLYN FARMS & THE ROMEO
• 10 2893 DISTRICT GEORGINA BLOOMBERG 4.00 80.800 GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES

Results of Class 1025 - High Amateur/Owner Jumper Classic - (SJHOF)

• 1 5602 MAYHEM ASHLEY FLEISCHHACKER 0.00 70.457 0.00 46.397 ASHLAND STABLES
• 2 1044 U-2 MARLEY GOODMAN 0.00 71.157 4.00 45.213 MARLEY GOODMAN
• 3 1897 TRILLION MARY ELIZABETH MOORE 0.00 72.273 4.00 53.070 MARY ELIZABETH MOORE
• 4 1264 NALEIDA CATIE BOONE 0.00 69.756 8.00 42.070 CATIE BOONE
• 5 1444 KLM JIMMY NICK DELLO JOIO 0.00 72.331 8.00 43.824 WEMBLEY FARMS INC.
• 6 5379 SANSIERRA LAUREN TISBO 0.00 70.201 8.00 44.650 TEQUESTRIAN FARMS LLC
• 7 3473 RODENBURGH'S CALIFORNIA NATALIE JOHNSON 0.00 71.895 8.00 47.825 NATALIE JOHNSON
• 8 2065 RESIDENZ ALI WOLFF 0.00 70.337 16.00 61.283 BLACKLICK BEND FARM
• 9 2063 HERTEL LANDMAN ALI WOLFF 0.00 70.403 18.00 67.617 BLACKLICK BEND FARM
• 10 1185 OSCAR VDL DAISY JOHNSON 0.00 73.007 22.00 67.171 WGHR FARM

PHOTO:  Beezie Madden and Play On won the $20,000 1.50m Classic held Saturday during the third week of competition at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival presented by Zimmerman Advertising. Photo Credit: Ken Braddick, Equestrian Sport Productions