Kate Levy Takes the Top Spot at Fidelity in the $15,000 Equine Insurance Services Speed Stake
September 6, 2009
September 6, 2009, Hampton Falls, New Hampshire – Sunday’s top show jumping classes at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic began with the hotly contested $15,000 Equine Insurance Services Speed Stake presented by Great American. Among the 33 horse and rider combinations competing, sponsor Randy Levesque, who has supported the show for several years, was thrilled to ride in a speed stake and a Sunday class for the first time. Levesque, who trains at Oliynik Show Stables, purchased his 8-year-old mare Lyla two years ago while at the Jumper Classic. They were up to the challenge of the fast-paced class but had one rail down. “Linda (Allen) made a very inviting course and kept me safe,” he said of the course designer, describing his experience as “wonderful.”
Right from the start, however, two jumps near the end of the course unseated a couple of seasoned speed stake exhibitors. It was the third exhibitor to enter the ring, Kate Levy, who set the winning time of 65.303 that couldn’t be beat. Riding the 10-year-old Westfalian mare Gralli, Levy was all smiles as she dismounted after the presentation in the Hermes Winner’s Circle and victory gallop, saying “My horse was so good!” The course was not too big but had a lot of long turns, she said, but Gralli was “careful and fast.” Kate Levy LLC is located in South Salem, NY and Wellington, FL.
Other riders poured on the speed, including 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist Peter Leone who won both a second and fourth place aboard Nerval de la Batia and Tuvalu owned by Alison Finger. Darren Graziano and Allure – both regular competitors and a winning team at the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic – took third place.
Many of the speed stake competitors returned to ride in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix following the Detwiler Fenton & Co. Intermission on the expansive grass field at Silver Oak Equestrian Center, including 16-year-old Victoria Birdsall whose family owns the facility. The exhibitors delighted audiences all week who flocked to the show grounds to see elite Olympic medalist and international riders as well as some of the up and coming young riders. The Sunday classes were outstanding entertainment for an enthusiastic crowd seated under the VIP tents and gathered around the fenced perimeter of the Grand Prix field. In addition to top notch entertainment in the grass field, spectators enjoyed the display of Porsche automobiles on the grounds, as well as boutique shopping.
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Results: $15,000 Equine Insurance Speed Stake presented by Great American
70 – $15,000 Speed Stake
Place Entry Horse Rider Owner
1 35 Gralli Kate Levy Nicole Bouilliart/Kate Levy LLC
2 200 Nerval De La Batia Peter Leone The Beaupre Group
3 297 Allure Darren Graziano Dunkeld Associates
4 197 Tuvalu Peter Leone Alison Finger
5 90 Raimond W Leslie Burr Howard Leslie Burr Howard/Peter Howard
6 147 Jerremy Victoria Birdsall Natalie Johnson
7 210 Wintina Clementine Goutal Cloverleaf Farm
8 107 Primo Johnathan McCrea Candy Tribble Windsor Show
9 106 Baloubet Junior Z Johnathan McCrea Candy Tribble Windsor Show
10 317 Killigrew’s Attraction Jennifer Ritucci Jennifer Ritucci
11 39 Pia Charles Jacobs Deeridge Farm
12 85 Quimar James Benedetto Equinimity LLC
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