Mandy Porter and Centstar Emerge Victorious in $5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake at Temecula Valley National Horse Show

Temecula, Calif. – May 29, 2019 – After a short two-day break, the Temecula Valley National Horse Show resumed Wednesday at Galway Downs, with show jumping at the forefront as horse-and-rider pairs began the fourth and final week of competition eager for another shot at the top of the leaderboard. In the $5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake, Mandy Porter and Centstar led the victory gallop after retaining the quickest double clear time for almost the entirety of the class, adding to Porter’s long list of victories in Temecula. Taking top call in the 1.40m Jumpers, Harley Brown and Cubiki led from start to finish to run away with the winning honors to kick off the week on a high note.

Mandy Porter and Centstar

Back for another week at the helm of the Audi Grand Prix Arena, presented by Evergate Stables, course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) offered exhibitors a sweeping 14-effort track for the first phase of the $5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake. First to take to the ring, Dakoda Mower and Duando of the Lowlands Z began the class successfully with their 40.533-second time over the abridged 8-obstacle pattern, leaving all the fences intact to emerge as the early trailblazers. Their reign wouldn’t last long though, as veteran athlete Porter jockeyed Whitney Strachan’s Centstar just two trips later to a dicey inside turn option during their immediate jump-off effort, paying off as the duo tripped the timers in 37.668 seconds to take over the lead spot with the majority of the class still left to ride.

Mandy Porter and Centstar

With each passing team, Porter and Centstar’s hold on the top spot seemed to be more permanent, as each of the remaining contenders tried and failed to eclipse the quick pair’s leading time. Though nearly 30 pairs chased them down, the lead would ultimately never change hands. Of the original field of 32 entries, 12 partnerships mastered the initial track to qualify for the short course, with seven of those pairs navigating their ways to double clean efforts, led by Porter and Centstar’s winning performance. Jason McArdle and Elicole, owned by Fairbanks Valley Farm LLC, nabbed the runner-up position with their time of 38.500 seconds, and Cassio Rivetti rode to the final podium spot aboard AC/DC to secure third place with their time of 38.906 seconds.

Jason McArdle and Elicole

Immediately prior, the 1.40m Jumper class ran similar to a power and speed format, with faults carried throughout and the time over the second half of the course serving as the final score. First in the ring, Brown and Emma Reichow’s Cubiki served as the pathfinders with their quick fault-free trip, turning in a time of 34.961 seconds over the second half of the course, comprised of fences eight through 12, to jump to the early lead. Less than a second off of the pace, Craig Starr and Deluxento turned in a strong effort as the next clean pair in 35.789 seconds, with Cassio Rivetti and Queen soon adding their names to the list of penalty-free duos in a conservative 40.054 seconds.

Harley Brown and Cubiki

Though subsequent challengers attempted to chase down the frontrunners, none would prove able to do so, including another Brown-ridden entry, Forever Alve. Though he didn’t surpass his earlier leading time, Brown still managed to pilot Reichow’s Forever Alve to a clear time of 38.152 seconds to secure third place overall, adding to Brown’s list of top results at Galway Downs. Earning the second place spot between Brown’s two rides was Starr and his own Deluxento.

Craig Starr and Deluxento

The Temecula Valley National Horse Show will continue Thursday at Galway Downs, with the $20,000 1.40 – 1.45m Speed Classic and $7,500 Interactive Mortgage Horses 10 and Under Futurity Classic taking centerstage. The week’s highlight event, the $40,000 National Grand Prix, will take place Saturday afternoon.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Mandy Porter – $5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake winner

On Centstar:
“Centstar is an 8-year-old that came to us last fall, so we are still trying to get to know each other a little bit. He is super competitive and so much fun to have. He’s a little trooper. Every time we walk in the ring we have a chance to do really well because he’s a fighter.”

On her ride:
“My strategy was to be smooth – it’s pretty normal that that’s what I try to do. Just be smooth and efficient. The courses were nice. They were flowing courses so that enabled a nice smooth ride. It was fun. I think this week we will wait and show him again on Saturday in the 1.35m speed class on Saturday. It’s the second week for him and it’s a little warmer, so I think we’ll just have him do two classes and call it a show.”

On starting the week with a victory:
“It feels great! It feels like a good way to start the week. It puts everyone in a good mood and feeling positive.”

On the Temecula Valley National Horse Show:
“I love this show. I can’t thank Ali [Nilforushan] and his team enough. They do a really good job and put on a wonderful show with great course designers, courses, footing and staff. Everyone is super friendly and all the customers are super happy. It’s really good for the sport!”

RESULTS

$5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / Time
1. Centstar / Mandy Porter / 0 / 0 / 37.668
2. Elicole / Jason McArdle / 0 / 0 / 38.500
3. AC/DC / Cassio Rivetti / 0 / 0 / 38.906
4. Duanda Of The Lowlands Z / Dakoda Mower / 0 / 0 / 40.522
5. Jamica Van Kattebeek / Patrick Pellin / 0 / 0 / 42.677
6. Herslev Mark’s Cornado / Becky Smith / 0 / 0 / 44.032
7. Panama / Cassio Rivetti / 0 / 0 / 46.002
8. Ilan / Kaitlin Campbell / 0 / 4 / 38.819
9. Centurion / Sloan Elmassian / 0 / 8 / 42.849
10. Mini Coupe / Tammy Chipko / 0 / 8 / 43.539
11. Calesco / Amanda Gomez / 0 / 12 / 42.637
12. Simpatica 33 / Wendy Lee Thompson / 0 / 22 / 75.453

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