For Immediate Release
Deirdre Sullivan for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

Wellington, FL – March 1, 2019 – The “Friday Night Stars” FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W presented by Havensafe Farm ended a day of top dressage competition with a sweep of the top three places by U.S. women at week 8 of the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF), which continues through Sunday, March 3. AGDF runs until March 31 with top international and national dressage competition.

Friday night also showcased the final round of the Palm Beach Derby presented by Havensafe Farm, and a nations parade for the riders in the Florida International Youth Dressage Championships.

Laura Graves (USA) and Verdades rode to a score of 84.535% to secure their third qualifying score for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final and to win the freestyle. “I don’t count anything until it’s for certain.” said Graves. “Once I went down centerline, I thought, ‘Ok, hopefully this is my ticket to Sweden.’

Click here to watch the winning test for Laura Graves and Verdades!

“Honestly I started thinking about this venue and the sponsors that mean so much to me,” commented Graves on how she felt during her ride tonight. “This is my last freestyle here this year. That was what went through my mind, not anything through the test. I wasn’t hardly thinking about that, I was thinking more about all of what has happened in six years here for me. It was different perspective for me.”

Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Goerklintgaards Dublet took second place in the freestyle with a score of 83.875%, their second highest score ever. “He had a lot of energy. I wasn’t expecting that,” commented Perry-Glass on the 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit owned by Diane Perry. “Coming off of a show last week I thought he was going to be a little more tired, but he was actually more lit than I’ve felt him in a while. We had little bucks and switches. It’s a good thing for him.

“[Our trainer] Debbie [McDonald] the whole time in my warm-up was just like, ‘Tell him he’s beautiful to calm him down a little bit.’ It was an amazing test,” she expressed. “I came out crying. It was one of those tests that just gave me goosebumps and made me feel lucky to have my horse,” concluded Perry-Glass.

Click here to watch the test for Kasey Perry-Glass!

Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Salvino came in third with a score of 80.160%, also their second-highest score together. “Salvino was also pretty lit today, which caught us both by surprise. I figured it was a hot week and he’d be tired tonight, but he came out on fire,” said Lyle of the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sandro Hit owned by Betsy Juliano LLC. “That was a little different strategy for me to deal with in the warm-up.

“What I was happy with is that he really just pulled it all together when we went down centerline. He really let me keep my leg on and push him into the bridle better and get a little bit more consistent power throughout the test,” continued Lyle, who is extremely close with Perry-Glass and Graves, her fellow FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 teammates. “Breaking into the 80s again is huge for us. I’m really excited. He just wants to try and keep up with his older brothers [Verdades and Goerklintgaards Dublet].”

Judge at C, Irina Maknami commented, “For me, it was really a pleasure to judge these fantastically talented ladies with their amazing horses. It’s really a special feeling when you see them and think, ‘I’m so lucky to be a judge,’ to be able to enjoy this. I think they’re just great. There was so much progress, and I wish them the best of luck at the World Cup Finals.”

Betsy Juliano of Havensafe Farm said, “It was breathtaking for me. The point of being here year after year and why we value being here at this wonderful facility is to watch and promote the horse’s training. One of the great joys, in addition to knowing these three women – who are all very dear to me – is watching their horses improve year after year. I was so thrilled to stand there with these three who I love so much and to see them do so well. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Christoph Koschel (GER) defended his title and for the third time won the Palm Beach Derby presented by Havensafe Farm, picking up an $3,000 check as his portion of the $8,000 prize money on offer. Koschel rode Action Ace, a 14-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Ijsselmeer owned by Janice Murdoch, and the new pair earned a score of 72.316% in the final round of the Derby.

“It’s great to win the third time in a row,” said Koschel of his success. “It’s really challenging. I think that is what we all enjoy as professional riders, to get a horse that we don’t know and find in four to five minutes the right buttons. To get to know the horse a little bit and then try to ride a test.”

Karen Lipp (USA) also rode Action Ace in the final round and took second place with a score of 68.713%. Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Karen Pavicic (CRO) tied for third place after being “knocked out” by Koschel and Lipp in the initial round of competition. Lyle and Flash Dancer IM 1175, a 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Londonderry owned by Patricia Koschel, earned a score of 67.999%. Pavicic and Leuchtfeuer DE, a 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion by Dion Romantica owned by Dressage Grand Ducal, earned a score of 67.705%.

Juliano shared, “This class has been a historical aspect of the [Palm Beach Dressage Derby] for many years, and it is fantastic that we keep it going. I was really thrilled to be a part of it. You [the riders] put yourself out there to learn how to ride these different horses in a very fast period of time, and you all did a really fantastic job. It’s really a credit to you as professionals. It was wonderful.”

Director of Dressage at AGDF, Thomas Baur said, “It’s the Palm Beach Derby Week, and when I came here first there was no derby in the derby, and I said, ‘We need to change that.’ Then I remembered about the Munich Derby and how they did it there, and so I copied the format to bring it here.”

Earlier in the day Endel Ots (USA) and Lucky Strike, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Lord Laurie, rode to a score of 72.598% to win the FEI Prix St. Georges CDI1* presented by Nutrena®.

In the FEI Intermediate I CDI3* presented by ProElite®, Ashley Holzer (USA) rode Valentine, her nine-year-old Oldenburg mare by Sir Donnerhall, to a win with a score of 74.902%.

Competition at AGDF continues on Saturday, March 2, and features the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* presented by Peacock Ridge. Week 8 of the AGDF runs through Sunday, March 3. For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W Presented by Havensafe Farm
Place, Rider, Nationality, Horse, Horse Information: Judge E% – Henning Lehrmann, Judge H% – Evi Eisenhardt, Judge C% – Irina Maknami, Judge M% – Christof Umbach, Judge B% – Susan Hoevenaars, Total %

1.Laura Graves (USA), Verdades, 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Florett AS x Liwilarda owned by Laura Graves: 84.350%, 82.825%, 85.775%, 85.825%, 83.900%, 84.535%

2.Kasey Perry-Glass (USA), Goerklintgaards Dublet, 16-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding by Diamond Hit x La Costa and owned by Diane Perry: 84.500%, 83.250%, 85.500%, 83.750%, 82.375%, 83.875%

3.Adrienne Lyle (USA), Salvino, 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Sandro Hit x Dynastie and owned by Betsy Juliano LLC: 80.675%, 78.975%, 79.600%, 80.425%, 81.125%, 80.160%

4.Shelly Francis (USA), Danilo, 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by DeNiro x Annabella owned by Patricia Stempel: 81.000%, 77.550%, 79.050%, 79.075%, 78.150%, 78.965%

5.Yvonne Losos De Muniz (DOM), Aquamarijn, 14-year-old KWPN mare by United x Toermalijn owned by Yvonne Losos De Muniz: 75.875%, 77.150%, 77.275%, 77.900%, 76.650%, 76.970%

6.P.J. Rizvi (USA), Breaking Dawn, 18-year-old KWPN gelding by Akribori x Eveline owned by P.J. Rizvi: 73.975%, 76.800%, 75.650%, 73.900%, 72.950%, 74.655%

7.Lindsay Kellock (CAN), Sebastien, 13-year-old Rheinlander gelding by Sandro Hit x Feirie Dame owned by Enterprise Farms LLC: 72.350%, 71.625%, 70.950%, 73.600%, 74.775%, 72.660%

8.Jessica Jo Tate (USA), Faberge, 16-year-old Westphalian gelding by Floristan I x Baroness owned by Elizabeth Guarisco: 68.225%, 69.275%, 69.000%, 69.625%, 69.000%, 69.025%