December 2, 2006

Charlie Jacobs and Aimee Aron Triumph in Amateur-Owner and Junior Jumper Speed Stakes

NHS Amateur-Owner and Junior Jumper Speed Stakes

Riding out of the 16th spot in the order, Charlie Jacobs and Pia captured the win in the NHS Amateur-Owner Jumper Speed Stake. They kept winning in the family, as Charlie’s brother Louis won yesterday’s class and was third today. Jacobs and Pia were chasing Blythe Masters and Camaro 48, who had a time of 60.227 seconds. They had no trouble on the course and came home in a time of 58.817 seconds.

Jacobs and the nine year old Dutch Warmblood mare have been together for almost two years. Jacobs purchased Pia from John and Beezie Madden and found that they clicked right away. “She’s been wonderful,” he said. “I showed her last year down here, and she won a good fair share of classes. She had a very good summer, and I laid her up for about three months before coming down here so she was fresh and ready to go.”

Jacobs, like most amateur riders, has a full-time job and has to find time to practice. He works for his family’s company, Delaware North, in Boston, MA, and makes time on the weekends to work with Pia at Deeridge Farm.

Their weekends together paid off today, and Jacobs was happy to get out on the grass field of the Internationale Arena again. “She’s been out there before because I had an opportunity to show her last year here. Every time they come into a field like that, they’re always a little bit spooky. In some cases, I trust her spook enough that she’ll be careful but not silly,” he noted. “It takes awhile to get to know her and trust her, but I do.”

Today’s win gave the Jacobs family another blue ribbon, and Charlie did not mind competing against or beating his older brother. “I’ve been doing it my whole life, and it’s a blast. Louis won yesterday, and I got a piece today. Tomorrow is up for grabs. We’ll see!” he said with a smile. “We have a big time sibling rivalry, but of course we very much root for each other. I was very happy to see him win yesterday. I’m sure he was happy to see me win today. As long as Deeridge is at the top of the standings, it’s great.”

Aimee Aron saved the best for last when she and Heaudine tracked down the leading time set by Hardin Towell and Mayfair for the win in the NHS Junior Jumper Speed Stake.

Aron was the last of 16 trips and turned up the pace with Heaudine. They finished clean in a time of 56.230, more than two seconds faster than the leading time.

“This is my second year with her,” Aron conveyed. “We went to Europe this summer where I got a lot of mileage.” Aron’s experience in Europe has helped her riding. She pointed out, “I think in Europe, there’s such a wide spectrum of riders, and you get to watch so many people. I really learned a lot. I don’t know if it was so much her, as she’s always been a great horse, but it was more my riding, learning, and getting more confident on her.”

Aron and the 12 year old Selle Francais mare were quick around the course. “It’s a fabulous horse and really fun to go fast on. Classes like this- speed classes out on the field- are really great for her, and I can let her go.” Aron was also pleased to be in the final spot in the order and know what she was chasing. “In the class yesterday, I went last and in the class today, I went last. I’m nervous that I’m going to go first in the Classic! It would just be my luck! It’s definitely an advantage when you go in last.”

Her reasoning today on why she won was simple. “My trainer, Laura Kraut, just said to concentrate, be neat, ride nice, be smooth. I’ve really learned that in speed classes, sometimes you feel faster than you’re going because it’s messy. I find that the key, especially with a horse like her that’s smaller, is that I can gallop down the lines and stay as smooth as possible. Pick up the gallop and keep your pace,” she concluded.

Results of Class 1101 - NHS AO Jumper Speed Stake - National Horse Show - December 2, 2006

• 1 130 Pia Charlie Jacobs 0.00 56.817 Deeridge Farm
• 2 72 Camaro 48 Blythe Masters 0.00 60.227 Blythe Masters
• 3 124 Kachina Louis Jacobs 0.00 61.674 Deeridge Farm
• 4 580 Idole Du Chateau Laura Steffee 0.00 62.682 Sierra Del Sol Inv
• 5 419 Titus Jessica Speiser 0.00 63.957 Jessica Speiser
• 6 572 Victoria De Zellik Randall Johnson 0.00 65.540 Greener Pastures
• 7 463 Blue Okkels Rebecca Hofmann 0.00 67.560 Blue Hill Farm LLC
• 8 320 Urbanus Charlie Jayne 0.00 68.961 Alex R Jayne
• 9 327 Unique Megan Johnstone 0.00 69.081 Stoney Hill
• 10 126 Soleil Louis Jacobs 0.00 72.553 Deeridge Farm
• 11 125 Caucalis Louis Jacobs 1.00 76.123 Deeridge Farm
• 12 186 Jackson Ashley Baker 4.00 60.397

Results of Class 1201 NHS Junior Jumper Speed Stake

• 1 96 HEAUDINE AIMEE ARON 0.00 56.230 KINLOCH ENT.
• 2 625 MAYFAIR JACK HARDIN TOWELL J 0.00 58.511 CASEY BRANSCOMB
• 3 296 Residenz Ali Wolff 0.00 61.059 Black Lick BlendFarm
• 4 525 COBRETTI HEATHER DOBBS 0.00 65.071 HEATHER DOBBS
• 5 416 SAN REMO JULIE WELLES 0.00 65.934 MISSY CLARK
• 6 415 FELIX DES NOUES JULIE WELLES 4.00 56.035 MISSY CLARK
• 7 496 CHER 14 CATIE BOONE 4.00 60.877 CATIE BOONE
• 8 407 RIVER CORTRIGHT WETHERILL 4.00 66.351 CORTRIGHT WETHERILL
• 9 330 AZUCAR VIRGINIA MCNEIL 8.00 60.370 VIRGINIA MCNEIL
• 10 227 IVRESSE JULIANNA FISCHER 8.00 61.751 JULIANNA FISCHER
• 11 523 CORLETT HEATHER DOBBS 8.00 62.279 HEATHER DOBBS
• 12 179 Kadorijke Alex Parrish 8.00 65.405 Alexander Farm