Dorothy Douglas Scores Second Success in $100,000 UF Health Grand Prix Aboard MTM Pablo
Spectators and exhibitors alike gathered at the WEC Grand Arena at World Equestrian Center – Ocala for the fourth Saturday night event of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series, the $100,000 UF Health Grand Prix. Designed by FEI Level III course designer Ken Krome (USA), the intricate track set the stage for top-notch competitors hailing from nine different nations. Ultimately, it was pathfinders Dorothy Douglas (USA) and Davenport Farms’ MTM Pablo (Perigueux x Celina) who claimed victory, marking their second grand prix win of the circuit.
Ten skilled athletes representing the United States, Ireland, Australia, Portugal, Czech Republic, and New Zealand navigated their way to a clear first round, setting the stage for an intense tiebreaker.
Dorothy Douglas and MTM Pablo were the first to enter the jump-off. Contrary to most competitors, Douglas found the advantage in going first, “I didn’t have to dwell on how many strides did they do here, how quick were they there. Going first, I wanted to be efficient, and I wanted to be clear. I knew ‘Pablo’ felt on his game, so I stuck to my plan and trusted it.”
Executing her plan, Douglas guided the 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding to an unbeatable time of 41.243 seconds to ultimately gallop away with another grand prix title.