Marylisa Leffler and ZaZa Z zoom to the Win in the $25,000 George Ohrstrom Jr. Grand Prix
ZaZa Z zoom! After a weeklong hiatus from the Grand Prix winner’s circle, Rolling Acres’ ZaZa Z, piloted by Marylisa Leffler of Brookville, Maryland, won the $25,000 George Ohrstrom Jr. Grand Prix at the Lexington Spring Encore.
The course was designed by Ken Krome of Maryland with a first-round time allowed set at 86 seconds, and seven horse and rider teams advanced to the jump off.
First to go in the order was Andrew Ross of Reinholds, Pennsylvania, aboard his own Cornet’s Cobalt. While their time of 47.333 seconds beat the 54 seconds time allowed, a heartbreak rail earned them four faults and a sixth placing.
Grace Long of Middleburg, Virginia and G & T Equestrian’s Happiness VD Hazel Hof followed in the order and with a clear round in a time of 40.562 seconds, took the lead.
Cullen Drescher Speckhart in the irons of Speckhart Sporthorses, LLC’s Gerry Butler, was up next and turned in a fault free jump off round in 48.058 seconds.
Addison Reed and Sanmar Farm’s Keina, winners of the Lexington Spring Premiere $25,000 Rockbridge Grand Prix, followed Speckhart and turned in a fault free round in 41.738 seconds.
The horse race heated up when Leffler and ZaZa Z entered the Dee Dee Arena. The pair flew around the course, posting a clear round in a time of 39.920 seconds, taking the lead.
Leffler commented, “I watched Grace [Long] a little bit, but I just knew that last week I lost it on the long gallop. So, I just had to make up as much time as I could, but then had to get her back again, and she did come right back.”
The jump off round had a lot of turns and roll backs. Leffler commented, “The turns are always my best, but they have a bigger stride, so I just had to go,” she said. “ZaZa’s adrenaline was cooking tonight.”
“I’ve had a great week and winning the JODS Style of Riding Award was very nice,” she added.
Reed and Goliath, owned by Reed Training & Sales, followed Leffler and despite a time of 39.679 seconds, eight jump faults would see them finish in seventh overall.
Reed sat in the enviable last to go position with Reed Training & Sales Doc Di Villigana. Despite turning in a clear round, their time of 44.467 seconds would earn them a fourth place, and secure the win for Leffler and ZaZa Z.
Read more:
In the News! – Virginia Horse Center Foundation (vahorsecenter.org)
