Beezie Madden Two for Two on Friday
Beezie Madden led the victory gallop in both competitions in the International Ring today. In the $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m, she and Amadora found the path to win. The $35,000 ATCO Energy Solutions Cup 1.45m had a field of 62 competitors, and it was Madden and Wrigley who were fastest in the jump-off. Fifteen-year-old Lucas Porter rode Phineas to victory in the $10,000 Mercer Junior/Amateur 1.40m.
The $35,000 RBC Capital Markets Cup 1.50m was the feature event and was held in the winning round format. The top 25 placed horses from the Enbridge Cup on Wednesday qualified for today's competition. From the top 25, the top eight returned to compete over a shortened course to determine the winner.
For sure to the last fence I got a little Edward Scissorhands-ish there!” Madden laughed. “I thought I was going pretty good until after the double combination. I could have been a little faster to the coin (jump) and for sure a lot faster to the last.”
Second place went to Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) on Quilebo D Tillard, who were also clear in 43.79 seconds. Meagan Nusz (USA) and Dynamo, owned by Amalaya Investments, were third in a time of 49.47 seconds.
Madden is second in the All-Time Money Won List at Spruce Meadows, and her two wins today have helped inch her toward first place, currently held by Canadian Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze. Madden won this class last year with another mount, Mademoiselle.
Amadora has been in the Maddens' barn since she was five years old, and it has taken time to get the “sensitive” mare on a consistently winning track. “We knew she always had a lot of quality. She's been a little bit of a project,” Madden described. “Although she's very nice to ride, she actually has a lot of blood and a bit of a fight in her. When that fight went in the right direction, we knew we'd have a good horse. It's been an up and down road, but she's starting to get more consistent now. We can count on her.”
Madden and Amadora, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare by Chin Chin x Indoctro owned by Abigail Wexner, were clear in the jump-off and able to set the winning time at 42.18 seconds, despite adding a stride to the last jump.
Final Results: $35,000 ATCO Energy Solutions Cup 1.45m
1. WRIGLEY: 2003 KWPN mare by Padinus x Burggraaf
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), John Madden Sales, Inc.: 0/0/38.72
2. TWISTHER: 2000 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Farmer
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/0/39.27
3. GLORY DAYS: 2001 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Cardento 933 x Diamond Serpent
KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners, LLC: 0/0/39.61
4. NEWTON DU HAUT BOIS: 2001 French Trotter gelding by Cumano x Quat Sous
CAMERON HANLEY (IRL), Eleonore Paschoude & Yves Bouvier: 0/0/40.49
5. CARRABIS Z: 2003 Zangersheide stallion by Canabis Z x Grannusso
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 0/0/49.64
6. MARTHA LOUISE: 2004 Swedish Warmblood mare by Maloubet de Pleville 1039 x Wolfgang
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Susan and Ariel Grange: 0/4/37.10
7. PALOUBET: 2001 Selle Francais gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Voltaire
WILTON PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/4/37.84
8. POWER PLAY: 2004 Holsteiner gelding by Casall x Limbus
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/4/43.64
9. APARDI: 2005 Dutch Warmblood stallion by Corland x Kannan
DANIEL BLUMAN (COL), Ricardo & Alberto Simhon: 0/4/46.34
10. BARANUS: 2003 Oldenburg gelding by Balou de Rouet x Centauer Z
IAN MILLAR (CAN), The Baranus Group: 0/8/41.53