By JENNIFER WARD
WELLINGTON, Fla., April 3 - Although Kent Farrington of Wellington, Fla., won the $10,000 Wellington Golf Cars Welcome Stake on Thursday, it was more of a send-off as the 12-week CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising, comes to a close on Sunday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Of the 24 entries to tackle the track set by FEI 'O' course designer David Ballard of Canada, 10 posted clear rounds. Riders then had the option to jump-off immediately or wait until the end of the first round and return to jump-off.
Farrington was one of six who opted for the immediate jump-off, explaining, "It was really hot, I figured the horse does not need to jump around, stand around in the sun, then warm-up and jump again. I just let her walk around and waited for as long as I could after the buzzer to start."
Once on course for the jump-off, Farrington kicked it into overdrive with What Ever, galloping through the start timers and not letting up until the clock flashed a new leading time of 30.55 seconds, edging ahead of Francie Steinwedell-Carvin who had stopped the clock in 30.91 seconds riding Twistar.
None who followed, including the four who returned at the end of the class for a traditional jump-off, were able to catch Farrington's time. The 27-year-old has only been riding What Ever for owners Ossian Ventures LLC for a few weeks, having taken over the reins mid-way through the CN Winter Equestrian Festival circuit.
"She is really sweet," said Farrington of the nine-year-old bay mare sired by Darco. "I started riding her half-way into the circuit. I started her in the 1.35m division, moved her up to the 1.40m, and then used her international week which was a big step up for her but she was great, having one down in each class. Then I gave her a little break and pulled her out for this class today. It was a great way to wrap-up the circuit."
 While Steinwedell-Carvin finished up in second place, Pablo Barrios of Venezuela took third place riding his own Lagran. Marie Hecart of France took fourth with the athletic chestnut gelding, Lindberg des Hayettes, while Jonathan McCrea rounded out the top five riding Baloubet Junior Z for owner Candy Tribble and Windsor Show Stables.
Week 12 of the 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising, continues through Sunday, April 6, and features the Young Horse Finals as well as several Invitational Classics.
The 2008 CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising, attracts the best horses and riders from around the world to Wellington, Fla., and offers more than $5 million in prize money. For more information, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
e Name NAT R1 Faults R1 Time J/O Faults J/O Time
Results of Class 807 - $10,000 Wellington Golf Cars Welcome Stake
1 6345 WHAT EVER KENT FARRINGTON 0.00 81.645 0.00 30.553
OSSIAN VENTURES LLC
2 6210 TWISTAR FRANCIE STEINWEDELL 0.00 80.588 0.00 30.914
PRENTISS PARTNERS
3 4410 LAGRAN PABLO BARRIOS 0.00 77.601 0.00 31.312
PABLO BARRIOS
4 7937 LINDBERG DES HAYETTES MARIE HECART 0.00 83.620 0.00 33.113
STEVEN COHEN
5 1986 BALOUBET JUNIOR Z JONATHAN MCCREA 0.00 80.101 0.00 34.135
CANDY TRIBBLE & WINDSOR SHOW STABLES
6 7606 PALJAS RAGAN ROBERTS 0.00 82.390 0.00 34.514
COMPIONE INC
7 3108 VICTOR III SHANE SWEETNAM 0.00 79.542 4.00 31.812
SPY COAST FARM LLC
8 7661 NAOMI 152 KATIE PRUDENT 0.00 82.563 4.00 32.270
QUAIL RUN PARTNERSHIPS
9 9059 CURIOSO Z PABLO BARRIOS 0.00 79.361 8.00 30.740
SPLIT CREEK FARMS
10 5776 SADIN ERIC LAMAZE 0.00 79.741 17.00 61.465
ASHLAND STABLES
PHOTO: "Kent Farrington and What Ever won the $10,000 Wellington Golf Cars Welcome Stake on Thursday at the CN Winter Equestrian Festival, presented by Zimmerman Advertising."
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