RESULTS

February 26, 2009

Todd Minikus Wins Again, with Presidente in
WEF Challenge Cup VIII in Wellington

By ROXANE THEIDEL

WELLINGTON, Fla., Feb. 26--Wellington's own Todd Minikus aboard Presidente captured another Grand Prix win Thursday in Round VIII of the $30,000 Braman Motorcars WEF Challenge Cup Series at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Minikus and Presidente, owned by the Sleepy P Ranch LLC, was the fastest in a 19-horse jump off in the series that is part of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

Forty-eight starters challenged the course designed by Frank Rothenberger of Germany.

Kate Levy of North Salem, N.Y. aboard her own Vent du Nord was the first to go in the jump off, posting a clean time of 37.35 secs. that held up to the second last ride, that of Minikus and Presidente in the incredibly fast 36.15 secs.

"I watched Kate and assumed it would be a fast, fast, faster situation," Minikus said of the jump off. "But the oxer on the end and the vertical across the center played a big part--they were hard jumps to jump. Kate set a hot enough pace and everyone had to push.

"Kate did eight strides from one to two, I did seven. I was pretty fast down to the oxer, but got a little chicken at the vertical across the middle. So from one to two was where I really made it up."

Although she was the runnerup, Levy said she was pleased with her ride saying, "My horse was amazing. It was weird to go first with so many behind me, and with those riders behind you, you have to go fast."

Although Minikus has had several strings of wins throughout his career, winning today has little impact on his being a member of Team USA in the Nations Cup Friday night.

"You take wins when you can get them," he said. "It's a different format and different horses."

The Nations Cup brings different stresses.

"When you have your teammates, Mr. (George) Morris, and you are wearing your country's flag there's added pressure," he said.

The top 10 results:

Photo: Todd Minkus and Presidente winning the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival WEF Challenge Cup Round VIII at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Thursday. Photo: © 2009 Ken Braddick