Dobbs Leads Team Steele To Syracuse Corporate Challenge Win While Whitaker Steals the CN Gamblers Choice

Syracuse, NY (October 30, 2009) -- Speed was the word tonight during the evening events at the Syracuse Invitational. Trailing Team GreatBrewers.com after the third round Hillary Dobbs released a blistering course time of 52.20 riding Marengo to lead Team Steele to a solid lead they would hold on to, as well as the hefty $35,000 purse. The win for Team Steele was the first for long time sponsors John R. Steele & Associates of Vernon, NY.

Joining Dobbs were Katie Prudent, Erynn Ballard, John Anderson and Ian Millar, combining for a time of 167.62. Todd Minikus led a Team GreatBrewers rally with a fast time of 53.5 but despite the effort came up short with a combined score of 169.92. Joining the Brewers strong showing was Danielle Torano, Shane Sweetnam, Dermott Lennon and McLain Ward. Both teams kept faults to a minimum as the top three scorers of each team cleared the circuit cleanly, but Team Steele’s strategy of  galloping full out to the fences and saving precious seconds with incredibly tight turns preserved the win.

Team Oncenter followed in third place, Team LaBarge, a former two-time winner was fourth, Team CNY Fertility Center finished fifth and Team Swift, last year’s winner, sixth.

Points were awarded to individual riders in the tournament-long quest for the Animal Planet Sporthorse Cup. Hillary Dobbs finished first, earning the Whitney Stone Memorial Challenge Award for “outstanding contribution.” Todd Minikus finished second and Darragh Kenny third.

As every year in the spirit of late October, the  $15,000 CN Gambler’s Choice was contested in costume. Dressed as “Sgt. Pepper,” Great Britain’s Michael Whitaker took the purse with a narrow victory over McLain Ward, “Cruella de Vil”  and Margie Engle, “Wonder Woman,” both of the USA. 

The ever popular CN Gambler’s Choice is a Syracuse fan favorite. But despite the lighthearted appearance, the competition quickly turns fierce as riders must choose their course and strategy to clear jumps given point values based on difficulty. The “gamble” comes into play when riders have the option at the end of their round to clear one more jump worth 200 points, the highest score on the course. But should they fault, 200 points is deducted from their overall score. The gamble can make or break the day.

After 14 riders had cleared the course, Whitaker finished with a commanding pre-gamble score of 1,040. A successful opt for the bonus catapulted him to a commanding 1,240 points, but the event was suddenly far from over as Whitaker withstood assaults by the next three riders, all opting for the bonus jump. Ward finished second with 1,230 and Engle with 1,220 in a close, exciting evening finale.

Tickets are still available for Saturday and Sunday events at the Oncenter box office (315-435-2121) and through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com). The Oncenter will be a popular family scene on Halloween with trick-or-treating and a wide variety of shopping, entertainment and educational opportunities, all free of charge.

Michael Whitaker "as Sgt. Pepper" takes the CN Gambler's Cup

Photo by Reflections Photography, Inc