McLain Ward & First Lady Ride for the Win in $30,000 CP National Grand Prix at Wellington

By Jumper News USA on January 17, 2022

Wellington, Florida – January 15, 2022 – Day-time competition in the International Arena was highlighted by the $30,000 CP National Grand Prix. McLain Ward (USA) and Robin Parsky’s First Lady outran the rest of the field to emerge victorious.

Thirty-eight entries attempted the course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA) and Andy Christiansen Jr. (ECU) with 10 horses jumping clear to advance to the jump-off.

First to jump off was Jennifer Waxman (USA), who set the time to beat at 43.786 seconds aboard The Scato Group LLC’s Scato van de Molenbrug Z.

First Lady is a star in the making that has been with Ward for two years.

Ward explained, “Robin Parsky bought [First Lady] for me to bring along in the sport from René Tebbel. His daughter, Justine, had been bringing her along from the beginning. The Tebbels did a beautiful job of producing her, and we’ve just tried to continue that on.”

With each round, the jump-off got faster and faster until McLain Ward (USA) and First Lady could not be caught, crossing the timers in 39.125 seconds.

Ward and his team have developed First Lady slowly through her seven- and eight-year-old years. Last year as an eight-year-old culminated in two-star grand prix classes at the end of the summer. Now the bay Oldenburg mare (Don Diarado x Lordanos) is coming into her own with a ninth-place finish in last week’s $25,000 CaptiveOne Advisors Classic and a win today.

“She started off this year as a nine-year-old just spectacular, and we’re really excited about her future,” commented Ward. “I had a plan, and she’s answering all the questions so easily. Maybe the plan is growing a little bit.”

Ward is thinking about moving First Lady back up to the FEI divisions this circuit, but he is still measured in his approach.

“We’re going to move up and down, he said. “She’s still young, and she’s super careful. We want to be cautious, but she’s doing it really well.”