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Nicolette and Thomas Cerra Take Open Jumper Blue at Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II

June 18, 2008

Wayne, IL --- The Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II continued in its second day of competition under sunny skies and perfect weather. The horse show runs through Sunday, June 22, at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. The highlight event of the week is the $50,000 Wachovia Securities Grand Prix on Saturday, June 21, at 3:30 p.m. The Open Jumper division started out the schedule today in the grand prix ring, and it was local professional Thomas Cerra of Wayne, IL, who sped to the win on Nicolette in the $1,500 1.30m Open Jumper class.

Today's course was designed by Hector Loyola, and the format was Time First Jump-off. There were 22 in today's class, and 14 of those advanced to the jump-off. There were five double clear rounds.

The first to score a double clear was Jill Knowles on Stuart, who finished the jump-off in 40.258 seconds.

Four trips later, it was Cerra and Nicolette, a 10-year-old Holsteiner mare owned by Roxanne Theidel, who would race around the shortened course. Cerra made neat turns and turned up the pace where needed to finish in 36.476 seconds.

Cerra could not be beat through the rest of the class, although Wilhelm Genn and Lacantus came close in 38.545 seconds.

This week's show was a very solid competition for Cerra and Nicolette. After a very successful season last year competing with Theidel (they won the Taylor Harris Insurance Services Leading Junior/Amateur Rider Series award), Nicolette was sick and out of competition.

This was only her second show back, and Cerra mentioned, "It's been a long time, and these are the first days that we've really pushed her. She responded well, so I'm super excited. It's been a long road back. Roxanne has this week off, doing something for school. We're still trying to get the horse back into jumping shape. I rode her yesterday and today. She couldn't have been any better, so she's done for the week. It's a pleasure to have her back. She's a once in a lifetime horse to have for us, so we're all excited and hope it'll be another big year for Roxanne."

Nicolette has been at Cerra's Blue Mountain Farm for three years, and he remarked, "She's been about the easiest horse I've ever had to bring along. We took our time with her and started in low classes. I've probably only shown her in 20 classes and let Roxanne do everything else. She's careful, she's brave, and she's honest. That's an incredibly hard thing to find in a horse, all wrapped up into one."

He added, "I don't really show her very much because I try to let Roxanne show her as much as she can. We normally only do two classes a show with her. So, the times I get to show her are few and far between; it was fun. I had a good time today!"

The winner of the $1,500 1.40m Open Jumper class was New York City's Addison Phillips on Regina V, who was fastest in the jump-off over Patricia Griffith with Ulrika and Wilhelm Genn on Laredo.

The Wachovia Showplace Spring Spectacular II Horse Show continues tomorrow with jumper action in the grand prix, including the $1,000 Young Jumper Championships and the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake, sponsored by Canterbury Farm.

WACHOVIA SECURITIES:

Wachovia Securities is the nation's third largest brokerage group and is based in Richmond, VA. It is a non-bank affiliate of Wachovia Corporation and provides financial advisory, brokerage, asset management and other financial services, helping clients make the most of their existing and potential assets through sound investment advice and the highest level of service. For more information about Wachovia Securities, LLC, please visit www.wachoviasec.com.

For more information on the horse show and full results, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.

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