Kocher remains on top

EAST DORSET- Jennifer Kocher, of Chester, NY, stormed to a victory in the $30,000 Battenkill Grand Prix, presented by The Equinox Resort, riding Carlos, on Saturday, during the 25th annual Vermont Summer Festival, which runs through August 12 at Harold Beebe Farm.
Alan Wade, of Tipperary, Ireland, set the courses for a field of 19 with only two horses advancing to the tie-breaking jump-off. Irish rider Kevin Mealiff returned first aboard Goldbreaker, owned by Maarten Huygens, and pulled one rail in 42.36 seconds leaving the door open for Kocher. She and Carlos, owned by her husband Andrew Kocher, also knocked one rail for four faults but had the foot speed to stop the clock at 42.21 seconds for the win.
Mealiff also picked up third riding Itile Horta, owned by Huygens, with just three time faults keeping them from the jump-off.
After a banner two weeks at the festival, Matthew Metell, of Wellington, FL, produced the fastest four-fault trip in the first round to finish fourth riding Donchalant for owner Wolver Hollow.
David Jennings, of Franklin, TN, rounded out the top five riding Gracieux van Seven Oaks, owned by Mary Katherine Hargreaves, with four faults in the opening round.
In recognition of her victory, Kocher was awarded a scrim by Mona’s Monograms as well as a crystal trophy. In addition, the Vermont Summer Festival also recognized her groom, Sara Zeerip, with the weekly Grand Prix Groom Award in honor of her hard work preparing Carlos for grand prix competition. She was presented with a monogrammed jacket and coolerette from sponsor Glenn Geary, of Horsewatch.
Kocher will give her horses a week of rest before moving on to compete in Canada.