Welcome 3 Results: Tryon Welcome Series presented by Rug & Home
Fernando Cardenas Dashes to $20,000 Tryon International Grand Prix Victory Aboard Copine Van De Langvelden Z
Gisele Beardsley O’Grady Cashes In Open Hunter Derby Win with Goldman Sox
John Angus Scores $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake Win
For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC – April 6, 2025 – Fernando Cardenas (New Hill, NC) claimed his first victory of the Tryon Welcome Series presented by Rug & Home in the $20,000 Tryon International Grand Prix, fending off eight horse-and-rider teams to make the jump off. Cardenas blazed through the short track aboard Copine Van De Langvelden Z (Cicero Z x Coranda Van Herkenrode Z), recording a time of 39.30 seconds to take top honors. Andrew Ross (Reinholds, PA) rode his own Cornet’s Cobalt (Cornet’s Prinz x India D), the 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, to a jump off time of 39.33 seconds for reserve. Riding for Stephanie Angus, John Angus (Mooresboro, NC) finished out the top three with W. Tonix Hero (Ogano Sitte x Taquine De Roll), the 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding, completing the jump off with 40.41 seconds on the clock.
Fernando Cardenas and Copine Van De Langvelden Z
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
With her young career off to a strong start, Grand Prix winner Copine Van De Langvelden Z, the 2018 Zangersheide mare, had been competing in the seven-year-old jumpers prior to her Welcome 3 victory. “We decided after Florida that she was ready to step up,” owner and rider Fernando Cardenas elaborated. “My plan was to jump her in the amateurs, but she jumped really well and I said, ‘let’s give it a try!’”
Andrews Ross and Cornet’s Cobalt
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
Cardenas also piloted his more experienced mount, Balou’s Honora Car, to a seventh place Grand Prix finish, and was impressed with how similar Copine Van De Langvelden Z’s winning jump off time was. “I have never practiced any jump offs with her, as a seven-year-old,” Cardenas explained. “When she shows, it's always been nice and easy. [Today,] she was looking for the next jump, and moving up to it.”
John Angus and W. Tonix Hero
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
“We’re very grateful for the course designer. It was a very well built course, and it’s always nice to jump with good course designers,” Cardenas added, praising the talents of Archer “Skip” Bailey (West Palm Beach, FL).
Fernando Cardenas and Copine Van De Langvelden Z take their post-win victory lap.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography
A familiar face at Tryon International, Cardenas and the 3H Sport Horses LLC team have enjoyed numerous wins during Tryon Welcome Series presented by Rug & Home. “We love coming here!” Cardenas shared. “The weather is fantastic. This and Florida are the only places we go to.”
For full results from the $20,000 Tryon International Grand Prix, click here.
Gisele Beardsley O’Grady Cashes In Open Hunter Derby Win with Goldman Sox
April 5, 2025 – Touring the Seth Clayton (Lakeville, MN)-designed course, Gisele Beardsley O’Grady (Tryon, NC) captured first place in Saturday’s 2’6 Open Hunter Derby, paired with longtime partner Goldman Sox (Everest x White Gold). Scoring a 166 point total, including the handy portion high score of 85, Beardsley O’Grady and Goldman Sox bested a field of 17 competitors. Lauren Dow (Waxhaw, NC) piloted Tyrian (Unknown x Unknown), her own 2013 Trakehner gelding, to a second place score of 165 points. Bridgit Douglas (West Bridgewater, MA) and her own MTM Delight (Comme Le Père x Signature), the 2019 Westphalian gelding, took third place with 157 points.
Gisele Beardsley O’Grady and Goldman Sox
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Securing the derby win by one point, Gisele Beardsley O’Grady shared that what sets Goldman Sox, the 2006 warmblood gelding, apart is “his experience. He’s wonderful, confident, and good at his job.”
Lauren Dow and Tyrian
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
The Tryon, NC trainer noted that her first jump in the handy was the strongest portion of the team’s second round, with the momentum towards a score of 85 building from there. “He sights in on all the jumps, and turns really easily,” Beardsley O’Grady explained.
Bridget Douglas and MTM Delight
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
A steady presence in Beardsley O’Grady’s show string, Goldman Sox is a time-tested equine athlete. “I’ve ridden him for years, and he’s had two different owners [with me],” she said of the gelding, now owned by Patricia Axtell. “He is easily one of my all time favorites.”
For full results from the 2’6 Open Hunter Derby, click here.
John Angus Scores $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake Win
April 4, 2025 – Clocking one of two double clear efforts in the $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake, John Angus (Mooresboro, NC) teamed up with W. Tonix Hero (Ogano Sitte x Taquine De Roll) to ultimately claim the victory. Angus and the 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Stephanie Angus, turned in a jump off time of 37.37 seconds. Close behind the winning team, Fernando Cardenas (New Hill, NC) and his own Balou’s Honora Car (Balou Du Rouet x Ursula Car), the 2017 Hanoverian mare, marked 38.03 seconds in the jump off to take reserve honors. The $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake saw John Brown and Ponce Tidwell Jr.’s 2013 Belgian Warmblood, Ballon Bleu (Amaretto D Arco x Papilon), in third, with four faults and 38.64 seconds on the clock.
John Angus and W. Tonix Hero
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake, click here.
Tryon Welcome 2 Division Highlights:
The Children’s Hunter 3’ 15&U Division saw Zoey Riechman (Charlotte, NC), owner and rider of Euphoria, take division champion. Jessica Stamatakis (Rougemont, NC), and her own Fernhill Divergent earned reserve honors.
Quinn Larimer (Mableton, GA), riding Nairobi for Fairy Tale Farms, took home the 1.20m Open Jumper Division champion and claimed the $2,000 1.20m GSS Marketing Open Jumper Stake win. Linen Owens’ Libelle Van De Moerhoeve, ridden by Ricardo Villa (Campobello, SC), claimed reserve.
Aboard her own Somermist Sunday Shoes, Emerson Euler (Waxhaw, NC) rode to the Medium Pony Hunter Division championship. Reserve honors went to Scooby-Doo, piloted by owner and rider Sadie Lentz (Durham, NC).
Cartersville, GA’s Lila Isaac rode Copy Cat for Anna Scott Ault to secure the 1.10m Junior/Amateur Jumper Division championship. Jordyn Zoul (Saint Simons Island, GA) and her own Reticella BG were named reserve champions.
For full division results from Tryon Welcome 3, click here.
For results by day from Tryon Welcome 3, click here.
The Tryon Welcome Series presented by Rug & Home concludes with Tryon Welcome 4, hosted April 9-13, with competition free and open to the public. View restaurant and shopping information, entertainment and the events calendar at www.Tryon.com.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Sarah Sturgis and Bailey Beck as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.shootproof.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.