Usually the saying goes

third times the charm' but in Wellington Florida, Frankie Chesler-Ortiz decided to put a different spin on the saying by capturing a second place in the $40,000 Zada Enterprises Grand Prix, her third week in a row placing second in a grand prix. Her husband, Mother and Father watched on as she accepted her ribbon and all agreed that they would rather see Frankie consistently in the top three than anywhere else on the board.

Under clear skies and warm breezes thirty-one horse and rider combinations competed for the win.

Canadian course designer Dave Ballard set up a technical but fair class with no triple combination but with a tough double off a short turn from the water jump.

Of the thirty-one competitors, only seven managed to navigate the course clear to advance to the jump off.

Entering the jump off first was Chesler-Ortiz, "going first in a jump off poses the problem of not seeing anyone else run

the course before you," she commented. "You also don't know how fast you need to go to win. I think going last is best because it gives you a posted time to chase, so I entered the ring today first thinking about going clear and posting a fast time."

She managed both tasks very nicely and held on to the top spot until two riders away from the end of the class.

That is when veteran rider Jimmy Torano of Miami, Florida entered the ring aboard Ralvesther, completed the course clear and caught Chesler-Ortiz's time by fractions of a second. "I am happy with the performance of my mare Picolien Zeldenrust as she showed me both her potential and her heart in the ring today", Chesler-Ortiz remarked, "I am looking forward to a great summer season with her." Fellow Canadian rider Elliot Stone aboard Freestyle finished in tenth position.

Frankie and her husband Juan Ortiz will be wrapping up their winter in Florida this week and will be arriving back in Orangeville, Ontario in early May. Once home they will continue to build their business of boarding, selling and training young horses and riders for the show ring.

You can contact them at www.frankiechesler.com or www.juanantonioortiz.com or at www.sher-alfarm.com.

Tennis