Lexington, KY – July 26, 2014 – Going three-for-three, Pablo Barrios has won all of the $25,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic events to date, giving him a very solid lead in the standings for the 2014 Hagyard Challenge Series. Barrios and his veteran partner Zara Leandra bested an eight-horse jump-off to earn their third victory during the Kentucky Summer Horse Show on Thursday night, putting him well ahead of the other riders vying for the $50,000 Leading Rider Bonus.

Although he did not place on Thursday night, top placings in the previous two events have helped Emanuel Andrade maintain his second place position. Shane Sweetnam earned the third and eighth place honors on Thursday, vaulting him into the third place spot.

The Hagyard Challenge Series is a summer-long series of seven show jumping events at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The rider who accumulates the most points in the series will receive a $50,000 Leading Rider Award, presented during the Kentucky National Horse Show in September. The fourth event in the series will be next Thursday during the Kentucky Summer Classic at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“I did this class with Zara Leandra because I really want to win the bonus,” said Barrios after his win this week. “It’s a little more pressure in this class with Zara Leandra because I feel like she should automatically go clear. The Hagyard series puts a little more pressure on, but I think I’m better under pressure.” 

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is one of the oldest and largest equine veterinary practices in the world. Founded in 1876, the institute offers a staff with qualifications unparalleled by any single non-university veterinary group in the equine industry, and Hagyard veterinarians have dedicated themselves to the health and wellbeing of the horse for more than 130 years.

The facility at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers 13 Digital Radiology systems, 1.5 Tesla Siemens MRI, Nuclear Scintigraphy, a high speed treadmill, an on-site laboratory, an on-site pharmacy, full surgical services, 24-hour emergency services and Hyperbaric Medicine. The institute has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 133 years and is currently composed of over 60 experienced veterinarians, with 12 board certifications in specialty areas of Medicine, Surgery, Critical Care, and Theriogenology.

Several generous sponsors have helped make this exciting series event happen. These gracious supporters include: title sponsor MWI Veterinary Supply, and presenting sponsor Zoetis, as well as Audi of Lexington, Dean Dorton Allen Ford, Hagyard Flex-tra HA, Johnson Horse Transport, Hallway Feeds, Kirk Horse Insurance LLC, Pike and Preston, and Stoll Keenon Ogden.