Daniel Geitner wrapped up Week II of the Atlanta Summer Classic with a win in the $25,000 Sidelines Grand Prix. In the saddle of the game mare Curly Sue, Geitner topped the field and headed home with the winner’s share of the prize.

“Curly Sue is just fantastic,” said the Aiken, South Carolina rider. “She’s an easy horse; she rides super simply. Actually, she requires very little training on my part. I mostly just sit there and stay out of her way.”

This grand prix victory comes on the heels of Geitner’s win in the $7,500 Welcome Classic earlier in the week. Again, he was in the tack of Curly Sue, who is owned by Greg Burrow.

Daniel Geitner and Curly Sue picked up two wins during Atlanta Summer Classic II. Photo by Alison Hartwell.

An overcast sky hung over the Olympic Ring at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia. Seventeen entries came out to compete over the first round. Clear rounds were hard to come by, with only four of the 17 contenders invited back to the ring to battle it out in the jump-off round.

Curly Sue and Geitner were the third to attempt the shortened course, racing to the finish in 38.69 seconds. A fallen rail at the last fence landed the pair four faults, but the duo couldn’t be caught.

“The jump-off is where things got interesting,” Geitner said. “You had to go over the mound to get from Jump 2 to Jump 5, which is always an added challenge. But the time allowed, at 40 seconds, was a little snug.”

Tricia O’Connor, of Williston, Florida, was the runner up. Aboard her own Coolman 78, O’Connor posted a four-fault jump-off round and raced to the timers just outside of the time allowed in 40.11 seconds. They ended the class with five faults.

Geitner returned to the ring, this time to jump-off aboard the Kenwood Syndicate’s Kenwood. The duo raced to the timers in 36.48 seconds but sent two rails tumbling for a total of eight faults. They ranked third.

Savannah Unger, of Morriston, Florida, was awarded fourth prize for her performance with her own Fabio TN. The duo left all the jumps solidly in their cups but were well over the time allowed, finishing in 47.78 seconds with eight time faults.

Wellington, Florida’s Heather Hooker ranked fifth for her four fault first round with Meredith Darst’s Quester de Virton. O’Connor was back in the ribbons, picking up sixth place for her performance with Michael Kirby’s KT Bolo. Chasen Boggio, of Canton, Georgia, ranked seventh for his ride aboard Victoria Press’ Quesada D’Elle.

Penny Brennan, of Loxahatchee, Florida, ended the class in eighth place with her own Vertigo Delorme, and ninth was awarded to Williston, Florida’s Michael Kirby, who was riding Fairly Stable LLC’s Play Boy. Ranking tenth was Boggio, this time aboard his own Co-Pilot. Nicki Mathen, of Austin, Texas, was eleventh with CopperhillSportHorseSales.com’s Felix BC. Kirby rounded out the top 12 placings for his ride with his own Disaronno.