Welles, Armani win Invitational

Despite its uncertain future, the American Invitational, in its 38th year, remains one of North America's most prestigious grand prix show jumping events, and one that has eluded Jeffery Welles for much of the past decade.

Riding Armani, a horse that had shown an unnatural comfort zone in the Raymond James Stadium atmosphere during a runner-up finish in 2005, Welles won a three-way jump-off against veteran riders Peter Leone and Mac Cone to become the second first-time winner of the event since 2001.

"I didn't want to be silly and go flat-out," Welles said of his winning jump-off ride, which came between Cone and Leone's rides. "So I just tried to be as smooth as I could be."

Welles, who watched as Cone knocked down three jumps in front of him, went clear in 44.36 seconds, saving precious time in the first three jumps.

Leone, going last aboard Select, was slow around the third jump, noting his horse is known for its struggles turning to the right, and crossed 0.51 seconds behind, also going clear, to finish second.

The jump-off was momentarily delayed by a fireworks show at Steinbrenner Field as part of the Tampa Yankees' home opener. Loud noises tend to spook the typical show-jumping horse, with their jittery, high-strung attitudes, making the jump-off even more unpredictable.

For the rest of the field, including past champion Beezie Madden, the course's major trouble spot proved to be a Liverpool, water-jump combination at the Southeast corner of the field, on the final third of the course. It claimed 10 of the 25 riders. Todd Minikus, last year's runner-up, was disqualified when his horse, Alaska, twice refused to hurdle it.

The Invitational was marred by several factors this year, including the loss of longtime title sponsor Budweiser, a small attendance (4,862), the smallest field in the event's history (25 riders), and defending champion Chris Kappler and perennial contender McLain Ward not entered. Health concerns for founder Gene Mische, a Bradenton resident who the event was named in honor of this year, also are weighing on riders' minds.

Cone, who competed in the first stadium jumping event in Tampa in the early 1970s, said losing the Invitational would be "a crime" and would be a sign that the sport has forgotten its roots, noting the USA Olympic Equestrian team's successes in recent years can be traced back to Mische's efforts to bring world-class show jumping to America.