WELLINGTON, Fla.--Laura Chapot is back in a familiar position at the Winter Equestrian Festival as, after about three-quarters of the season is done, she leads in Overall Jumper Rider by double digit numbers, with 1,150 points over the second placed rider with 508 points.
Laura Chapot on Out Of Ireland winning a class in February (Photo by Sportfot)Laura also dominated a couple of sections, placing first, second third and fifth in 1.40m jumpers, a section in which 389 horses have competed so far.
She is first on Calafornia with $11,450, second on Thornhill Kate with $8,375, third on Out of Ireland with $6,180 and fifth on Shooting Star with $9,180.
In 1.35m jumpers, Laura is first on Umberto with $4,360, third on Calmondo with $1,480 and seventh on Gideon with $1,180.
Laura and Mary Chapot lead in Overall Jumper owner with 952 points to the second placed owner's 425 points, and Mary Chapot is second in Overall Jumper Trainer.
"That's nice," said Mary in a slight understatement. "The horses have been good this year. A lot of people in the 1.40m are on horses that are on their way up, while our horses have found their niche in that section."
"WITH SO MANY riders from Europe coming over his year due to Covid closing down shows in Europe, it's hard for us to move our horses up and still win enough to pay the entry fees," said Mary. "We'll stay where our horses are comfortable and fingers crossed they'll keep doing well."
"We've had Calmonda, who's 8, about a year, and we've had Gideon, who's 10, almost two years," said Mary. "Those are our up-and-coming horses for the future."
"Timeless, by Gemini, goes well one class with a flash of brilliance, and then falls back," said Mary. "Dual Star is in foal to Gemini."
"They're so on the Covid at the horse show," said Mary. "We call it the golf cart squad, but management has people checking for masks in the barns. They're polite, but they make sure you have your mask on, and you have to get your temperature taken every day."
"You have to have a pass with your photo on it to get onto the showgrounds, and there are no spectators," said Mary. "The only owners allowed are ones that have a table in the tent. The horse show is doing an excellent job of policing the grounds, and we're all very appreciative of it."
In Amateur Owner Jumper, Medium, Lucy Matz of Coatesville, Pa. is second on Quetal with $3,710 behind the leader with $3,830.
In Adult Jumpers, Saly Glassman of Gwnedd Valley, Pa., is second on HHS Boy Hill with $6,080 and fourth on Hubert with $5.755.
In hunters, Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., is second in Overall Hunter Rider with 2,557 points to Victoria Colvin's 3,361 points, and his Rivers Edge is second in Overall Jumper Owner with 1,780 points.
In Green Hunters 3'9". Stewart leads on Love Note with 156 points, and he also leads in Green Conformation on For Always with 199 points.
Jimmy Torano of Mohrsville, Pa., on Laskano is third in Green Conformation with 164 points, and he leads, also on Laskano , in Green Hunter, 3'6".
KENT FARRINGTON rode Creedance to win the $73,000 1.50m Classic CSI5* at the Winter Equestrian Festival on Sunday, March 14.
Kent Farrington on Creedance (Photo by Sportfot)A total of 59 competed over the track set by Alan Wade of Ireland, and 11 entries qualified for the jump-off.
Wade’s top courses have been well-planned and challenging all week, and his last course of the week held true. with a number of competitors missing the jump-off by a single rail while several othershad time faults.
Those that returned for the jump-off included top riders like Farrington, Daniel Deusser of Germany and McLain Ward.
Sweden’s Henrik Von Eckermann was the first to go clean in the jump-off, finishing in 35.10 seconds on Glamour Girl to eventually place third place, while Eduardo Menezes 0f Brazil was second on H5 Quintol. vHe in 34.83 seconds.
Farrington, going late in the jump-off, blazed through the timers in 34.12 seconds to win.
“Creedance is a horse that is hyper competitive in these style classes,” said Farrington. “I put him specifically in today’s class instead of the grand prix because it is still early in the year and, as he is getting a bit older, I am choosing classes that he is more comfortable in to save him up for the rest of the year.”
“What is wonderful about him is that he can jump at any venue, whether it is Aachen or Wellington, and he always gives a great effort,” he said. “He is naturally just so fast across the ground that I typically have to make sure that I actually slow him down towards the end of the track or he can get too aggressive. He has been a great horse for my career.”
“Alan Wade is a very good course designer but his courses are usually strong, much like today’s was,” Farrington said. “His track today was challenging, and there was a very strong field of riders and top horses, so I thought the competition was excellent.”
