Tracy Fenney won the $200,000 GP at HITS while Santiago Lambre won the $75,000 GP at WEC

Details: March 23, 2021; By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas won the $200,000 HITS Ocala Grand Prix on Sunday, March 21 while Santiago Lambre of Mexico won the $75,000 World Equestrian Center Grand Prix under lights Saturday evening.

Tracy Fenney on MTM AppleFenney won on MTM Apple for her fourth HITS Grand Prix win, and Lambre rode Dingeman, while Aaron Vale of Williston, Fla., placed second in both on Elusive and Major respectively.

A field of 46 riders competed in the $200,000 HITS Ocala Grand Prix with eight clean to return for the jump-off over the course designed by Ms. Catalina "Catsy" Cruz of Mexico City, Mexico.

The jump-off consisted of past Million Winners, Grand Prix Veterans, and riders that are no stranger to the Winner's Circle at HITS Ocala.

First to return in jump-off was Andre Thieme on Crrazy Girl, clean in 41.930 to set the pace.

Following Thieme, was Fenney and her first mount in the jump-off, MTM Reve du Paradis, who had a rail to ultimately place them fifth.

"Following Andre, I had an idea of what the time would be like," said Fenney. "Aaron has been super on fire and I knew that he has won a lot with that horse, so I knew with him behind me and Jordan Coyle also having two after me, that I needed to be pretty quick."

Fenney had one more shot at the win as she was fourth to return aboard MTM Apple, who was clean in 36.645 to hold the lead until the very end.

"I don't know that I've won a $200,000, so that's pretty impressive," said Fenney. "My mare was great, and I am so excited! Aaron was within a whisper of me so it could have gone either way today."

Second was Vale on Elusive, who were also the winners of this class in 2020 in a time of 39.714 in the jump-off, with Thieme on Crazy Girl third, the only other fault-free jump-off.

THE WORLD Equestrian Center's $75,000 Grand Prix had 44 entries under the lights in the WEC Grand Arena.

Santiago Lambe on DingemanRiders from nine countries including several Olympians competed over Alan Wade’s course with seven clear for the jump-off, and it was Mexico’s Santiago Lambre on Dingeman who took the win.

The first in the jump-off was Vale on Major who set the time to beat with a clear in 37.537.

Vale has over 250 grand prix wins in his career including several in grand prix classes at WEC.

Next to go was Sharn Wordley on Casper, who mirrored Vale’s track to finish in 37.937, just two-hundredths of a second behind Vale, moving into second place.

Last to return in the jump-off was Lambre on Dingeman who raced through the timers with a clear round in 36.850 seconds, stealing the win, moving Vale and Major into second and Wordley on Casper into third.

“I was lucky to be the last to go in the jump-off so that I could see how fast I needed to go," said Lambre. "I took all of the risks from the beginning of the course because I saw that everyone was trying to be faster than Aaron Vale and most ended up one second behind. I could not just go for a clear round because there were already five clear. I know Dingeman very well, I know he can go fast and clear the jumps. He is a winner, he has won in every country in Europe.”

When asked about his plans for next week’s $200,000 Grand Prix 1.50m Lambre said, “I think Dingeman won next week off. I have two other horses that are not showing this week that I will ride in the class next week. This place is amazing, I hope to come back to show this summer.”