Traverse City, Mich. – Aug. 6, 2017 – Margie Engle of the United States rode Storm Ridge Capital LLC’s 8-year-old gelding, Dicas, to his first grand prix win in the $50,000 Grand Traverse Grand Prix CSI2* at the Flintfields Horse Park on Sunday as the fifth week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF) came to a close.
The rainy weather cleared up just in time to see 21 riders challenge Ireland’s Alan Wade’s course, with 10 riding clear to advance to the jump-off. Engle bested the class putting in a speedy time of 40.56 seconds aboard one of her newer mounts, Dicas, a Rhinelander gelding.
Erynn Ballard (CAN) set the pace to beat in the jump-off with a clear round in 42.23 seconds aboard the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Bella Donna, owned by Sagamore Farms, but at the end of the day she finished the class in third place.
Michael Morrissey (USA) finished hot on Ballard’s heels, just two-tenths of a second behind, in a time of 42.44 seconds on QBS Equestrian LLC’s 11-year-old mare, La Lopez 3, to claim fourth place honors.
The last to go, Santiago Lambre (MEX), flew down the final line, opting to leave out a stride, but couldn’t quite catch Engle, finishing in second place, after also finishing second in Friday’s Walsh $35,000 Welcome Stake CSI2*, in a time of 41.50 seconds on his own Dingeman. The pair had recent success when Lambre and the 9-year-old gelding took home the victory in the $50,000 Great Lakes Grand Prix CSI2* two weeks ago during GLEF Week Three. Lambre has consistently placed at the top of the leaderboard during his time in Traverse City, winning the $35,000 Welcome Stake CSI2* and $50,000 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix CSI2* with his mare Doloris during Week Four.
The sixth and final week of GLEF kicks off on Tuesday and will feature CSI3* competition and international show jumping highlights such as the $35,000 Welcome Speed Stake CSI3* on Thursday, Aug. 10, the $40,000 Great Lakes Classic CSI3* on Friday, Aug. 11, and the finale, the $100,000 Grand Prix of Traverse City CSI3*, on Sunday, Aug. 13, at the Flintfields Horse Park. Sunday’s highly anticipated grand prix competition will also be counted as an opportunity for athletes and horses to qualify for the upcoming 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina.
Click here to watch Margie Engle and Dicas’ jump-off round!
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Margie Engle – $50,000 Grand Traverse Grand Prix CSI2* winner
On Dicas:
“He’s a really exciting horse. I’ve had him since he was 6 years old. We had him in Florida and did some of the 1.35m and 1.40m classes and then moved him up by the end of the circuit to the 1.45m. He learned a lot this summer in Spruce, finishing in the 1.50m. This is actually his first grand prix won so I was really excited. He’s such a game horse. For an 8-year-old, he has the mind of an older horse.”
On her jump-off:
“[Dicas] started off with a good pace to the first jump and he really came forward for me nicely to the second jump. It was easy for me to get up in the seven to leave out going down the first line, and then he caught the inside angle, which for a lot of young horses could get very confusing, and he sighted right in on the angle at the vertical and was super back on the double. He really has a good brain and is brave. Whatever you ask of him he’s willing to try. It’s a nice combination to have.”
On GLEF:
“It’s been great. The rain came a little bit right before the class — just enough to water the ring down. The weather was perfect. It’s the only place in August where we’re not sweating to death so that’s really nice. The footing has been fantastic, the jumps are great and it’s been lovely here. We’re here for one more week. My horses have had some time off since Spruce so I’ll start back some of the others that have been vacationing. After this, we go to Chicago and then we have another couple of weeks off before we go out to Old Salem.”
RESULTS
$50,000 Grand Traverse Grand Prix CSI2*:
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / Time
1. Dicas / Margie Goldstein-Engle / USA / Storm Ridge Capital LLC / 0 / 0 / 40.56
2. Dingeman / Santiago Lambre / MEX / Santiago Lambre / 0 / 0 / 41.50
3. Bella Donna / Erynn Ballard / CAN / Sagamore Farms / 0 / 0 / 42.23
4. La Lopez 3 / Michael Morrissey / USA / QBS Equestrian LLC / 0 / 0 / 42.44
5. For Edition / Taylor Land / USA / Jay Land / 0 / 0 / 42.88
6. Romance Du Criolo / Samuel Parot / CHI / Samuel Parot / 0 / 4 / 39.05
7. Redmond / Alberto Michan / MEX / Brianne Goutal LLC / 0 / 4 / 43.43
8. Victorio 5 / Adam Prudent / USA / Plain Bay Sales / 0 / 4 / 44.53
9. Iluna / Ramiro Quintana / ARG / Michael Smith / 0 / 4 / 45.87
10. EAX Run Run LS / Ilan Bluman / COL / Blue Star Investments / 0 / 4 / 46.29
11. Van Gogh / Theo Genn / USA / Wilhelm Genn / 1 / 79.180
12. Bull Run’s Almighty / Kristen Vanderveen / USA / Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC / 1 / 79.530
Tiffany Morrissey and Sebastian Repeat Victory in $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Tiffany Morrissey of East Wind Farms and Stacey Werner’s Sebastian returned to the winner’s circle in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Sunday, after claiming the same title just one week ago during GLEF Week Four.
The pair delivered a flawless first round, earning them a perfect score of 100 with two bonus points for an unbeatable final score of 102. Morrissey continued on and rode the 7-year-old Holsteiner gelding to an impressive score of 100 in the handy phase for a combined total of 202.
Sebastian’s top derby finish also earned him the Platinum Performance Hunter Horse of the Week for the second week in a row on Sunday.
Kelsey Wickham and Squish and See Partners LLC’s 6-year-old Warmblood gelding, Salt Life, returned to the handy round in ninth place after a first round score of 87.5, but wowed the judges and received a score of 100 and combined total of 187.5 for second place honors.
Arly Golombek finished third aboard Pumpkin’s Patch Farms LLC’s Czech Mate with identical scores of 93 for a combined score of 186.
Click here to watch Tiffany Morrissey and Sebastian’s handy round!
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Tiffany Morrissey – $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby winner
On Sebastian:
“Sebastian is a 7-year-old grey gelding that we’ve had for about a year now. He has been doing very well in the derbies, winning last week and again this week.”
On her perfect score:
“Today was my first time ever receiving a perfect score in the first round, plus two for a score of 102. Then he got a 98 plus two for a score of 100 in the second round. It is also my birthday so that was a very nice birthday present to enter the 100 club!”
RESULTS
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby:
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Total Score
1. Sebastian / Tiffany Morrissey / Stacey Werner / 202%
2. Salt Life / Kelsey Wickham/ Squish and See Partners LLC / 187.5%
3. Czech Mate / Arly Golombek / Pumpkin’s Patch Farms LLC / 186%
4. Suit Yourself / Kelsey Wickham / Linda Talan Jacob / 185.5%
5. Namesake / Siena Vasan / Palm Ponies LLC / 184%
6. Grey Street / Dana Schwartz / Vlock Show Stables LLC / 183%
7. Aviator / Roger Turner / Denise Short / 174%
8. Upton / Emmanuelle Greenberg / Arly Golombek / 173%
9. Quasa Granda / Hayley Iannotti / Carriage Hill Farm / 172%
10. Kennedy / Santa Maspane / Kathryn Haefner LLC / 171%
11. Skolar / Siena Vasan / Carriage Hill Farm / 157%
12. Arius / Kristen Berian / Coral C Stables LLC / 156%
