Elisa Uribe of Colombia earned the final grand prix victory of the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) season, winning the $50,000 The Wanderers Club Grand Prix CSI2* on Sunday, April 1.
Forty-four entries contested the track for Sunday’s $50,000 The Wanderers Club Grand Prix CSI2*, and seven advanced to jump-off over the short course set by 2016 Rio Olympic Games course designer Guilherme Jorge of Brazil.
Elisa Uribe and Havana de la Lande. Photo by Sportfot Photography
Uribe was the first to return for the second round, and she and her own Havana de la Lande laid down a clear time of 40.15 seconds that would prove unbeatable and would secure Uribe her very first international victory and her first grand prix win.
Finishing in second with a time of 43.45 seconds were Ashley Baker (USA) and Coolmann 7, owned by Grand Slam Farm. With just one rail down in the jump-off and a time of 39.11 seconds, the USA’s Mavis Spencer finished in third aboard SHL Sweet Tricia, owned by Sarah Ryan.
Ashley Baker and Coolmann. Photo by Sportfot Photography
“I’m maybe the happiest person in the world right now,” said Uribe, 27, who was immediately joined by excited friends and family, including her husband and trainer, Juan Manuel Gallego (MEX), following her win.
“Since I first rode her this morning, I knew she was going to be good today!” continued Uribe, speaking of Havana de la Lande, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare she has owned since the mare was seven. “She has all of the attitude to win. She has a lot of temperament. She’s a real mare, but she really tries her best to jump. She’s fast; she doesn’t lose any time in the air. That’s good when you’re wanting to go fast, and she doesn’t like to touch a rail ever. If she does it, she really gets mad.”
Mavis Spencer and SHL Sweet Tricia. Photo by Sportfot Photography
As the first to jump-off, Uribe aimed to go clear and just quick enough to put pressure on the remaining competitors, and that plan proved more than successful.
“I thought I went the best that I could,” explained Uribe. “To run a bit more it would have been too risky. There was only one that was a little bit faster than me, like almost a second, but she had an unlucky rail, so I think my plan was perfect.”
Elisa Uribe and Havana de la Lande in their awards presentation ceremony with ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo by Sportfot Photography
This year marked Uribe’s very first year competing at WEF, and now, particularly following Sunday’s exciting conclusion, she looks forward to returning. “It’s been amazing,” said Uribe. “I’ve really, really enjoyed it.”
Final Results: $50,000 The Wanderers Club Grand Prix CSI2*
1 HAVANA DE LA LANDE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Nabab de Reve x Parco
ELISA URIBE (COL), Elisa Uribe: 0/0/40.15
2 COOLMANN 7: 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Calido I x Acord II
ASHLEY BAKER (USA), Grand Slam Farm: 0/0/43.45
3 SHL SWEET TRICIA: 2009 KWPN mare by Caspar x Tampa
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Sarah Ryan: 0/4/39.11
4 CATINKA 25: 2009 Oldenburg mare by Catoki x Luxano
VANESSA MANNIX (CAN), Vanessa Manix: 0/4/41.35
5 AANWINST: 2005 KWPN mare by Odermus R x Jackson
JORDAN MACPHERSON (CAN), JEM Stables Inc: 0/4/41.38
6 FIRE AND ICE J: 2010 Westphalian stallion by For Contest x Coronino
LEONIE BOCKMANN (GER), Turniergemeinschaft Brinkmann & Böckmann Pferde GmbH: 0/4/42.17
7 CITIZENGUARD CADJANINE Z: 2002 Zangersheide mare by Canabis Z x Feinschnitt I Z
ELISSA REISMAN (CAN), Taboo Holdings Inc: 0/8/38.00
8 BALOU DU REVENTON: 2006 Oldenburg stallion by Cornet Obolensky x Continue
JORGE MATTE CAPDEVILA (CHI), Jorge Matte Capdevila: 1/75.32
9 ALLEGRO VAN DE DONKHOEVE: 2000 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Mr. Blue x Robin II Z
PAULO STEWART (BRA), Paulo Stewart: 1/75.77
10 VDL CARTELLO: 2007 Holsteiner stallion by Cartani x Lord
CORMAC HANLEY (IRL), Heathman Farm LLC: 4/68.93
11 CANAMERA 2: 2009 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Carthago
PETER WYLDE (USA), Kathleen Kamine: 4/70.84
12 END GOOD ALL GOOD: 2009 KWPN gelding by Mr. Blue x Caretino
JAVIER FERNANDEZ (MEX), Patricio Miguel Madero Blasquez: 4/71.05