Laura Chapot rode Thornhill Kate to victory in the $100,000 Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix at the I Love New York Horse Show, the second week of the 49th annual Lake Placid Horse Shows, presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC and sponsored by Bainbridge Farms, LLC.
Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate. Photo by The Book LLC
Seven of 36 entries reached the jump-off by riding clean over the 13-jump, 16-effort first-round course designed by Michel Vaillancourt. Three of the seven then went clean over the eight-jump jump-off course with Amber Harte on Cafino and Chloe Field on Tess de Jalesnes opening the jump-off with clean rides.
Riding her 13-year-old, Irish Sport Horse mare, Chapot was fourth to try the jump-off and she moved into the lead with a time of 38.996 seconds. The last rider to try to beat Chapot was two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2017 FEI World Cup champion, McLain Ward. He wound up with two rails down for eight faults on his young horse, Upsilon de la Liniere, giving Chapot her fifth Grand Prix win in Lake Placid.
Laura Chapot and Thornhill Kate. Photo by The Book LLC
“Kate is a naturally fast horse,” Chapot said. “She’s very careful and she’s a real trier. With her, I don’t have to always press, press, press at every jump; I can just rely on her natural quickness and let her do the job.
“Of all the Grand Prix I compete in throughout the year, I want to win in Lake Placid the most,” Chapot continued. “I have been up here every summer of my life and the people in this town are so incredibly nice that it just means so much to me to win here.”
Amber Harte, first to go in the jump-off, took home second place aboard Cafino with a time of 39.725 seconds. Chloe Field and Tess De Jalesnes were third with a time of 46.978 seconds. Ilan Bluman of Colombia was fourth with four jump-off faults in 43.470 seconds on EAX Run Run LS.
Chapot’s win also earned her the Richard and Diana Feldman Trophy as the rider with the most prize money in Lake Placid’s two Grand Prix events. It’s the third time she has won the award, having won previously in 2014 and 2016.
Clementine Goutal and Diamond Foxy. Photo by The Book LLC
Earlier Saturday morning, Clementine Goutal rode Diamond Foxy to the win in the $10,000 Crowne Plaza Resort & Golf Club Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, a member event of the Hollow Brook Wealth Management Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series. Out of 38 entries, ten advanced to the jump-off with clean first rounds. Goutal was one of two riders to go clean again, taking home the win with a time of 38.547 seconds. Second place went to Jean Sheptoff riding Coconut Z with a time of 39.948. Third place went to Tanner Korotkin on Armageddon who had the fastest jump-off time of 37.373 seconds but who had a rail down for 4 faults.
Rebecca Morris and Triomphe. Photo by The Book LLC
Rebecca Morris won the $5,000 The Wild Center Children’s Jumper Classic aboard Triomphe with a time of 41.249 seconds. Out of 37 entries, 15 made it to the jump-off round by riding clean over the first-round course. Six of the 15 were fault-free in the jump-off, leaving it up to the fastest time to take home the win. Second place went to Sydney Chapman and Fanta Lime with a time of 41.349 seconds followed by Paloma De Crozals aboard Bluemont in third with a time of 41.786 seconds.