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There was a starting field of 21 entries over the course designed by Hector Loyola ("I") of Puerto Rico. The first horse in the ring was clear, and they returned first in the jump-off. Wilhelm Genn and Chantal, winners of both $10,000 Open Welcome Stake classes this year, were unfortunate in the jump-off today. They had 12 faults and finished in a time of 40.717 seconds for fifth place. Genn was the next one in on his second clear horse, Happy Z, who won last week's $30,000 grand prix. Genn had Happy Z revved and ready, but a rail dropped at fence 10a. They had the fastest time of the day in 37.451 seconds, but it was not enough with four faults. Thatcher and Carlotta were the next ones to contest the shortened course. Thatcher made a very tight turn back to the one stride (a triple bar to vertical), and Carlotta gave 110% through it. They kept up their quick pace and ended up as the only double clear in the class, finishing in 42.354 seconds. Thatcher's trainer, Maggie Jayne, would be the next in the jump-off on Merlin 369. Going for one less stride in the first line, they would not make it at the second jump and had a refusal. A rail at jump 11 would add up with another time fault for a total of 9 faults in 48.177 seconds for fourth place. The final rider in was Morgan Kennedy on Zaboomerang. Kennedy kept a smooth, quick speed, but a rail at jump 11 would relegate them to third place in 40.014 seconds. "It feels amazing to win the grand prix!" Thatcher exclaimed afterwards. "I just started the big jumpers last year, and my first grand prix was last year at Ledges. This year, I won my first grand prix at that same show on Carlotta." Thatcher was thrilled with her little 12-year-old mare. "She's an amazing horse, so it's great. Her jump is incredible. I have to shorten my stirrups every day because she just keeps on launching me if I don't get my legs down," she laughed. "I can add, I can leave out, I can turn on a dime; she's perfect. She's anything you can ask for in the jumpers." Thatcher watched Genn go first in the jump-off and said that her plan when they walked the course was to go inside from the wall to the triple bar leading into the one stride. "It was a pretty technical course. The six stride to the triple bar one stride was very technical, and I had to sit right up. Alex (Jayne) definitely helped me. He started yelling at me to go when I started pulling," she smiled. "I just put my leg on and she kept going for me, so it was great." After today's class, Thatcher has gained a lot of confidence in the ring over bigger courses. This will help her when she represents Zone 5's Junior team at this year's North American Junior Young Riders Championships. Thatcher's other goal for the year is to be in the top three for the Showplace Leading Open Jumper Riding Series, which is a rider bonus series awarding $30,000 to the top three open jumpers this year at Showplace Productions competitions. The final class of the day was the $20,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, sponsored by Our Day Farm and Alex Jayne. Out of 23 entries, the fastest of six in the jump-off was Denise Wilson of Dousman, WI, on her 8-year-old Hanoverian mare, For Elenor. They were double clear and stopped the jump-off timers in 35.753 seconds. Despite a quick last round, Laura Linback and Mohawk Du Claire De Lune just missed out and finished second in 36.742 seconds. Continued: "This is a big win!" Wilson exclaimed. "It feels really good to win. I've been coming to Lamplight for a while and this is the first win that I've had at Lamplight. It feels good, especially because it's the $20,000 class." Frances Land and Cassia Catalina were tops this morning in the $10,000 Low Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by Roc USA. Land and Cassia Catalina were one of only two to take the "b" option for the jump-off, meaning they stayed in the ring after their first round for the shortened course. There were 46 entries in the class, and 18 were clear to advance to the jump-off. Despite not having seen anyone else in the jump-off, Land and her 16-year-old mare were able to put down a clear round in 38.138 seconds. Close behind in 38.265 seconds was Lauren Tisbo on Springfield Tennessee for second place. "She's really experienced, and she's done everything. She always takes care of me, and she's fabulous," Land said of her horse. Land is 15 years old and hails from Alpharetta, GA. She noted, "I did not expect to win. I was hoping that I was going to be smooth, fast, and clear. If not win, then hang on hopefully and get a ribbon. I just wanted to have a good experience. The prize money is really exciting, and it's great that we're able to win this kind of money." Madison Smith (13) of Burlington, IL, piloted Oloma to the win in the $10,000 NAL Children's Jumper Classic sponsored by Midwest Neurosurgery Spine Specialists and Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Ross. This is the first big jumper classic that Smith has won, and she said it was "really exciting." She remarked about Oloma, "She helped me a lot. From the wall to the in and out, she totally helped me. I think she should take most of the credit for the jump-off!" The winner of the $10,000 NAL Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Nutrena was Tiffany Hammack of Gurnee, IL, on Carrera Z. The pair was very speedy in the jump-off and finished double clear in 37.103 seconds over Gabrielle Love on Dream Machine. Today's classes capped off two very successful weeks at the Showplace Spring Spectacular at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. More than $350,000 in prize money was distributed, and the competition had exciting results each day. Showplace Productions hosts a number of competitions for riders of all levels at Lamplight and Ledges Sporting Horses in Roscoe, IL. Please visit www.showplaceproductions.com for more information.
$50,000 Showplace Grand Prix
$20,000 High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by Our Day Farm and Alex Jayne
$10,000 Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by Roc USA
$10,000 NAL Children's Jumper Classic sponsored by Midwest Neurosurgery Spine Specialists and Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Ross
$10,000 NAL Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Nutrena |
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