Americans strong, Spooner unstoppable at Spruce Meadows North American

"My horse jumped as well as he's ever jumped ... I don't think it's really hit me yet," exclaimed Spooner when asked to put his day into perspective.

The Queen Elizabeth II Cup was a two round Grand Prix and after the first round, three riders finished with clears. World Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil had a surprising time fault and came back with one rail in the second round to finish fifth. Last year's Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner, Ray Texel finished one fault ahead of Pessoa in fourth.

Richard Spooner of Burbank, CA couldn't have imagined it getting any better after that . . . but it did. The very next day Spooner and Robinson won the Chrysler Classic and the overall Spruce Meadows North American Championship.

"I was satisfied with yesterday. I think it must have relaxed me for today," said Spooner. His relaxed attitude paid off in the grueling derby event as they finished with only one rail down for the win and $58,000 in prize money. Beezie Madden from Cazenovia, NY and Schuyler Riley of Wellington, FL each had two rails down finishing second and third respectively.

Rich Fellers finished second behind Spooner in the Spruce Meadows North American Championship followed by Beezie Madden in third in the championship race. And it was Team Gem Twist led by John Madden that won the Calgary Herald presented by Encana Riders' Cup team event that considered all open jumper events throughout the five-day "North American".

Spooner started the week by taking the lead in the overall Spruce Meadows North American Championship with a decisive victory in the Lafarge Cup. One by one in the jump-off of tonight's second event, the Lafarge Cup (II), horses took down the final fence. Last in was Spooner and Incento, who had to make a decision - do they go slow and steady for the clear round or keep the pace in case he too has a rail? His decision paid off handsomely with a beautiful clear round but also the quickest time of 41.53. Eric Hasbrouck from Bedford, NY and Miss Fio were the fastest four faults in a time of 42.08 to take second and Madden collected another top ribbon, this time aboard Judgement in third.

Three American women took control of the reins in the Luscar Cup, the opening event in the Spruce Meadows International Ring, grabbing the top three places. It took World Champion Pessoa of Brazil in fourth to break the trend. Madden and her new mount Conquest II topped the field of 63 horses in the one round speed event. Kraut finished 0.8 seconds behind Madden for second and Molly Ashe of Wellington, FL finished third.

It was a night to celebrate for the American riders on the Fourth of July as they once again dominated the competition on the second day of the Spruce Meadows "North American". Lauren Hough of Wellington, FL and Windy City handily won in the jump-off with a time of 41.51 seconds.

"My horse performed beautifully, he did everything I asked. He really loves this ring," says Hough of Windy City, who looks primed for the upcoming U.S. World Championship Trials at the end of this month.

Leslie Howard of Westport, CT and Clover Leaf flew around the jump-off course, setting what looked to be an unbeatable time of 41.84 seconds to finish second. Norman Dello Joio, also from Wellington, FL was third in a time of 43.03.

Madden and Conquest II of Cazenovia, NY made it two in a row, winning the Section (I) Open Jumper event again, topping a field of almost 60 horses to take the red ribbon in the Akita Drilling Cup. She was one of only two double clear, finishing more than four seconds quicker than second place Marley Goodman and Razia of Wellington, FL. Chris Kappler of Pittstown, NJ had the quickest time in the jump-off but pulled a rail to finish third. Canada's Jonathon Millar cracked the top five, claiming the fourth place ribbon with Fine Line, also with one rail in the jump-off.

First and last to go in the four horse jump-off of the Investors Group Cup, Kraut cashed in with the first and second place prizes totaling $22,750. Kraut came in with Liberty first to set a pace of 37.16 seconds. But it was her second horse May that proved to be the winning mare tonight with a time of 36.65.

"I didn't run Liberty tonight because she's going tomorrow and I didn't think it would be a good idea. I'd made up my mind to go for it with May tonight," explained Kraut of her strategy for the jump-off. "May is a very special mare and I have high hopes for her for the Olympic Trials (2004)."

Pessoa of Brazil and his World Championship mount, Gandini Lianos were second back in the order with a neat, clean round but not quite quick enough in 38.63, putting him third behind Kraut's two horses. Francie Steinwedell-Carvin of La Canada, CA finished up fourth with an unfortunate rail.

The first event held on the International Ring, the 1.45m Pepsi Challenge, served up a definite test. This level of jumping is one level below the featured Open Jumper Division so normally these horses don't jump in the "big" ring. Course Designer Leopoldo Palacios set a challenging course for the younger, less experienced horses, producing a total of seven clears out of a field of almost 60.

Keri Pessoa of Brazil aboard Fadiese, a nine-year-old Selle Francais (French-bred) mare finished first with the only double clear. Kraut had a great evening, finishing second in this event with Wet Paint after one rail in the jump-off. Alison Firestone of Upperville, VA and Futile Ardente were third with Canada's Cassandra Garcea and Carerra taking the fourth spot.

Palacios summed up Leslie Howard's win in the Canada Post Xpress, telling her 'she has some big (speed) tickets outside, that the police were waiting for her.' In typical fashion, Leslie Howard was amazingly fast and accurate for the win in the Parcours de Chasse event which converts rails down into jumping penalties. Howard and her little grey stallion, Nick of Diamonds had a terrific run in a time of 86.87 seconds, more than five seconds faster than second place Spooner.

Madden and Authentic were close behind Spooner for third and Pessoa aboard Gandini Bianca d'Amaury finished fourth.

Argentina's Ramiro Quintana broke the U.S. winning streak by capturing the Sun Life Financial Reach for the Sun event, topping a nine horse jump-off field for the win.

"This definitely made up for yesterday," exclaimed Quintana who rides with Olympic U.S. veteran Joe Fargis. He was referring to his great showing in the Grand Prix until the last fence when he stopped out.

Kraut and the young mare, May finished second behind Quintana and Chris Kappler with Ursa Major finished third.

Full results available at www.sprucemeadows.com.