Lauren Hough and Casadora Faultless in Wellington GP

On a beautiful super Sunday at the 2006 Winter Equestrian Festival, Lauren Hough and Casadora produced the only clear round in the jump-off to ride away with the top prize in the main event, the $60,000 Wellington Cup, presented by Carlisle, CSI 3*. The Sunday action wrapped up the second week of competition at the nine week long equestrian extravaganza being held at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Florida.

Forty-five starters took the field for the 2 p.m. kick off. Today’s scoring was FEI Art. 238.2.2, Time First Jump-Off. 2004 Athens Olympic Course Designer Olaf Petersen of Germany designed today’s challenge.

There were four clear rounds that advanced to the tiebreaker. Another twelve competitors had a single knockdown, while nine horse and rider combinations had two down.

Twelve duos had more than eight, and eight competitors were either eliminated or chose to withdraw.

Through the first eighteen challengers, the best score anyone could master was four faults, a total posted by six of those eighteen starters.

Riding out of the nineteenth spot in today’s posted order, Kimberly Prince and Overlook Farm’s Couletto K. James were the first to master the track. They were joined five horses later by Little Big Man and owner/rider Laura Chapot. Then quickly, three horses following that, Lauren Hough added the Laura Mateo entry of Casadora to the jump-off roster, and the speed phase was set when eight horses later, McLain Ward and Sapphire from the Double H Farm became the final entry for today’s tiebreaker.

Prince and Couletto K. James returned first against the clock. Pulling a single rail over the short course, Prince clocked in at 39.41 seconds.

Laura Chapot and Little Big Man also had four faults on their jump-off ride, but topped Prince’s time, as they raced home in 35.47 seconds to take the lead with two to go.

Lauren Hough and Casadora were the next to challenge and were up to the task. Opting for an efficient yet careful ride, Hough tripped the timers in 37.84 seconds, but most importantly, without penalty.

McLain Ward and Sapphire pulled a rail coming home and slid into the third spot with a four fault time that was not quite fast enough to catch Chapot. Ward’s finish time was 36.66 seconds.

Results (05.02.06)
Wellington Cup CSI*** – AM5
Grand Prix

1º LAUREN HOUGH (USA) / CASADORA / 0 / 0 /37.84
2º LAURA CHAPOT (USA) / LITTLE BIG MAN / 0 /4 / 35.47
3º MCLAIN WARD (USA) / SAPPHIRE / 0 / 4 / 36.66
4º KIMBERLY PRINCE (USA) / COULETTO K. JAMES / 0 / 4 / 39.41
5º TODD MINIKUS (USA) / FLIER / 4 / 78.94
6º MARGIE ENGLE (USA) / HIDDEN CREEK´S WAPINO / 4 / 80.85
7º JAIME GUERRA (MEX) / RMW POWER POINT / 4 / 81.05
8º MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN) / NAOMI / 4.00 / 81.08
9º ANGELA K. MOORE (USA) /CLAUS / 4 / 82.68
10º CONOR SWAIL (IRL) / PONCHO / 4 / 82.90