Pessoa and Baloubet Gallop Away with $60,000 at theBudweiser American Invitational

The star studded jump-off field at the Budweiser American Invitational in Tampa featured an all Olympic cast and came down to the top two show jumping stars from the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece going head to head for the top prize in American show jumping.

Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time World Cup Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil and Baloubet du Rouet raced past Olympic Team Gold and Individual Silver Medalist Chris Kappler of the United States and VDL Oranta to earn the $60,000 top prize at the $200,000 Budweiser American Invitational at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Mexican Olympic veteran Jaime Guerra led things off in the four horse tiebreaker with a four fault go in 45.37 seconds on RMW Lorenz. Kappler then followed and posted a clear go in 42.90 seconds with his new equine partner, VDL Oranta.

The veteran duo of Pessoa and his seventeen year-old equine partner Baloubet du Rouet, then had the round of the night, knocking over two seconds off of Kappler’s time with an incredible ride in 40.65 seconds.

Five time Olympian Nick Skelton of Great Britain and Arko III then appeared to be setting up a challenge for Pessoa, but when the top of the wall came down as Skelton began his race for home the story was written for 2006.

Results (01.04.06)

Grand Prix Budweiser
AM5 (238.2.2) Raymond James Stadium

1º Rodrigo Pessoa (Brasil) / Baloubet Du Rouet/ 0 / 0 /40.65s
2º Chris Kappler (USA) / Vdl Oranta / 0 / 0/ 42.90
3º Jaime Guerra (Mexico) / Rmw Lorenz / 0 / 4 / 45.37
4º Nick Skelton (GBR) / Arko IIII / 0 / 8 / 44.73
5º Margie Engle (USA) / Hidden Creek´S Perin / 4 / 83.96
6º Beezie Madden (USA) / Authentic / 4 / 85.78
7º Mclain Ward (USA) / Sapphire / 4 / 86.04
8º Mario Deslauriers (Canada) / Paradigm / 4 / 87.20
9º Norman Dello Joio (USA) / Glasgow / 4 / 87.70
10º Santiago Lambre (Mexico) / Campino / 4 / 87.97