Rodrigo Pessoa and Palouchin Keep Winning Streak Going

There were three competitive classes in the International Arena on the opening day of week 10 of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.

Starting out the day was another win for Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and HH Palouchin, owned by Double H Farm, in the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic. Following that, another familiar face in the winners circle, Laura Chapot entered again and won the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m speed class with Bradberry. In the last class, the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m Jump-off class, Chapot rode Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Laura Chapot and McLain Ward, to the win.

Sponsored by Artisan Farms, week ten features two classes on Sunday, March 18, on the grass field at The Stadium. Starting at 10:30 a.m., the $15,000 Artisan Farms Young Rider Grand Prix Final runs first and is followed by the $80,000 Pennfield Feeds Grand Prix CSI 2* at 2 p.m.

In the opening class, the $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic, there were 37 entries and 14 clear rounds over the speed course set by Michel Vaillancourt of Aiken, SC. The fastest of those was HH Palouchin, guided by Rodrigo Pessoa in 55.57 seconds. Close behind in second was Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083, owned by Spy Coast Farms LLC in 56.03 seconds. Third place went to David Will (GER) on Dietmar Gugler Reitsport's Don Cesar in 57.54 seconds.

Laura Chapot and Bradberry have won their fair share of classes in the Spy Coast Farm 1.40m division, and today's class showed why. They sped around the course in 58.370 seconds as the last ones in the ring out of 78 entries to win by almost two seconds. Setting the earlier winning pace of 60.048 seconds just a few trips before, Shane Sweetnam (IRL) had to settle for second place again, this time with Spy Coast Farm's Rolette. With a time of 60.882 seconds, Katie Dinan (USA) and Grant Road Partners' Sandro were third.

Chapot stepped up to the win again in the $6,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.40m jump-off class. Going ninth in the class of 89 entries, Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince set the jump-off time to beat at 29.148 seconds with a clear round, which no one was able to match. Chapot also finished third in the class on Umberto, owned by Mary Chapot, who had a time of 29.581 seconds. Laura Kraut and Woodstock O posted a time of 29.504 seconds for second place.

Final Results: $32,000 G&C Farm 1.45m Classic

1 HH PALOUCHIN: 1999 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Chin Chin
RODRIGO PESSOA (BRA), Double H Farm: 0/55.57

2 CYKLON: 2001 Swedish Warmblood stallion by Cardento x Cortus
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Spy Coast Farm LLC: 0/56.03

3 DON CESAR: 1997 Westphalian gelding by Drossan x Fruhlingsball
DAVID WILL (GER), Deitmar Gulder Reitsport: 0/57.54

4 HOT WHEELS: 1997 Silla Argentino gelding by Liliputiense
DARRAGH KERINS (IRL), Darragh Kerins: 0/58.19

5 ONISHA: 1999 Holsteiner mare by Caretino x Athlet Z
REED KESSLER (USA), Reed Kessler: 0/58.24

6 MC GUINNESS: 1995 Irish Sporthorse gelding by Cavalier Royale
RICH FELLERS (USA), Harry and Molly Chapman: 0/58.78

7 CAYENNE 162: 2003 Westfalen mare by Cornet Obolensky x Gonfaron
JOHANNES EHNING (GER), Winley Farm: 0/59.18

8 LET'S DANCE: 2002 Holsteiner gelding
RICHARD SPOONER (USA), Oscany, Inc: 0/59.37

9 SILVER EXCHANGE II: 2001 Oldenburg gelding by Landjunge x Lavallo
DAVID MCPHERSON (GBR), David McPherson: 0/61.20

10 HELLO BOYO: 2003 Selle Francais gelding by Kannan x Cygnus D Odyssee
TINA FLETCHER (GBR), Lady Harris & Lady Kirkham: 0/64.36

11 CARISMA: 2002 Danish Warmblood mare by Willemoes x Racot
EMILIE MARTINSEN (DEN), Emilie Martensen: 0/65.18

12 AMOR VAN DE ROSTAL: 2000 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Peter Pan x Nimmerdor 147
MAC CONE (CAN), CHADBURN HOLDINGS INC.: 0/65.68