Aaron Vale and Cristo Beech Best the Field in the $100,000 Alltech Grand Prix at WEC – Ocala

Aaron Vale (USA) and Cristo Beech, owned by Alise Carrico and Thinks Like A Horse, claimed top honors in the $100,000 Alltech Grand Prix on Saturday, February 4, 2023, during the fifth week of the Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala in Ocala, FL. Peter Grant (CAN) set the course for the starting field of 33 horse-and-rider combinations. The jump-off consisted of 14 competitors, and only five pairs managed to produce a second clean effort. Vale and the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding put the pedal to the metal in the jump-off and crossed the timers at 42.110 seconds for the victory.

“He is a little bit quirky,” Vale said of his mount. “I didn’t know if I could get the eight strides done. I turned the corner and saw a fast spot to fence one. I wasn’t even sure if I could get to that spot. I landed and wasn’t sure exactly what I was seeing, but I just kept kicking with the hopes he would take off and he did.”

Santiago Lambre (BRA) rode his own Pampero to second-place honors with a time of 42.607 seconds. Vale also secured third place with Lori Osterstock’s I Adermie R 4 after stopping the timers at 43.686 seconds.

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$100,000 Alltech Grand Prix Results:

1. Cristo Beech, Aaron Vale (USA), Alise Carrico & Thinks Like A Horse: 0 | 0 | 42.110
2. Pampero, Santiago Lambre (BRA), Santiago Lambre: 0 | 0 | 42.607
3. I Adermie R 4, Aaron Vale (USA), Lori Ostertock: 0 | 0 43.686
4. Eve D’ouilly, Cian O’Connor (IRL), Nicole Walker: 0 | 0 | 44.567
5. Quirado RC, Richard Spooner (USA), Show Jumping Syndications International: 0 | 0 | 45.865
6. Comtess 202, Santiago Lambre (BRA), Santiago Lambre: 0 | 4 | 43.338
7. Valentine Car, Sharn Wordley (NZL), Fernando Cardenas Jr.: 0 | 4 | 43.624
8. MTM Apple, Tracy Fenney (USA), MTM Farm: 0 | 8 | 41.607
9. Verdini D’Houtveld Z, Lauren Balcomb (AUS), Lauren Balcomb: 0 | 8  | 48.886
10. Rock Of Cashel, Tom Wachman (IRL), Coolmore Showjumping: 0 | 8 | 49.027

Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Sovereign Prevail in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix

Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Sovereign, owned by Barbara Disko, earned the top prize in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix, on Saturday, February 4, 2023, in the WEC Grand Arena. The class consisted of 30 competitors who competed over the course designed by Peter Grant (CAN). In the end, 10 combinations navigated a fault-free first round to qualify for the jump-off. Goldman-Smolen and the 17-year-old Selle Français stallion stopped the clock at 37.980 seconds to secure the win.

“I was able to watch the few riders go ahead of me, and the course ended up looking to be a bit more challenging than I anticipated,” commented Goldman-Smolen. “The four-stride line looked like it rode a bit long, and then the six looked pretty steady. It was a bit of an advantage to watch right before I went in.”

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$15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:

1. Sovereign, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko: 0 | 0 | 37.980
2. Harold, Jelmer Hoekstra, Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.163
3. Halcon, Richard Spooner, Molly Ohrstrom: 0 | 0 | 38.790
4. Seaview Demonstration, Brooke Kemper, CM Sporthorses LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.114
5. Cool Ray, Fernando Cardenas Jr., B&C, LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.189
6. Boreale De Talma, Staisha Bejarano, Empire Show Stables: 0 | 0 | 44.081
7. Kaitlin W, Jelmer Hoekstra, Jelmer Hoekstra: 0 | 4 | 38.926
8. Celtic Lady M2S, Cady Kilmas, Jumpers Landing LLC: 0 | 4 | 39.757
9. Renkum A’Toast, Declan Egan, Declan Egan: 0 | 4 | 43.025
10. FE Storm Trooper, Clayton Fredericks, Clayton Fredericks: 0 | 12 | 46.210