Wellington, FL – December 23, 2019 – Santiago Lambre of Mexico continued his winning streak this Sunday during the ESP Holiday III show, this time claiming the blue ribbon aboard Cetano Van Aspergem Z in the $25,000 Semican National Grand Prix. With the fastest time of 42.063 seconds and no faults in the jump-off, Lambre beat Canadian Ian Millar and Future Adventures’ Christiano, after the pair completed the jump-off time of 44.041 seconds to claim second place. Lambre returned for the yellow ribbon aboard his entry, Diathago after their 45.707-second jump-off. 

Out of the 25 trips that entered the course designed by Jasen Shelly, only eight competitors returned to contest the second round, and the top three were the only horse-and-rider combinations to put in a double-clear performance. “In the first round, I think the line at the beginning gave a lot of people trouble,” commented Lambre. “It was in between seven or eight strides, so if you weren’t on the distance you could’ve had some trouble. Then when a triple combination at the end of the course is always difficult too.”

Cetano Van Aspergem Z is one of Lambre’s own horses, with which he has a very successful track record with: “I’m very happy with how he went. He’s not green, usually competes at the five-star level, but I’m still working to get him fit for season. So the track for him the track was a bit easier for him and he’s very fast.” When asked about holiday plans, Lambre mentioned that he’ll just take three days off before they’re all back work and competing at ESP’s New Year’s Show on December 27.

Jumper Highlights

Following the Grand Prix, the $2,500 Equiline High Junior/Amateur Owner Classic took place in the International Arena. David Oberkircher of Collegeville, PA and Upper, owned by Southfields Farm, LLC, took top honors with a jump-off speed of 45.122 seconds. In second place stood Susan Horn of Bolton, ON aboard Kingsfield, Farm’s Lillyfee after they completed the track in 43.79 seconds with four faults. Putting in a first-round time of 81.594 seconds and four faults was Erika Jakobson of Boca Raton, FL who took home the third-place ribbon with Everton, owned by Barn Rat, LLC.

Danielle Torano of Wellington, FL and her own, Feramoon G bested the field in the $2,500 Equiline Medium Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic after they stopped the timers at 42.17 seconds. With a time of 39.837 seconds and four faults was Shai Tertner of Miami, FL piloting her Tycoon D’Argences. James Faloni of Essex Fells, NJ claimed third with his Genuis once they finished the course in 40.952 seconds and four faults. 

Over in the Mogavero Ring, the $1,500 M&S Children’s Jumper Classic presented by Score At The Top took place with Olivia Ferro of South Hadley, MA and Dave Burton’s Caesar taking home the blue ribbon after their 39.724-second performance. Kathryn McCarthy of New Canaan, CT rode her entry, Foran to a second-place victory with a 38.506-second jump-off and four faults, while Mateo Coles of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and A.J. 4 rounded out the top three, finishing the first round in 71.118 seconds and with four faults. 

Kelly Bauernschmidt of Bratenahl, OH piloted Illinois Z to victory in the $1,500 M&S Adult Amateur Jumper Classic presented by Score At The Top after completing the jump-off course in 42.41 seconds and with four faults. Kristen Franz of Wellington, FL and Dominica V, owned by Emily Patterson, rode through the timers in 38.688 seconds and incurred eight faults to clinch the red ribbon. Kara Constantakos’ Eclips R.W.L was piloted by Sara Ballinger of Marion, OH to a third-place finish in a time of 84.154 seconds and three faults during the first round. 

The $1,500 Low Children’s Jumper Classic presented by French Horse Exports named Lenir Perez of Honduras champion after a 36.699-second performance aboard Royalty, owned by Ana Isabel Facusse. Mia Frigon of Sudbury, MA and her mount, Catch Me took home second place after crossing through the timers in 38.441 seconds, while Caitlin Kerr of Jamacia rode Roberto Gomez’s Higher Heights to third in 40.258 seconds. 

Earlier in the week, the $10,000 Score At The Top Open Stake was championed by Samantha Schaefer of Westminster, MD and Temple Equestrian, LLC’s Zarina De Vidau after the pair flew through the timers in 40.133 seconds. Finishing the second round in 43.119 seconds to claim the red ribbon was Taylor St. Jacques of Glen Allen, VA aboard her entry, Qantar Des Etisses. Marilyn Little of Frederick, MD and RF Casablanca, owned by Raylan Farms, LLC, rounded out the top three with a 41.208-second jump-off and four faults added to their score. 

Hunter Highlights

Also on Friday, the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by The Fit Equestrian took place in the Rost Arena. Nicole Lyvere of Lakewood, CO and her Vaillero received top honors for their efforts, obtaining a total score of 174. Both the second and third ribbons were awarded to Gabrielle Sokolow of Westlake Village, CA after she piloted her entry Cosmopolitan to final score of 170.5 and her mount Iconic to a score of 170. 

The $500 Small Pony Hunter Classic saw Capri Truesdale of Greenwich, CT win the blue ribbon aboard Cabana Boy, owned by Morgan Ward with a final score of 154, while Olivia Sweetnam of Wellington, FL captured both the second and third place honors. Sweetnam rode Katherine Mercer’s Clovermeade Pop Secret for the red ribbon after getting a final score of 153, and Jill Shulman’s Secret Crush to third with a combined score of 145.

Kimberly Maloomian of West Palm Beach, FL claimed top honors in the $1,000 Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3”/3’6” Classic after her performance aboard Theodore Iorio’s Light It Up. Penelope Ayers of Far Hills, NJ clinched the red ribbon with her mount Cezanne, while Jared Depermentier of Bedminster, NJ and Pen Name took home third. 

The Pure Wellness Adult Amateur Hunter division named Catherine Cowie of New York, NY and her mount, Traveller champion, while Meghan Knapic of Smithtown, NY and Mindset, owned by First Blue, LLC, took reserve honors. 

Penelope Ayers and Cezanne returned to the winner’s circle to claim champion honors in the Vita Flex Amateur Owner Hunter 3’6” & 3’3” division, while Kimberly Maloomian and Light It Up returned to take home the reserve ribbon.

The ESP Holiday Series will continue this week with the New Year’s show from Friday, December 27 – Sunday, December 29. Click here to view the 2019 ESP Holiday Series Prize List.

To view the full results of the $25,000 Semican National Grand Prix, please click here.

To learn more about the ESP Holiday Series and PBIEC, please visit www.pbiec.com. 

Photo Credit ©Anne Gittins Photography and ©ESP. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release with proper credit.