Traverse City, Mich. – July 26, 2019 –Show jumping competition resumed for the fourth week of the 2019 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival(GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, LLC, with a CSI2* rating attracting international exhibitors. In Friday’s $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*, six nations were represented by the 46 entries, and in the end it was Abigail McArdle of the United States riding Victorio 5 who emerged victorious ahead of a nine-horse jump-off. Earlier in the week, Kelli Cruciotti (USA) and Zidante topped the leaderboard in the $1,000 1.40m Jumper CSI2* to commence the week’s FEI classes.
Hailed as one of the world’s most respected course designers, Alan Wade (IRL) was at the helm in the Grand Prix Ring during Week IV, and posed a fair but technical track for the horse-and-athlete pairs in the $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*. Following the first round of riding, nine combinations qualified for a spot in the jump-off after successfully navigating the course. Aboard their respective horses, Ali Wolff (USA), Gavin Moylan (CAN), Tomas Yofre (ARG), Mattias Tromp (USA), Samantha Kasowitz (USA), Lauren Tisbo (USA), Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Maria Costa (USA) and McArdle each turned in fault-free trips within the time-allowed to advance to the final round of riding.
The first to return, Wolff and Quirie 2, owned by John Wolff, set the pace to beat as the early clear pathfinders, laying down the first double-clear performance of the evening and a high standard in 33.450 seconds. Subsequent pairs attempted to chase down the early leaders over the abridged track, but McArdle and Victorio Equine Group LLC’s Victorio 5 proved to be the only contenders up for the challenge near the end of the pack. Tripping the timers in 32.430 seconds with all of the fences still standing, McArdle and Victorio 5 usurped Wolff and Quirie 2 to take the lead and eventually capture the winning honors in the $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*. Wolff and Quirie 2 settled for second position, while Molly Ashe Cawley and Louisburg Farm’s Berdien rounded out the top three in 33.770 seconds, the third of seven double-clear partnerships.
New in 2019, the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus will be awarded at the conclusion of the circuit in August, with points calculated based on prize money earned throughout the six-week festival in Open Jumper classes 1.45m and above. McArdle’s victory earned her valuable points towards the bonus at the circuit’s finale, but Wilhelm Genn (GER) still sits atop the leaderboard following a series of wins in welcome stake and grand prix competition in the first weeks of the series. Fans and athletes can follow along and check the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus leaderboard, posted on www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com, to track their favorite riders and see who is leading in the standings.
FEI competition began Thursday with the one-round $1,000 1.40 Jumper CSI2* in the Grand Prix Ring, which served to prepare competitors for Friday’s welcome stake. Topping a 29-horse field, Cruciotti jockeyed Serenity Farm’s Zidante to the lead spot in the victory gallop thanks to a clear ride in 56.070 seconds, the fastest of 23 fault-free partnerships. Just over half of a second off the lead, McArdle rode Smith Hogan LLC’s Corento VH Dingenshof to second place in 56.660 seconds, followed by Tanner Korotkin (USA) aboard Sandalwood Farms’ Armagedon in 57.330 seconds to claim third place.
The highlight event of the week, the $71,200 Flintfields Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, will take place Sunday afternoon at GLEF. Sunday’s show jumping action will conclude the fourth week of the 2019 GLEF and the second FEI week of the series, but FEI competition will continue at GLEF for two more weeks with Weeks V and VI touting a CSI3* rating.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Abigail McArdle (USA) – $35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2* winner
On Victorio 5:
“Last year, this was my first show with him. After that we started showing FEI. He won the U25 finals at the end of last year and has been moving up. He is so with me right now and is such a good horse. I can’t say how good of a horse he is; he makes my life.”
On her jump-off strategy:
“I saw Ali [Wolff]. She went first, so that was great because it was the only one I was able to watch. I had walked a number on the first line between the two oxers, and she did a galloping eight strides. My horse cuts to the right and he has a huge stride so I knew I could beat her if I got that in seven. Everywhere else, we were the same.”
On GLEF:
“It’s fantastic. I love this show. Alan Wade did a beautiful course job, the footing here is fantastic and it is one of my favorite shows here in America for sure. We go out to the lake and the town is really nice. My mother is here to visit me this week, so it’s really great that she got to see the win.”
Kelli Cruciotti – $1,000 1.40 Jumper CSI2* winner
On Zidante and her strategy for the class:
“She’s a 15-year-old bay Warmblood mare. I’ve had her for six years now, so I know her really, really well. She’s super easy, brave and this was actually her warm-up class for the week. My plan was to just be nice and efficient, not necessarily go too fast as she’s a naturally quick horse so I never have to worry about that. Luckily, it worked out and she was quick enough for the win today.”
On the venue improvements at GLEF:
“The improvements here are amazing. The second jumper ring looks absolutely fantastic. The weather, you can’t beat it here, and the footing, the horses jump so great on. I’d say it’s probably one of our favorite shows overall the whole year.”
On the Traverse City area:
“The area is amazing. We’re actually staying in our campers right down the road and it’s the nicest campground you’ve ever seen. It has a river and it’s beautiful under the trees. The town is five minutes away, so you can go into town and have some really nice dinners. We just love it here.”
RESULTS
$35,700 Devoucoux Welcome Stake CSI2*:
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / Time
1. Victorio 5 / Abigail McArdle / Victorio Equine Group LLC / 0 / 0 / 32.430
2. Quirie 2 / Ali Wolff / John Wolff / 0 / 0 / 33.450
3. Berdien / Molly Ashe Cawley / Louisburg Farm / 0 / 0 / 33.770
4. Kavalli Di Magico / Tomas Yofre / Clear Ride LLC / 0 / 0 / 33.980
5. Balous Diamond / Gavin Moylan / Radiant Equine Llc / 0 / 0 / 34.520
6. Casco 11 / Lauren Tisbo / Tequestrian Farms LLC / 0 / 0 / 34.960
7. Charlie / Samantha Kasowitz / Fair Play Farm / 0 / 0 / 35.450
8. Valentino V Z / Maria Costa / Ravello Farms LLC / 0 / 4 / 34.840
9. Eyecatcher / Mattias Tromp / Beyaert Farm Inc / 0 / 4 / 35.790
10. Sovereign / Lisa Goldman-Smolen / Barbara Disko / 1 / 75.460
11. Quilimbo / Schuyler Riley / E2 Show Jumpers / 1 / 75.760
12. Manhattan / Mattias Tromp / Beyaert Farm Inc / 1 / 77.780
$1,000 1.40 Jumper CSI2*:
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults / Time
1. Zidante / Kelli Cruciotti / Serenity Farm / 0 / 56.070
2. Corento VH Dingenshof / Abigail McArdle / Smith Hogan LLC / 0 / 56.660
3. Armagedon / Tanner Korotkin / Sandalwood Farms / 0 / 57.330
4. Charlie / Samantha Kasowitz / Fair Play Farm / 0 / 58.120
5. King Clooney / Adam Cramer / Equi-sport LLC / 0 / 59.170
6. Eisemeis / Paige Johnson / Salamander Farm / 0 / 60.910
7. Quirie 2 / Ali Wolff / John Wolff / 0 / 63.020
8. Quilimbo / Schuyler Riley / E2 Show Jumpers / 0/ 63.250
9. Kavalli Di Magico / Tomas Yofre / Clear Ride LLC / 0 / 63.670
10. Eyecatcher / Mattias Tromp / Beyaert Farm Inc / 0 / 64.010
11. Gablitz P / Andrew Welles / Anne Arredondo Brekke / 0 / 64.140
12. Baloucento 2 / Ailish Cunniffe / Whipstick Farm Ltd. / 0 / 65.040
For more information, please visit greatlakesequestrianfestival.com.
