Eric Lamaze Continues Winning Ways with Victory in $130,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI3*

© Lauren Baker: Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady gallop
Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady won the $130,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI3*.

Wellington, Fla. – Jan. 28, 2017 – Fresh off a win in Thursday’s WEF Challenge Cup, Eric Lamaze of Canada clinched his second win of the week in the $130,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI3*, this time on Fine Lady 5, owned by Artisan Farms and Torrey Pines Stable. The duo stopped the clock in 40.26 seconds for the win, merely hundredths of a second ahead of Germany’s Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who finished in 40.79 to take home second, and Sergio Alvarez Moya of Spain who brought home third with his time of 40.80 seconds.

© Lauren Baker: Adequan presentation
The top 3 pose for awards

“Fine Lady felt really good,” Lamaze said. “This was a difficult course, but she’s done some very big classes lately. This was hard, but for her but it was a little bit of an easier class.”

Out of 43 starters, the course yielded a respectable seven in the jump-off, but the packed house at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center had to wait to witness the first clear round as the first three failed to leave the rails intact. Jimmy Torano went first on Day Dream, owned by Jimmy and his wife Danielle, going in 46.22 seconds and collecting 4 faults for seventh.

© Lauren Baker: Jimmy Torano and Day Dream
Jimmy Torano and Day Dream

Ireland’s Kevin Babington on his Mark Q turned in a faster 4-fault round, finishing in 42.23 seconds to leave them in fifth for the night, while Laura Chapot and Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star were the fastest of the four-faulters to take home fourth place with a time of 41.83 seconds.

Lamaze was next in the order and rode a clean and fast round, taking a short turn before galloping down the final line at a blistering pace.

“You need to have the distance in front of you to be fast,” Lamaze said. “If there is something in front of you, you take it. One pull and I’m easily third or maybe fourth. The distance has to come up your way to be fast. It was a straightforward jump-off.”

© Lauren Baker: Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady
Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady

Michaels-Beerbaum gave Lamaze a run for his money as she finished less than a second slower on Comanche 28, owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm, LLC. However, she was not disappointed with the runner-up spot.

“First of all, I’d like to say that it’s a great honor to be second to Eric by just a tiny bit,” said Michaels-Beerbaum. “Comanche, I believe over the last year, has gained a tremendous amount of experience. He’s always been a fantastic jumper, but he has been slightly green in the ring and a little bit spooky. Over the last year he’s been to shows all over the world, and I think that’s actually helped him. I think he’s grown up a lot and tonight you could really see he gained a lot of self-confidence. I’m very pleased with where he is today.”

© Lauren Baker: Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Comanche 28
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Comanche 28

Jessica Mendoza of Great Britain took on 4 faults with her chestnut gelding Toy Boy in a time of 43.15 seconds to finish in sixth. Alvarez Moya, in his first season at WEF and the final rider in the jump-off, gave a valiant effort on G&C Unicstar de l’Aumone, but stopped the clock a breath shy of seconds place to secure third.

© Lauren Baker: Sergio Alvarez Moya and G&C Unicstar D'Laumone
Sergio Alvarez Moya and G&C Unicstar de l’Aumone

“I was very confident with her,” Alvarez Moya said. “She’s never been under the lights, but she’s always great She tries her best, and she never doubts about anything. It wasn’t an easy class. It’s an honor to be next to Eric and Meredith. She’s naturally very fast, so I didn’t want to override it. I am very happy with my third place.”

© Lauren Baker: Laura Chapot and ISHD Dual Star
Laura Chapot and ISHD Dual Star

© Lauren Baker: Kevin Babington and Mark Q
Kevin Babington and Mark Q

© Lauren Baker: Jessica Mendoza and Toy Boy
Jessica Mendoza and Toy Boy

RESULTS Class : 101    Adequan Grand Prix 238.2.2
                                                    First Round          Jump Off
Pl  Nbr  Horse           Rider            Nat      Faults    Time      Faults    Time
_____________________________________________________________________________
1   2130FINE LADY 5     ERIC LAMAZE       CAN               72.40               40.26
2   5444COMANCHE 28     MEREDITH MICHAELS GER               70.42               40.79
3   3704G&C UNICSTAR D'LSERGIO ALVAREZ MO ESP               68.54               40.80
4   2978ISHD DUAL STAR  LAURA CHAPOT      USA               68.37       4       41.83
5   4353MARK Q          KEVIN BABINGTON   IRL               73.34       4       42.23
6   3225TOY BOY         JESSICA MENDOZA   GBR               71.37       4       43.15
7   203 DAY DREAM       JIMMY TORANO      USA               71.20       4       46.22
8   1086TOULAGO         ADRIENNE STERNLIC USA        1      74.40                    
9   6053SKARA GLEN'S MACPAUL O'SHEA       IRL        1      74.42                    
10  2220ATLANTIS        SAMUEL PAROT      CHI        4      68.48                    
11  1016VALINSKI S      TODD MINIKUS      USA        4      68.76                    
12  1721EMILIE DE DIAMANHARDIN TOWELL     USA        4      70.44
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