Mary Lisa Leffler and Carlot Capture $5,000 Open Welcome Stake at Swan Lake Quentin Fall Classic

© Lauren Baker: Mary Lisa Leffler and Carlot
Mary Lisa Leffler and Carlot won the $5,000 1.40m Open Welcome Stake at the Swan Lake Quentin Fall Class.

Littlestown, PA – Sept. 1, 2016 – The first highlight event of the Swan Lake Quentin Fall Classic kicked off on Thursday, as Mary Lisa Leffler and her own Carlot captured the win in the $5,000 1.40m Open Welcome Stake. Earlier in the day, Miranda Scott and Montoya brought home the blue ribbon in the $1,000 1.30m Open Jumper division.

Leffler and Carlot navigated the course effortlessly to turn in the only faultless round in the class, and tripped the timers in 79.63 seconds to secure the win. Coming in under the wire at 83.043 seconds, just over the time allowed of 83 seconds, were Christina Serio and Derbydown’s Discovery-O. The duo took home second place, leaving Matthias Hollberg and Courtney Ramsay’s Czechmate in third with a time of 76.636 seconds and four faults.

“This is Carlot’s first time back after a two-week break,” Leffler explained. “I was very pleased with him today. The cool weather helps him; he loves it. Plus, I love showing here. I love the footing, and the ring rides great.”

Leffler said she imported the 11-year-old gelding when he was 7, and originally purchased him as an investment project.

© Lauren Baker: Mary Lisa Leffler and Carlot
Mary Lisa Leffler and Carlot

“It’s been so much fun building a partnership with him,” Leffler said. “I wasn’t sure how far he could go. I gave him to my niece to do in the Low Junior/Amateur [Jumper division], and when she went off to college, I started finding out how much he had left in him. He stepped up to the plate, and he’s been my grand prix horse ever since.”

Earlier in the day, the 1.30m Open Jumper division took the stage in the grand prix ring, where Miranda Scott and Melanie Roy’s Montoya rode to the win.

After a clear round advanced the duo to the short course, Scott said Montoya clocked the winning time of 32.62 seconds in the jump-off. Hollberg would take second, this time aboard Shawna Stout’s Emerson with a time of 34.403 seconds.

“We come to these shows a lot because we’re local, and I love showing here with all my friends,” Scott said. “It’s nice to come home and show with your people. The course today was very rideable, and the horse jumped his heart out.”

Scott, who is based in Middleburg, Virginia, said that 16-year-old Montoya has done it all and is showing no signs of slowing down with age. Scott said her client purchased Montoya, who was then an eventing horse, two years ago from Hollberg.

© Lauren Baker: Miranda Scott and Montoya
Miranda Scott and Montoya

“Montoya has done every job under the sun,” Scott said. “He spent the winter jumping 3’6” in Wellington, but this summer we’ve been doing some little grand prix classes. He’s just figured it out and jumps clean consistently. He just tries so hard, and he loves his job. This is maybe the third time he’s jumped 1.30m.”

The action at the Swan Lake Quentin Fall Classic will continue on Friday with the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $2,500 1.30m Quentin Fall Classic Open Speed Stake.

Find more about the Quentin Fall Classic online at www.swanlakehorseshows.com.

Featured Sponsor: Finish Line Horse Products

Finish Line has been a leading provider of quality horse healthcare products since 1979. The company strives to produce products that will cause a noticeable improvement in your horse at the most reasonable prices.

“Finish Line Horse Products is proud to sponsor the Swan Lake Horse shows,” said Steven Blanchard, president of Finish Line. “We find Swan Lake to be a professionally run organization and the exposure we receive by being a part of their shows is beneficial to our company’s image and business.”

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