PrintRodrigo Pessoa wasn’t the only rider pleased with tonight’s results in the $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix and USEF WEG Selection Trial 2. While the Brazilian rider may have taken the lion’s share of the purse in the class, Laura Kraut and Lauren Hough left the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center with nothing—and they were thrilled.
The two U.S. Olympic team veterans from Wellington, Fla., now stand together at the top of the selection trials rankings with perfect scores of 0 after the first two rounds that concluded on Feb. 27 in Wellington, Fla.
After 13 clear rounds in Trial 1, it was no surprise to many observers that the course for Trial 2 was a bit tougher. Guilherme Jorge of Brazil set a 14-fence course with scope challenges, technical distances and a tight time allowed that thoroughly tested the riders. With several last-minute scratches—including Kelsey Thatcher, the junior star of Thursday’s trial—the starting field was whittled down to 49 starters from 54 entries.
In the end, eight horse/rider combinations jumped clear with five qualifying for the jump-off. Because the class was a combination grand prix and selection trial, only a rider’s first horse was eligible for the jump-off. Therefore, Urico/Mario Deslauriers, Mademoiselle/Beezie Madden and Skara Glen’s Davos/Candice King were unable to join in the tiebreaker.
Hillary Dobbs and Quincy B just exceeded the time allowed in the first round even with ample clucking from their in-gate fans, but their 1 time fault combined with a first-trial clear, puts them in third place in the standings just behind Kraut and Hough.
McLain Ward, Brewster, N.Y., and Rothchild rebounded from a refusal in the first trial to post a solid clear over the course described by the riders as a four-star challenge at the two-star level. Ward also set the pace in the jump-off with the game chestnut, but a rail left the door open (4/40.46).
Mexican rider and FTI Winter Equestrian Festival newcomer Nicolas Pizarro took the opportunity to claim the lead with his attractive mount Crossing Jordan (0/41.13). The 10-year-old German-bred stallion looked extremely comfortable in the arena, even though it was the first time the pair had ever contested a grand prix under the lights.
Pizarro and Crossing Jordan jumped impressively during the Spruce Meadows Masters (Alta.) in September and helped the Mexican team take third place in the BMO Nations Cup. Pizarro arrived in Florida last week and had jumped Crossing Jordan in two classes prior to this event. His ultimate goal is to qualify for the Mexican team for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.) this fall, and he’ll take a step toward that achievement when he represents his team during next week’s Nations Cup.
Hough and Quick Study went to work chasing Pizarro’s time, but a rail cost them. Their 4 faults in 40.64 seconds left them fifth, but Hough wasn’t disappointed as her focus is on the big picture.
“It’s a long road,” she said of the two weeks of trials. “He's a horse with a lot of energy. With only five in the jump-off, I wasn't going to go full speed, but I didn't think it would hurt to jump another round tonight. He's a horse where the more rounds he jumps, the better he is. I'm very pleased with where we're sitting at the moment.”
