Wayne, Ill.—June 26  

The jump-off for the $50,000 WinVision Grand Prix at the Showplace Spring Spectacular ended up with 13 in it, but in the end Charlie Jayne from Elgin, Ill., and his own Playboy pulled off the win, beating Lisa Goldman and Rocs to Riches’ jump-off time to earn the victory gallop and the lion’s share of the prize money.

Goldman and her Morocco led halfway through the group. Then she beat her own time on her other mount, Rocs To Riches, stopping the timers at 34.34 seconds. The very next to go was Jayne and Playboy.

Spectators cheered from the stands as he outraced Goldman, laying down a time of 34.22 seconds. Two rounds later, the Texas contingent cheered on Trapp O’Neal from Magnolia, Texas and Capitano, owned by TKO Partners, as he edged Goldman and Morocco out of the third place position. Jayne held the lead to the end to win the class.

“I didn’t think there would be 13 clear, but there were some great horse and rider combinations that came from all over the country,” Jayne said. “It’s a nice central location here in Chicago. We see people from the East Coast, the Midwest, and all the way from Texas and the West. There were nice questions, the rails fell throughout, there was a tricky last line and I thought the course designer did a great job.”

Charlie Jayne on Playboy. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

O’Neal agreed. “I thought it was a good course,” he said. “You always think there are spots, maybe one or two, to have one down. It was a competitive jump off, that’s for sure.”

Goldman has dominated competition in the Grand Prix Arena during the three-week Spring Spectacular.

“The horses have been unbelievable,” she said. “Morocco has given me four double cleans. He hit two rails in three weeks. One of them was in a jump-off.”

She said she knew that she left the door open for someone to be faster in the class.

“I knew he beat me, but I didn’t know he only beat me by a tenth of a second,” she said. “I was happy for him and I’m really happy with both my horses.”

Lisa Goldman on Morocco. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Jayne shared that Tracy Fenney gave him a little friendly advice about the course that helped seal the deal and win the class.

“I didn’t know there was a six [strides] from [Fences 1 to 2],” he said. “She helped me and that set my tone. I got a little lucky, took a big shot at the skinny and it worked out well, so I was able to slow down at the last jump.”

Jayne said that he got Playboy at the end of his 7-year-old year. The Belgian Warmblood gelding (Toulon—Lysca) is now 10. Last year they won a $25,000 grand prix at the HITS Ocala (Fla.) winter circuit.

“I’ve been bringing him along,” he said. “He’s been a fantastic horse. We have stepped him up to the bigger [Fédération Equestre Internationale classes] and he’s looking fantastic. He’s stepping up quite nicely.”

O’Neal also purchased Capitano as a 7-year-old before he was very experienced.

“Kathy Epperson is a friend of mine and owns him as part of the TKO partnership,” O’Neal said. “I always love to have success on her horses. She’s been my No. 1 supporter since I started my business.”

O’Neal said that he got some help from John Roche who was here.

“It was a pleasure to show here,” O’Neal shared. “Pat Boyle does a great job, the facility and staff here are first class, they’re very friendly to us and make everything inviting. With the new [HITS facility at Balmoral Park in Illinois], Pat will be taking care of us.”