Wellington, FL – March 15, 2017 – U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Laura Kraut was victorious riding Caelle in the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m speed class to open week ten on Wednesday, March 15, at the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL.
Laura Kraut and Caelle
WEF 10, sponsored by Horseware Ireland, features CSI 3* competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) on March 15-19, 2017. The week’s highlights include the $130,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* and the $35,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Semi-Final, presented by The McNerney Family. All of the week’s live streaming can be viewed HERE. The 12-week WEF circuit continues through April 2, 2017, awarding over $9 million in prize money.
Michel Vaillancourt (USA) set the speed track for 69 starters in the morning’s 1.45m and saw 20 clear rounds. Kraut rode Stars and Stripes’ Caelle, an eight-year-old Zangersheide mare (Clinton x Darco), to the winning time of 62.25 seconds. Laura Chapot (USA) placed second in 62.31 seconds riding her own and Mary Chapot’s Thornhill Kate. Emily Moffitt (GBR) crossed the timers in 63 seconds to place third riding Poden Farm’s Zagahorn. Lisa Goldman jumped into fourth place in 63.15 seconds aboard Barbara Disko’s Sovereign. Chapot also took fifth place honors, riding her own and McLain Ward’s Quointreau un Prince to a time of 63.26 seconds.
“I am really pleased,” Kraut said of Caelle. “I got her at the end of her six-year-old year and just spent last year doing the seven-year-olds. This was her first time ever jumping FEI, so she is off to a good beginning.
“She is wonderful,” Kraut continued. “She is super brave, she is so fast, and she is just very competitive. This morning, even though it is her first time jumping in an FEI 1.45m class, I knew she would not have any issues. I just went as quick as I thought I needed to, and she is so fast.”
Detailing her winning round, Kraut stated, “Michel Vaillancourt set a nice course this morning. It was a few sharp turns and then quite a nice gallop across the ring a couple of times, which she does well. It was tricky enough. The triple combination was difficult to gallop in; it was a big vertical to vertical and then an oxer. She handled that well. Really, I just tried to be as neat and quick as I could. Then towards the end of the course, I took a little bit of a pull and slowed her down just because she does not know still about going flat out at that height of jump, but she responded. I am just very happy with her.”
Caelle will jump again in Friday’s 1.45m competition. Kraut is taking her time bringing the mare along and hopes to step her up to 1.50m later this season.
Laura Kraut in her winning presentation (Whitney standing in for Caelle) with Jasmine Velez of Douglas Elliman Real Estate and ringmaster Steve Rector.
Also competing in the International Arena on Wednesday, Amber Harte (USA) and Austria 2 won the $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m speed class. Georgina Bloomberg (USA) and Gotham Enterprizes’ South Street were victorious in the $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m Power and Speed.
Week ten of the Winter Equestrian Festival continues in the International Arena on Thursday featuring the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 10 and $10,000 Hollow Creek Farm Under 25 Grand Prix Series Welcome. For full results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.
Final Results: $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m
1. CAELLE: 2009 Zangersheide mare by Clinton x Darco
LAURA KRAUT (USA), Stars and Stripes: 0/62.25
2. THORNHILL KATE: 2005 Irish Sport Horse mare by Courage II x Clover Hill
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Laura & Mary Chapot: 0/62.31
3. ZAGAHORN: 2004 KWPN gelding by Matterhorn x Wolfgang
EMILY MOFFITT (GBR), Poden Farms: 0/63.00
4. SOVEREIGN: 2006 Selle Francais stallion by Frontal x Galoubet A
LISA GOLDMAN (USA), Barbara Disko: 0/63.15
5. QUOINTREAU UN PRINCE: 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Rosire
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Laura Chapot & McLain Ward: 0/63.26
6=ZEPHYR: 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Landor S x Calvados
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Wyndmont: 0/63.28
6=RYANAIR DE RIVERLAND: 2005 Selle Francais stallion by Quick Star x Papillon Rouge
JULIE WELLES (USA), Alexander LLC: 0/63.28
6=ATTICUS DIAMANT: 2009 Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly x Vas Y Donc Longane
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Catherine Lignelli: 0/63.28
9. HINDSIGHT: 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Vision van’t Hazelarenhoekje x Riverman
LISA GOLDMAN (USA), Lisa Goldman: 0/64.45
10. MANODIE II H: 2005 Oldenburg mare by Carthago x Zeus
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/65.99
11. S I E C CROS: 2004 Holsteiner stallion by Chambertin x Cantus
ABDEL SAID (EGY), AS Sport Horses: 0/66.17
12. UTOPIA DI SAN PATRIGNANO: 2002 mare Nadir di san Patrignano x Pimpernel
KERRY MCCAHILL (USA), Kerry Anne LLC: 0/67.62
Photo Credit: Photos © Sportfot, Official Photographer of the Winter Equestrian Festival. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and must include photo credit.