Wellington, FL – February 19, 2010 – Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ, aboard Valentia, owned by Mary Chapot, produced a flawless round today in a time of 62.593 seconds to capture the win in the $6,000 Spy Coast 1.40m Speed Challenge. Fifteen-year-old Ben Asselin of Calgary, Alberta, Canada came in second place on his mount Magic Man, owned by Attache Stables.
The sixth week of the FTI WEF is sponsored by Bainbridge and runs through Sunday, February 21st. The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of competition that conclude on April 4, 2010, and they will be awarding almost $6 million in prize money through the circuit.
Steve Stephens of Palmetto, FL designed the course in the DeNemethy Ring for a field of 30 competitors. There were 12 numbered obstacles, which included a spooky second jump, a rollback turn to a wide Swedish oxer, and a very careful plank towards the end of the course that came down often. The time allowed in the speed class, which consisted of one round only, was 70 seconds.
There were four clear rounds and the first competitor to set the pace was Ben Asselin on his mount Magic Man, owned by the Attache Stables. The pair were the first to enter the ring and were in the lead for more than half the class after producing a flawless round in a time of 63.609 seconds.
Shortly after, Christina Serio on First Lady, owned by Roy Wilten, entered the ring and had a faultless trip. The pair stopped the timers at 69.730 seconds, which was just a little shy of the top spot. The round would be good enough to assume third place.
The other challenger to have a clear round was Carlos Quinones on his mount Dalai, owned by Michelle Navarro-Grau. They stopped the timers at 70.885 seconds, which would later take the fourth place position.
The lead did not change hands until much later in the class when Laura Chapot entered the ring on her mount Valentia, owned by Mary Chapot. The pair claimed the top spot when they raced through the course with a very fast time of 62.593 seconds. Chapot went straight to the top of the class after winning both the 1.30m and 1.35m classes earlier in the morning.
Frank Chapot was very pleased with his daughter’s rounds today and said, “Laura had already won two classes this morning.” He spoke of the horse Valentia, “It is only seven and should be in the other ring doing the young jumpers, but it is here because it is quite fast.” Frank hopes that his daughter Laura continues her streak and acquires more blue ribbons through the rest of the circuit.
Ben Asselin, who was by far the youngest competitor in the class today, was very pleased with his horse Magic Man. He said, “Four years ago my dad bought the gelding as a seven-year-old, but he broke his knee as an eight-year-old and was off for two years.” He continued, “He was able to come back from the injury, and I started him up and kept him.” Asselin spoke of his course today, “I made very tight turns on the course, but I kept it smooth and efficient.” His plan is to keep moving up and get more experience on the horse throughout the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Tomorrow action will continue with the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m Jumper Classic in the DeNemethy Ring following the Medium Amateur-Owner, Medium Junior, and High Junior Jumper classes.
For full results and more information, please visit www.shownet.biz or www.equestriansport.com.
Final Results: $6,000 Spy Coast 1.40m Speed Challenge
1. VALENTIA, LAURA CHAPOT, MARY CHAPOT: 0/62.593
2. MAGIC MAN, BEN ASSELIN, ATTACHE STABLES: 0/63.609
3. FIRST LADY, CHRISTINA SERIO, ROY WILTEN: 0/63.609
4. DALAI, CARLOS QUINONES, MICHELLE NAVARRO-GRAU: 0/70.885
5. ZELDENRUST Z, DONALD CHESKA, DONALD CHESKA: 3/73.672
6. MON GAMIN, BRIANNE GOUTAL, CLOVERLEAF FARM: 4/61.501
7. LIFESTYLE, DANIEL BLUMAN, DANIEL BLUMAN: 4/68.344
8. CARNITO, FEDERICO SZTYRLE: HERB SAMBOL: 4/69.605
9. SKARA GLEN’S DAVOS, CANDICE KING, SKARA GLEN STABLES: 4/69.938
10. CHILI PEPPER, LAURA CHAPOT, LAURA CHAPOT: 8/61.047
11. DIAMS III, JOE FARGIS, MARY SCHWAB: 8/65.578
12. SALVATORE, MICHAEL DELFIANDRIA, PINE HOLLOW STABLES: 8/67.120
The 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 13 through April 4. WEF is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $5.5 million in prize money will be awarded.
WEF is proud to be supported by their title sponsor, FTI Consulting, Inc. FTI Consulting, Inc. exists to help companies and their stakeholders protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex economic, legal and regulatory environment. FTI is the trusted advisor entrenched in many of the game-changing events that make headlines, move markets and create business history. For more information, please visit www.fticonsulting.com.
During the 12 weeks of WEF, “Saturday Night Lights” headlines the entertainment each Saturday night where spectators not only enjoy the Grand Prix class, but a street carnival, live music, and numerous dining options with box seats, sports bars, and the famed Tiki Hut for front row fun.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.