Competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) continued on Friday during week ten of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) with a win for Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Stone Hill Farm’s Davendy S in the morning’s $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic. The pair bested Eduardo Menezes and Caruschka 2, who settled for second place, while Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Melody des Hayettes Z finished third.

Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) set the speed track for 67 starters in Friday’s 1.45m with 12 clear rounds. Springsteen finished two mounts in the top six for the day. She was first to go in the morning with Stone Hill Farm’s Tiger Lily, setting the pace in 68.66 seconds, and eventually placing sixth. Twelve rounds later, Lamaze and Artisan Farms LLC’s Melody des Hayettes Z took the lead in 65.42 seconds, but later settled for third place. Wednesday’s 1.45m winners, Menezes and Caruschka 2, briefly took over the top spot in a time of 64.98, but were soon pushed from the lead. Four rounds later, Springsteen and Davendy S finished in 63.42 seconds and held on for the win.

Conor Swail (IRL) and Ilan Ferder’s Cenzo finished fourth in 66.10 seconds, and Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Memphis placed fifth in 68.15 seconds.

Springsteen went first with Tiger Lily, a nine-year-old Oldenburg mare (Balou du Rouet x Domino) that she purchased in November. As she is just getting to know the mare, she went a little easier in their round, but was happy with a great finish.

“She jumped really well,” Springsteen stated. “I was going to go kind of quick with her, but not as tight anywhere, so I think that is where I ended up a little slower. She is so careful, so it is good to start being a little bit more competitive in these classes with her.

“I got her in November, but she ended up just staying in Europe, so I did not ride her until she got down here for the winter,” Springsteen detailed. “She is only nine. I think she moved up a little bit before we got her and did a 1.50m, but she does not have as much experience as Davendy, so I am kind of just getting used to her. She is a little bit quirky and a little bit fresh, so I am figuring out how to prepare her the right way. She is great; she is super competitive, and she is really careful, so I am excited about her.”

With one successful round already completed, Springsteen knew what she had to do with Davendy S to get the win. She has had a great circuit with the 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Pachat II), also winning the $86,000 Suncast® 1.50m Championship Jumper Classic during week five, and felt confident in her ride.

“I was going to jump her yesterday, but she is so good at these classes, so I thought today I had a better shot,” Springsteen noted. “I was just going for it today. She is so fast on her own, so I knew as long as I did the turns that I would be right up there.”

Springsteen did not see the leading round of Eduardo Menezes just before her, but she did get to see Lamaze’s early round and was able to judge her plan from that. “Once I saw Eric go, I had an idea of what I needed to do,” she stated. “I was really fast after the double, then I knew I had to take a hold of her a bit for the triple, and then I added one down to the next oxer. In the middle part of the course that was kind of an ‘S’ shape, I was pretty on the gas, so that is probably where I made the time up.”

Springsteen began training with Edwina Tops Alexander and Jan Tops last year, but while she is in Wellington, she has had the help of British Olympic team gold medalist Ben Maher.

On training with Maher this winter, Springsteen stated, “It has been great. He is so much fun to work with. He is so laid back, and he is really clear, and easygoing. You always feel confident when you go into the ring, and I think that is the most important thing. I love working with him.”

Also competing in the International Ring on Friday, the $6,000 Illustrated Properties 1.40m Speed Challenge was held in a California Split with a win for Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Susan Grange’s Tienna in Section A, and victory for Hannah Selleck (USA) and Descanso Farm’s Callway do Cabo in Section B.

Final Results: $35,000 Illustrated Properties 1.45m Classic

1. DAVENDY S: 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Pachat II JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN (USA), Stone Hill Farm: 0/63.42

2. CARUSCHKA 2: 2004 Oldenburg mare by Caspar x Continue EDUARDO MENEZES (BRA), Eduardo Menezes: 0/64.98

3. MELODY DES HAYETTES Z: 2004 Zangersheide mare by Mozart des Hayettes x Ryon  d’Anzex X Eric Lamaze (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 0/65.42

4. CENZO: 2007 KWPN gelding by Harley VDL x Cavalier CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Ilan Ferder: 0/66.10

5. HH MEMPHIS: 2006 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Armitage x Cruising QUENTIN JUDGE (USA), Double H Farm: 0/68.15

6. TIGER LILY: 2007 Oldenburg mare by Balou du Rouet x Domino JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN (USA), Stone Hill Farm: 0/68.66

7. BIJOU DE BALOU: 2006 Rheinlander mare by Balou du Rouet x Graf Grannus KATIE DINAN (USA), Grant Road Partners LLC: 0/69.45

8. BARLA: 2004 Oldenburg mare by Baloubet du Rouet x Carthago Z HANNAH SELLECK (USA), Descanso Farm: 0/72.70

9. STRANGER 30: 2006 Hanoverian gelding by Stakkato x Cheenook ANDREW RAMSAY (USA), The Stranger Group: 0/73.15

10. RECONNAISSANCE: 2005 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Camaro M x Irco Mena LAUREN HOUGH (USA), Laura and Meredith Mateo: 0/76.36

11. CALISTA: 2006 Westphalian mare by Cornet Obolensky x Pontifex GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/77.39

12. WIEMINKA B: 2003 KWPN mare by Cardento x Topas WESLEY NEWSLANDS (CAN), Weslands Farms: 0/79.67

Source: Press release from Equestrian Sport Productions News  // Photo  © Sportfot.