Press release from Great Lakes Equestrian Festival

The first of two weeks of CSI3* competition began during Week V of the 2019 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, LLC, with the first half of the week dominated by the Bluman brothers as they accumulated victories in two major classes to make it a family affair. Thursday’s big winners proved to be Ilan Bluman (COL) and Eax Run Run LS, who galloped away with the tricolor in the $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI3* as the fastest double-clear pair ahead of a large 16-horse jump-off. On Wednesday, Mark Bluman (COL) and Jenni’s Chance kicked off FEI competition with a victory in the $1,000 1.40m Jumper CSI3* to best a field of 23 contenders.

At the conclusion of the first round of riding in the $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI3*,16 horse-and-rider partnerships had successfully navigated course designer Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) track to earn a spot in the jump-off. Athletes slated to return over the short course included Ilan, Sydney Shulman (ISR), Peter Leone (USA), Peter Lutz (USA), Santiago Lambre (MEX), Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Jim Ifko (CAN), Catherine Tyree (USA), Schuyler Riley (USA), Wilhelm Genn (GER), Sloane Coles (USA), Vasco Flores (PUR), Mattias Tromp (USA) and Tanner Jorotkin (USA) with their respective horses. Riley and Bluman posed the greatest threats of winning with two mounts apiece qualified for the tie-breaking round.

Back for the abridged jump-off course, Tyree and Mary Tyree’s Enjoy Louis served as the pathfinders and the first pair to lay down a second fault-free effort, breaking the beam in 43.600 to set the pace ahead of the large returning pack. As the class progressed, eight duos were able to catch Tyree and Enjoy Louis by turning in quicker foot-perfect performances, led by Ilan and Blue Star Investments’ Eax Run Run LS, one of the final entries to ride. The combination improved upon their competitors’ times with a clear trip in 38.640 to jump to the lead, and no subsequent entries were able to catch them, solidifying Ilan and Eax Run Run LS as the $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI3* victors. Shulman piloted Jill Shulman’s Azilis Du Mesnil to second place in a penalty-free 39.290 seconds, and Bosch Sport Horses’ Excellent carried Lutz to third overall in the rankings in a clean time of 40.570 seconds.

With Ilan’s win, he has earned valuable points towards the new $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus, but Genn still retains the top spot following a series of victories at the onset of the festival. Awarded at the conclusion of the circuit in August, the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus standing are calculated based on prize money earned throughout the six-week festival in Open Jumper classes 1.45m and above. Fans and athletes can follow along and check the $25,000 CaptiveOne Open Jumper Rider Bonus leaderboard, posted on www.greatlakesequestrianfestival.com, to track their favorite riders and see who is leading in the standings.

Week V show jumping competition will continue at GLEF for three more days, with the $35,700 Grand Traverse Classic CSI3* taking place Friday afternoon, August 2 and the feature event of the week, the $133,700 Staller Grand Traverse Grand Prix CSI3*, beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 4.

From the winner's circle

On Eax Run Run LS:
“This horse I got almost three and a half years ago. I have been working really hard with him, and this is the first time we went that fast. He is learning. He is not that young, but he is still learning. I’ve been working really hard to be able to do what I did today.”

On his jump-off strategy:
“I was clear with both of my horses. The first one [J-Boston S.E] I started on the right lead, and I think that wasn’t a good idea. My brother Mark [Bluman], he told me to start on the left lead with my second one. I think my strategy was just to try to go really fast and to leave strides out, and it worked out.”

On GLEF:
“I love this show. This is the third year I’ve come here and every year it is better. I think I’m going to come next year, and the next year and the year after that. The footing and the weather are amazing, and I love it.”