Press release from Tryon International Equestrian Center

Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Baloppi produced a foot-perfect round to take the $132,000 Ingles Grand Prix CSI 3* win, clearing the jump-off course in 38.654 seconds in Tryon Stadium at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). David Blake (IRL) and Keoki, a 2009 Holsteiner male (Catoki x Cassini I) owned by Pine Hollow Farm, sped to a 42.272-second finish to claim second, while Angel Karolyi (VEN) and April Moon, a 2008 Holsteiner mare (Quinar x Landwind II) owned by Carol Rosenstein, bagged a podium finish for their 42.21-second jump-off performance.

Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) saw 28 entries test his first-round course design, with five pairs welcomed back for the jump-off contest. One of the early challengers for the jump-off, Gilbertson explained that she was able to gain an advantage over her competitors with Baloppi, who is "very quick naturally, and the faster you go with her, honestly, the easier she is to ride. She's naturally a winner. She's amazing."

"The course was careful, and I don't think it was overly big," she detailed. "The course designer definitely got their number [of clears] right." There were a few spots on course that rode a little differently than she originally planned, Gilbertson continued. "In the first round, [the line] from the Liverpool to the triple bar rode a little bit differently than I thought. I thought it was going to be a bit more steady. I think everything came up very quickly in that ring with those verticals off all the short turns, so that was a bit expected, other than that I think it was pretty much what it walked."

Gilbertson is preparing Baloppi for an upcoming trip to Europe, and has also been stepping her up to do 1.50m competitions. "She hasn't done that many classes this height," Gilbertson revealed. "She's very careful, so we wanted to take our time stepping her up, and in the past few months she's just gotten better and better. She feels like she's more comfortable, she's gotten a little scopier, and she's had some night class experience, too."

The pair had to call upon their experience to put in a competitive round early in the second round, putting the pressure on for those to follow, Gilbertson commented. "Going in the beginning of the jump-off, I had to take chances where I could and go fast, because I didn't know how everybody else behind me was going to do, but luckily it all paid off!"

1. Baloppi, 2007 Danish Warmblood mare by Balou du Rouet
Lacey Gilbertson (USA), Seabrook LLC: 0/0/38.654

2. Keoki, 2009 Holsteiner male by Catoki x Cassini I
David Blake (IRL), Pine Hollow Farm: 0/0/41.272

3. April Moon, 2008 Holsteiner mare by Quinar x Landwind II
Angel Karolyi (VEN), Carol Rosenstein: 0/0/42.21

4. Casper, 2006 Oldenburg gelding by Contender x Baloubet Du Rouet
Sharn Wordley (NZL) Sky Group: 0/4/39.968

5. Falcon de Hus Z, 2009 Zangersheide gelding by Florian de la Vie*Bazooka x Adlantus AS
Scott Keach (AUS): Five Henry Stables: 0/4/45.456

6. Le Vio, 2009 Hanoverian gelding by Van Gogh x Drosselklang II
Pablo Barrios (VEN), Gut Einhaus LLC: 4/71.61

7. VDL Bravo S, 2006  Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ephepe for Ever  x Chellano Z
Hunter Holloway (USA), Hunter Holloway: 4/74.48

8. Bull Run's Risen, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Utopie x Indoctro
Kristen Vanderveen (USA), Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 4/75.22

9. Venus, 2002 Dutch Warmblood mare by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve x Julius
Hector Florentino (DOM), Raylyn Farms, Inc.: 4/75.59

10. Button Sitte, 2007 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Ogano Sitte x Parco
Richie Moloney (IRL), Equinimity: 4/75.66

11. Ulysse Du Bourberg, 2008 Selle Francais gelding by Dollar du Murier x Lama des Landes
Ali Leopold-Moreno (USA), Odyssey LLC: 5/78.55

12. Win for Life, 2006 Zangersheide gelding by Winningmood van de Arenberg x Chatman
Spencer Brittan (USA), Spencer Brittan: 5/79.13