Press release from Wellington International

The $146,000 Palm Beach County Sports Commission CSI3* Grand Prix was Sunday's highlight class, kicking off on the derby field and ending with Ashlee Bond (ISR) and Donatello 141 (Diarado x Lamoureux I) securing the victory.

Thirty-four combinations readied themselves to contest Oscar Soboron's (USA) 13-obstacle course. The four who advanced were led by Tanimara Maria Macari Carrillo (MEX) and IB Chica (Cador 5 x Escudo 19). The pair set the pace at 44.83 seconds.

Saving the best for last, Bond and her 12-year-old gelding, Donatello 141, put in the fastest clear round with 38.92 seconds.

Bond noted Donatello's strengths, saying, "He's very good at turning and slicing and he's just so adjustable. He's not a big-strided horse, but he moves really fast. So even if I'm doing an add somewhere, it's usually faster."

Alison Robitaille (USA) and Alison Firestone LLC's Oakingham Lira (Tornesch x Del Piero P&B), settled into the second place position with a time of 41.31. Next, Macari and Eickendorf Horses' IB Chica rounded out the podium with a clear 44.83.

The derby field at the Equestrian Village received rave reviews during Spring III, and Bond echoed the sentiments, saying, "I just love the derby field because I find that the ground is so good, so the horses love jumping on it. Everyone at Wellington does such a wonderful job of maintaining this arena. I think it's one of the best in the world."

Bond has an action-packed couple of months ahead of her, noting, "There was an open spot at the Invitational, so I'm going to take Donnie to that, since he hasn't really done much. Then I'll be coming back to Wellington. Then I head out to do Old Salem and Devon, which I've never done so I'm super excited. Then I'll come back to Wellington and I'll go to work for like three weeks and then Donnie and I have the Olympic qualification for Israel in Prague at the end of July."