Sarah Segal Speeds to the Win in $40,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix

Lexington, Ky, – May 14, 2017 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Show concluded a week of action packed hunter and jumper competition today at the Kentucky Horse Park. Although today was the last day of competition, there was no shortage of excitement in Rolex Stadium. Under perfect blue skies, Sarah Segal and Cantara 59 won the $40,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix presented by Audi of Lexington, while Lacey Gilbertson and Baloppi topped the Under 25 Grand Prix presented by Hollow Creek Farm.

Sarah Segal on Cantara 59

Cantara 59 has been part of Segal’s string of show horses for two years but Segal has been taking her time with the 11-year-old Hanoverian mare making sure they had a solid parternship in place before heading to the show ring. Segal made the decision to only compete Cantara 59 in select CSI2* Grand Prix classes at the end of the Winter Equestrian Festival and chose to come to the Kentucky Spring Horse Show as her first show of the 2017 summer competition season. The pair went towards the midpoint of the class which featured 43 horses and riders. After jumping a tidy clear round, they returned as part of a field of 12 in the jump off on Sunday afternoon.

While there were many fast riders in the jump-off round, including: Todd Minikus, Aaron Vale, Samuel Parot and Amanda Derbyshire just to name a few, Segal stuck to her plan with Cantara 59 and put in a blistering pace of 44.705. Aaron Vale achieved a faultless round but came up short with a time of 45.946. Ramio Quintana and Iluna finished third in a time of 46.783.

Lacey Gilbertson competes Baloppi

Just before the $40,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix, another lady rider, Lacey Gilbertson, stole the show in the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, sponsored by Hollow Creek Farm. Gilbertson did not have the opportunity to watch many of her peers rounds in the class of twenty-eight as she went early in the long course and was first in the jump-off. Gilbertson knew that with six other riders vying for the blue ribbon, she needed to ride Baloppi smart and fast. The ten-year-old Danish Warmblood mare did not miss a step and jumped an impressive faultless clear round in 38.457 that proved impossible to beat. Hollow Creek Farm’s own Emanuel Andrade was second on his Jenni’s Chance in 39.76 and Kaley Tomue placed third with Gentille in 40.211.

Although Aaron Vale did not win a class today, he did earn the title of Envisian Products Leading Jumper Rider for this week’s competition. Envisian Products sponsor the weekly Leading Jumper Rider Award, which will be presented following the Sunday Grand Prix, each week of the 2017 Kentucky Horse Shows series. Brian and Visse Wedell are partners in Envisian Products, which offers several products and services, but is presenting this award with a focus on Polylast Rubberized Flooring.

Aaron Vale Earns Envisian Products Leading Jumper Rider Award. Pictured with Brian Lookabill of Envisian Products LLC

Hunter and Jumper action at the Kentucky Horse Park resume next week during the Kentucky Spring Classic begining on Wednesday May 17 and will feature FEI CSI3* competition including the $130,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix as well as ‘A Day in the Park’ to honor Ellen Veitch on Saturday, May 20.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Sarah Segal

On Why She Chose to Show Cantara 59 in Kentucky:

“She (Cantara 59) showed a little bit in Florida, we did some of the 2* Grand Prix’s towards the end to get going. This is our first show of the spring and it couldn’t be more beautiful. The footing is great and the stadium is great and it was nice this week to have the National classes because it gave us some nice warm up classes to get going without having to go right into FEI next week.”

What Makes Cantara 59 Competitive:

“She is great on the angles and always looking for the fence and has a great move at the fence. I just have to be careful not to psych myself out before the class.”

Lacey Gilbertson

On Going First in the Jump Off:

“Going first I knew I really had to lay it down if I wanted to win. Cause I didn’t have the opportunity to watch anyone else. I had to take chances where I could and it paid off for me.”

On the Under 25 Grand Prix Series:

“I think the Under 25 Series is great because it is a perfect step between the highs and the Grand Prix. At the Kentucky Shows even the national Grand Prix is quite big and Saturday nights are always built big and there are a ton of great riders so especially for me, its nice to not have so much pressure to not show against the big guns.”

RESULTS

$40,000 Commonwealth Grand Prix

1. Cantara 59/ Sarah Segal/ Robert Segal/ 0 / 44.705
2. Carlo /  Aaron Vale / North Face Farm / 0/ 45.946
3. Iluna / Ramio Quintana / Michael Smith / 0 / 46.783
4. Lady Maria BH / Amanda Derbyshire / Gochman Sport Horse LLC / 4 / 43.234
5. Catungee / Catherine Tyree / Mary Tyree / 4 / 43.574
6. Casal / Ali Wolf / Black Lick Bend Farm/ 4/ 43.746
7. Hard Rock Z / Emanuel Andrade / Emanuel Andrade/ 4/ 45.240
8. Sancento / Todd Minikus / Alice Lawaetz / 8 / 48.378
9.  Basimodo / Eric Navet / Signe Ostby / 10 / 65.665
10. Lacarolus / Derek Braun / Mrn. Family Corp. / 16 / 49.740
11. VDL Aberlino / Samuel Parot / Samuel Parot / 76.341 / EL
11. VDL Torlando / Callan Solem / 75.009
13. Caramello Z / Francisco Zamuido / St. Brides Farm / 1 / 79.173

$25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix

1. Baloppi / Lacey Gilbertson / Seabrook LLC / 0 / 38.457
2. Jenni’s Chance / Emanuel Andrade / Emanuel Andrade / 0 / 39.761
3. Gentille / Kaely Tomeu / Siboney Ranch / 0 / 40.21

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