The 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) kicked off with its first day of competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) in Wellington, FL, on Wednesday and a win for Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze in the first class of the day. Lamaze and the nine-year-old Zangersheide gelding Check Picobello Z (Cardento x Orlando) jumped to victory in the morning’s $8,000 1.45m speed class over Adrienne Sternlicht and S&L Slingback. The 12-week WEF circuit runs through March 29, 2015, awarding over $8.2 million in prize money.

Eric Hasbrouck (USA) is the course designer in the International Arena at PBIEC for week one competition. He began the day with twelve entries in the 1.45m speed class with five clear rounds. Eric Lamaze set the pace with the first clear round aboard Artisan Farms LLC’s Rosana du Park in 71.56 seconds to eventually place fourth. Marie Hecart (FRA) jumped next to earn the fifth place time with Rogelio Pellerano’s Quatour de B Neville in 77.67 seconds. Leslie Howard (USA) briefly took over the lead in 71.32 seconds to finish third aboard her own Moondoggie. Adrienne Sternlicht upped the pace with Starlight Farms LLC’s S&L Slingback in 71.28 seconds to place second. Last to go, Lamaze took the win with Check Picobello Z in 68.88 seconds.

Owned by Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Pines Stable, Lamaze explained that Check Picobello Z was purchased as a six coming seven-year-old from Ilan Ferder and is moving into the next level this season after a few years of careful development.

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