Santiago Lambre of Mexico dominated the field in Thursday’s $25,000 ProElite National Grand Prix, taking home both the first and second-place finish to conclude the ESP Holiday II competition at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center [PBIEC]. Lambre and his Doloris flew through the jump-off timers in 40.113 seconds to clinch an early lead, while he and his Ibabco put in a jump-off time of 43.839 seconds to secure second place. Darragh Kerins of Ireland piloted NRG Farm LLC’s Delight M-G C de Leuze through the jump-off track in 47.396 seconds to claim third.
Santiago Lambre claimed both the first and second-place finish in the $25,000 ProElite Grand Prix with Doloris and Ibabco, respectively. Pictured on Ibabco with Jeff Fosenburg, Feed Sales Consultant of Cargill Feed and Nutrition, and Steve Rector, ringmaster. ©Anne Gittins Photography
FEI course designer Mauricio Garcia Ballesteros of Puerto Rico saw 25 pairs contest the first round with eight returning for the jump-off. “It was a nice course for a national standard [grand prix], especially for my horses after having three weeks off. It was technical and the time allowed was okay,” Lambre shared. “With the first one [Doloris], I took a lot of risks. Then after that, there weren’t that many clear, so I just tried to jump clear and stay between first and third with Ibabco.