On the final day of ESP Spring II, a new partnership continued to blossom as Laura Kraut (USA) and Baloutinue, owned by St. Bride’s Farm, took top prize in the Sunday afternoon feature class, winning the $137,000 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix CSI3* on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village.

The 2021 ESP Spring Series features a total of five weeks of competition until Sunday, May 15, and will roll on with the Spring III three-star competition beginning on Wednesday, April 21. Hunters will once again campaign at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) while jumpers will be showcased at Equestrian Village. Jumper competition begins on April 22 with the $37,000 Perfect Products 1.45m Jumpers CSI3* followed by the $37,000 Equine Tack and Nutritionals Qualifier CSI3* and $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Friday. Saturday’s schedule is highlighted by the $37,000 Nutrena 1.50m Classic CSI3*. The week wraps up with the $137,000 Palm Beach County Sports Commission Grand Prix CSI3* and the $35,000 Wellington Agricultural Services Spring III Grand Prix on Sunday, April 25. Feature classes will be available live and on-demand for free on the livestream.

A total of 44 horse-and-rider combinations set out over the opening-round track designed by Catsy Cruz (MEX) and Andy Christiansen (ECU) that featured 16 jumping efforts. The field was narrowed down to just 11 pairs qualifying to return for the jump-off over a shortened track. Sharn Wordley (NZL) was the trailblazer as the first to return aboard Verdini D’Houtveld Z, owned by Lauren Balcomb, posting a double-clear effort and the time to beat of 41.90 seconds. His time in the lead was short but sweet as the next entry moved up to the top of the leaderboard as Enrique Gonzalez (MEX) rode Chacna, the horse he co-owns with Alice Lawaetz, to a clear round in a quicker time of 40.05 seconds.

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