The Winter Equestrian Festival saw an unprecedented streak of wins last year in the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series by Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Lamaze of Canada. He took home five victories in the Series in 2015, including four in a row and the top placing in this same class with the same horse, Rosana du Park, owned by Artisan Farms. Lamaze topped a large jump-off field on Thursday, which included Laura Kraut (USA) on Andretti S, who placed second, and Beezie Madden (USA), who rode Breitling to third.

Week two of the Winter Equestrian Festival continues through Sunday, January 24, and is sponsored by Marshall & Sterling Insurance. The week will feature several major classes including the $86,000 Marshall & Sterling Insurance Grand Prix CSI 2* on Saturday, January 23, and the $25,000 Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix, presented by Equine Couture/TuffRider, on Sunday, January 24.

Today’s class had 96 entries, and while 24 were clear to advance to the jump-off, only 20 chose to return. Setting the winning pace as the first entry back in the second round, Lamaze and Rosana du Park blazed through the course in 35.58 seconds. Finishing second in the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup for the second week in a row were Kraut and Andretti S, owned by Stars and Stripes. They were just off the pace in 36.35 seconds. Third place went to Madden and Breitling, owned by Abigail Wexner, in 36.66 seconds. Finishing in 37.67 seconds, Margie Engle (USA) and Indigo, owned by Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek and Gladewinds, were fourth, while Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Comanche 28, owned by Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC, were fifth in 38.92 seconds.

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