In the circuit’s first nighttime grand prix, three-time Olympian Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) and Calle 67 won the $70,000 Marshall & Sterling Grand Prix CSI 2* at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The “Saturday Night Lights” series continues throughout the 12-week WEF circuit, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL. Running through April 1, 2018, WEF offers more than $9 million in prize money.
Out of a starting field of 45 entries, nine found the way to a clear round to advance to the jump-off over a course set by Oscar Soberon (MEX). Coming back sixth in the jump-off, it was Michaels-Beerbaum and Calle 67, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Carell x Capitalist, who had the fastest clear round in a time of 36.85 seconds to take the win.
Second place went to 21-year-old Lillie Keenan (USA) and Chansonette Farm’s Skyhorse in a time of 37.01 seconds, while Emily Mason (GBR) placed third in a time of 37.58 seconds with Explosion W, owned by Poden Farms.
Fourth place went to World Number One Kent Farrington and Baltic Star 2, owned by Farrington and Tanma Corp., in 37.63 seconds, while Canadian Olympic champion Eric Lamaze picked up fifth place on Artisan Farms LLC’s Coco Bongo with a time of 39.02 seconds.
While Michaels-Beerbaum and Calle 67 competed in the young horse classes under the lights at Aachen CHIO, she did say that Saturday night’s grand prix was “a major step up for that horse.”
Final Results: $70,000 Marshall & Sterling Grand Prix CSI 2*
1. Calle 67, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER), Michaels & Beerbaum Gmbh: 0/0/36.852
2. Skyhorse, Lillie Keenan (USA), Chansonette Farm Llc: 0/0/37.019
3. Explosion W, Emily Mason (GBR), Poden Farms: 0/0/37.587
4. Baltic Star 2, Kent Farrington (USA), Tanma Corp. And Kent Farrington: 0/0/37.635
5. Coco Bongo, Eric Lamaze (CAN), Artisan Farms, LLC: 0/0/39.026
More from Horse Sport:
