Wellington, Fla.—Jan. 24  

Georgina Bloomberg went head-to-head with one of the fastest riders on the grand prix circuit and came out on top in the $127,000 Adequan® Grand Prix at the Winter Equestrian Festival under the lights on the night of Jan. 24.

“It is a huge honor to beat every rider in this class, but especially to beat Laura Chapot,” Bloomberg said. “I think anybody that competes knows how much she wins and how difficult it is to beat her. Laura—I mean this with the utmost respect, but beating you tonight tastes so good!”

Bloomberg guided Gotham Enterprizes LLC’s 11-year-old Brandenburg mare, Lilli (Lefevre x Diamir), to the big win in a five-horse, all-American jump-off. She topped the class over Chapot and ISHD Dual Star, Wilton Porter with Diamonte Darco, Schuyler Riley and Dobra de Porceyo, and Todd Minikus with Babalou 41, who had the fastest jump-off time of the night but a rail.

Watch Bloomberg’s winning jump-off ride…

With a class of 45 entries and 13 different countries represented, the five riders from the USA were the only contestants able to make it through to the jump-off over Leopoldo Palacios’ Saturday night course.

First to go in the jump-off, Chapot raced through the short course with Mary Chapot’s ISHD Dual Star and set a very fast pace in 48.06 seconds. Minkus followed with Two Swans Farm’s Babalou 41, finishing almost 4 seconds faster in 44.77 seconds, but had a rail going into the double combination.

Riley and Wolfstone Stables’ Dobra de Porceyo were next to go with a clear round in 49.66 seconds. Porter and Sleepy P Ranch LLC’s Diamonte Darco crossed the timers clear in 48.43 seconds. Last in the ring, Bloomberg and Lilli galloped to victory in 46.98 seconds. 

Bloomberg has ridden Lilli for about 2 1/2 years and stepped the mare up to the grand prix level last year. Lilli has served as a second horse to Bloomberg’s top mount, Juvina, but is now moving up to even out the workload.

“This was one of my first big grand prix [classes] with her and my first time jumping her under the lights,” Bloomberg explained after her win. “I have felt more confidence with her, and she has been jumping well over bigger jumps. I felt like tonight was a good opportunity for her to step up, and I was very happy with her.”

Describing the mare’s character, Bloomberg noted, “She can be a little bit too relaxed. She will be a very good broodmare one day. She is very happy sitting in the field getting fat, so sometimes to get her motivated to show and pay attention to the jumps is difficult, but she is a naturally careful horse and has all the scope. She is very reliable. Going under lights is very good for her because it piques the interest of most horses. Sometimes being a little too relaxed during the day can change when you are jumping under the lights. They will pay more attention and be more careful.”

Bloomberg admitted that although she watched some of Chapot’s opening round in the jump-off, she did not pay close attention.

“I thought that whatever I did, she would be faster, so there was no point in watching her go,” Bloomberg laughed. “I didn’t get to watch her round carefully enough to see the route she took, but my horse has a big stride. Even though her horse is quicker, I tried to make up for the fact that I’m on a big, slow horse and leave strides out between the jumps.” 

This was Bloomberg’s first win in a major Saturday night grand prix at WEF as well as a great start to her 2015 season. 
”It is nice to start out on a good note and get that first win here,” the rider acknowledged. “I have to add that I think all of the riders are appreciative of Adequan’s support for the sport. I think Adequan’s involvement in the sport is greatly under appreciated for the amount that they do, and I know that we all really appreciate it.”

With her second place round, Chapot’s mount ISHD Dual Star marked a great start to her season as well, and Chapot was very happy with the performance. The mare jumped well in her first Saturday night grand prix just last week and continues to excel under the lights.

Laura Chapot on ISHD Dual Star. Photo by Sportfot

“This is probably the most difficult course I have shown with her,” Chapot noted. “I was very, very pleased with the way she went. My plan in the jump-off was really to just put in a clear and prompt round. I think there were a couple of places I definitely could have been a lot faster, but I really just wanted a good, solid round, and to try and make everyone else try and beat that. She is a naturally careful horse, so I had to take a few little chances. She tries hard, and she was jumping great. She is a good Irish horse.”

Porter’s horse, Diamonte Darco, was jumping in her very first Saturday night class, and Porter was focused on giving his mare the best experience possible.

”This was my first time competing in a Saturday night WEF grand prix with her, so I am really happy with her,” Porter stated. “My plan was the same as Laura. I wanted to have a nice, prompt round in the jump-off and have a positive experience for my horse. She was really good, so I am pretty pleased. I went as quick as we were comfortable with. I think we were probably a little bit wide turning back to the second to third jump in the jump-off and maybe lost some time there, but I think as we keep going along with her, I will get better at doing that. It will become quicker and quicker as we get tighter.”

You can watch archived video of the entire class here…

Final Results: $127,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3* 

1. LILLI: 2004 Brandenburg mare by Lefevre x Diamir, GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/0/46.98

2. ISHD DUAL STAR: 2002 Irish Sport Horse mare by Quickstar x Concorde,
LAURA CHAPOT (USA), Mary Chapot: 0/0/48.06

3. DIAMONTE DARCO: 2005 Great Britain Sport Horse mare by Unbelievable Darco x Unknown, WILTON PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch LLC: 0/0/48.43

4. DOBRA DE PORCEYO: 2006 Warmblood mare by Action Breaker x Indorado,
SCHUYLER RILEY (USA), Wolfstone Stables: 0/0/49.66
 

5. BABALOU 41: 2005 Oldenburg mare by Balou du Rouet x Silvio I, TODD MINIKUS (USA), Two Swans Farm: 0/4/44.77

6. DYNAMO: 2003 BWP gelding by Skippy II x Lys de Darmen,
MEAGAN NUSZ (USA), Amalaya Investments: 1/85.23

7. VINDICAT W: 2002 KWPN gelding by Guidam x Libero H, JESSICA SPRINGSTEEN (USA), Stone Hill Farm: 4/80.21

8. WILLOW: 2003 KWPN gelding by Guidam x Little Rock,
KENT FARRINGTON (USA), Amalaya Investments: 4/81.23

9. CARRABIS Z: 2003 Zangersheide stallion by Canabis Z x Grannusso,
RICHIE MOLONEY (IRL), Equinimity LLC: 4/81.55

10. GRAFTON: 2006 Selle Francais stallion by Calvaro x Vondeen,
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Ariel & Susan Grange: 4/81.86

11. MYSELF DE BREVE: 2000 Selle Francais mare by Quidam de Revel x Grand Veneur,
MARIE HECART (FRA), Marie Hecart:  4/83.09

12. FINE LADY 5: 2003 Hanoverian mare by Forsyth x Drosselklang II,
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), Artisan Farms LLC: 4/83.15