Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N Set the Standard in $10,000 HITS 1.40m Open Jumper Prix at Lamplight Spring Classic III
Wayne, Ill. – May 27, 2022 – Lamplight Spring Classic III may be concluding, but that does not mean the action slows down. Speedy efforts were made in the Grand Prix Stadium for the victory in Friday’s $10,000 HITS 1.40m Open Jumper Prix. Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N set the standard high early in the order and stayed there to secure the winning position.
A winding path was set for the first-round course that challenged riders and their horses with a double and triple combination, that was also accompanied by multiple rides off short turns. Six competitors were able to deliver the focus and adjustability that was needed to make it to the second round. They had to cover ground at the start of the jump-off and execute a tidy turn to a double combination only to extend their stride once again to the final jump.
Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N. Photo by: Alison Hartwell
Taylor Flury and Pharoah OBF were the first to go in the class and the first to see both rounds fault free setting an early time to beat of 43.788 seconds that ended up landing them in third place. Goldman-Smolen was the next to go and managed to not only go double-clear, but made the new time to catch 37.388 seconds.
“I thought I could maybe catch what I saw Taylor do because there was an inside turn that I could make to the in-and-out that she didn’t do,” explained Goldman-Smolen. The inside turn did in fact help Goldman-Smolen shave off about six seconds to make the new winning time and help her hold the lead.
Cormac Hanley made a valiant attempt aboard Honneur T&L Z. The duo just missed the victory by two-tenths of a second with a time of 37.524 to take the red ribbon.
Goldman-Smolen’s mount Ivaro N is a 9-year-old gelding owned by Barbara Disko and the pair does not plan on ending with this win. “It was a nice class for my horse to do before the prix tomorrow,” says Goldman-Smolen. It can only be expected that Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N will try their chances again in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix and try to make it back into the winner’s circle.
On Thursday, Shannon Hicks earned the top prize during the $5,000 Vita Flex 1.35m Jumper Classic. She returned for the jump-off first with Lucio, setting the bar with a clear effort in 40.732 seconds. However, when Flury and Pharoh OBF took their turn over the track, they moved to the top of the leaderboard with a clear round in 40.068 seconds, edging out Hicks by just seven-tenths of a second. Hicks was not ready to be outdone though, as the last to compete in the tiebreaker with Al Pachini and the advantage of already showing over the course once. She blazed across the finish line all the fences intact, stopping the clock at 37.181 seconds, three seconds ahead to claim the victory.
Shannon Hicks and Al Pachini. Photo by: Alison Hartwell
The first event of the week was the $2,500 Stal Hendricks Welcome. Danielle Urban and Limini had the only clear round to take home the blue ribbon. Madeyln Cardelli and Baal Berith were the fastest of the 4-faulters to place second, while Kyle Perkovich ad Quinto rounded out the top three.
Danielle Urban and Limini. Photo by: Alison Hartwell
The Lamplight Spring Classic III will continue throughout the weekend at Lamplight Equestrian Center as part of the HITS Chicago Series. On Saturday, the Grand Prix Stadium will host the week’s highlight event, the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix. Junior and amateur athletes will showcase their skills on Sunday during their respective jumper classics to close out the third week of the horse show.