On the penultimate day of the Lamplight Spring Spectacular’s second week, the venue was abuzz with excitement as competitors donned their brightest white pants and shined their boots in preparation of the day’s main event. Lisa Goldman-Smolen of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, demonstrated her exceptional partnership with veteran mount Sovereign (Frontal x Galledent), an 18-year-old Selle Français stallion owned by Barbra Disko, by winning the $35,000 SummitMax Grand Prix at HITS Chicago on Saturday.
Goldman-Smolen also secured the second-place prize with Stephanie St. John’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion, Narcotique B (Lucas), after producing the only two double-clear rounds in a field of 20 competitors. Following Goldman-Smolen into third place was the fastest four-fault jump-off pair, Avery Erickson and her 17-year-old Oldenburg gelding Chacco Lait (Chacco Blue), who placed third after incurring a rail at the second-to-last obstacle in the jump-off.
“Sovereign has been my partner for seven years now, and he knows his job,” Goldman-Smolen remarked. “He is wonderful. We try to do one class a week if we can because he’s 18 years old now. He’s just been really good, strong, and fit.”
Goldman-Smolen set the pace in the jump-off aboard Sovereign, completing a clear and quick round in 39.149 seconds. She then rode a conservative yet focused round with Narcotique B, leaving all the rails up to claim the runner-up title with a time of 42.695 seconds. Erickson and Chacco Lait, the final team in the jump-off, posted the fastest time of 38.879 seconds but settled for third as the rail tumbled from the cups at fence eight.
“Sovereign knows when it’s time for business and loves being in the show environment,” added Goldman-Smolen. “He never gets nervous or worried, no matter what happens.”
One more week of show jumping action remains at HITS Chicago for the Lamplight Spring Spectacular Series. Next week’s schedule includes the $35,000 CWD Grand Prix on Saturday, June 22, 2024, and the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
