Jaime Guerra of Mexico and Madeleine Win by Fractions Over McLain Ward and Galant in 1.40m CSIO Speed

Wellington, FL - March 12, 2005 - In the second International class of the afternoon, the 1.40m CSIO, the format was FEI Art. 239. Table C. Faults Converted Into Seconds. Jaime Guerra of Mexico, riding Saul Moreno’s Madeleine posted a wire to wire victory.

Competing first in the class, Guerra made all of the cuts, found all of the rights spots and never took back. He flew across the finish line in 55.69 seconds, a time that would hold up through 27 competitors.

McLain Ward and Galant tried to make it two for two this week but fell just fractions short of Guerra’s top time. Ward’s final time was 56.52 seconds, off the pace by 0.83 seconds. Philipe Rozier of France took home the yellow ribbon and third place honors with Ideal de Roy, an entry owned by Mr. P. Deroy. Rozier caught the clock in 57.41 seconds.

Laura Chapot and Sprite failed again in their bid for their thirty first win together in speed competitions at the Winter Equestrian Festival. The dynamic duo demolished Guerra’s time by over two full seconds but had the very first fence down. Under the Table C format, a knockdown adds four seconds on to the time at the finish, so Chapot’s original time of 53.46 seconds was bumped up to 57.46 seconds. Chapot and Sprite wound up fourth.

“It was a nice ride for me today,” said Guerra, “because every turn I made, I saw my distance. It’s easy when you find the distance and when you see the rights spots. Plus, this mare is a little hot, so that’s helpful as long as it’s under control. I think the course today invited you to gallop right after the turn after fence number one,” Guerra acknowledged. “A couple of times, like after the Swedish oxer, it called for a seven steady strides and I did six and another time on the course too, I left out a stride.”

Madeleine is a fairly new ride for Guerra. “I rode her just one time in Mexico and then they sent her here the second week, so I really have only been with her a few, maybe five weeks with her, so I’m still getting to know her,” he said.

Guerra enjoyed being the first in the ring. “I tried to go very fast. Sometimes it’s a big advantage to go first and go fast,” Guerra explained. “Then sometimes the riders after you try and catch you and they become nervous and make the mistake. Laura Chapot beat my time but had the unlucky rail so sometimes you just go as fast as you can and hope it stands up all the way through.”

Sunday’s main event is the $100,000 US Open Jumper Championship presented by CN CSIO 4* at 2pm in the Internationale Arena.

Official Results - #106 – $5000 1.40m FEI Art 239 Table C – 03-12-05 – Internationale Arena

• 1 – Madeleine, Jaime Guerra (MEX) – 55.69
• 2 – Galant, McLain Ward (USA) – 56.52
• 3 – Ideal De Roy, Philipe Rozier – 57.41
• 4 – Sprite, Laura Chapot (USA) – 57.46
• 5 – Ole, Mac Cone (CAN) – 58.17
• 6 – Merva Des Hayettes, Gregory Wathelet (BEL) – 58.45
• 7 – Logines, Maryline Vorpe (SWI) – 60.28
• 8 – Labelle, Ramiro Quintana (ARG) – 60.51
• 9 – Olympus, Cara Raether (USA) – 60.65
• 10 – Sampson, Kate Levy (USA) – 60.91
• 11 – Perfekt, Candice King (USA) – 62.45
• 12 – AK Kanselier, Ellen Whitaker (GBR) – 63.10