Wellington, Florida – February 1, 2019 – Alex Granato (USA) and Carlchen W claimed top honors in the $71,200 Suncast® Palm Beach Masters Qualifier CSI 4* yesterday during the CP Palm Beach Masters Winter Classic CSI 4*-W, presented by Suncast® at Deeridge Farms in Wellington, Florida, USA.

Fifty-one combinations were ready to challenge Alan Wade‘s (IRL) 1.55m course, which seemed challenging, but fair during the course walk. Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) and Victer Finn DH Z showed the way to the rest of the field by being the first ones to qualify for the jump-off.

Perez soon found out that he would be challenged by a long list of supertars who also managed to repeat his feat. Devin Ryan (USA), Danielle Goldstein (ISR), Margie Engle (USA), Adrienne Sternlicht (USA), Lauren Tisbo (USA), Alex Granato (USA), Daniel Coyle (IRL), Karen Polle (USA), Todd Minikus (USA), Mario Deslauriers (CAN), Jessica Springsteen (USA), Daniel Bluman (ISR), Scott Keach (AUS), Laura Kraut (USA), Beat Mandli (SUI), Cormac Hanley (IRL), Paul O’Shea (IRL), Wilton Porter (USA), Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Juan Jose Zendejas Salgado (MEX) all joined the Mexican in what promised to be a breathtaking tiebreaker.

Danielle Goldstein (ISR) and Lizziemary (Cabri d’Elle x Acord II) were the first ones to register two penalty-free performances, securing silver honors after stopping the jump-off timers in 37.54 seconds,

Jessica Springsteen (USA) and Fleur de L’Aube (Thunder van de Zuuthoeve x Alcatraz) earned third place honors by posting their second flawless run, going through the jump-off timers in 39.42 seconds.

The winning moment was when Alex Granato (USA) and Page Tredennick’s 11-year-old Mecklenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Continue) soared flawlessly over the last obstacle before crossing the finish line in 39.42 seconds for the victory.

“I think a little bit of luck was on my side. The horse is naturally fast, so I just let him carry his pace. I tried to turn a bit tighter, I’ve started working on that, conditioning him on some tighter tracks. I got away with a couple of rubs in the beginning, but I guess luck was on our side and we kept a quick pace, so we stayed on top.”

Danielle Goldstein:

“Honestly I came out thinking I left the door wide open so I was not surprised that I got beat quickly. I didn’t think that I would hold on to second (place). I thought that with so many in the jump-off you think that somebody is going to catch you for sure. So, okay I want her to go well on Sunday so didn’t want to run as fast as possible, but with seventeen in it, you make the choice to jump the jump-off, so you think, make it worthwhile. I thought I was quick, but for sure I left the door open. I wish I hadn’t done that.”

Jessica Springsteen (USA)

“Even when I first arrived here the other day, I had forgotten how beautiful it is. It really is an incredible venue and it is refreshing for the horses and riders and I am really happy to be here.”

For full results, please click here.

Photos: © Jumper News / Nuno Coelho Vicente