Wellington, Florida, USA – February 10, 2018 – Catherine Tyree (USA) and BEC Lorenzo took the win in the $50,000 Rushy Marsh Farm Grand Prix CSI 2* to conclude Week 5 of the 12-week 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) yesterday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC).  WEF continues on Wednesday, February 13, through February 17 with week 6 competition featuring the $134,000 CabanaCoast Grand Prix CSI 3* in the Global International Arena at Equestrian Village on Friday, February 15, at 7 p.m. and the $100,000 USHJA/WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular on Saturday, February 16, at 6:30 p.m. as part of the “Saturday Night Lights” series.

Out of the 45 entries in the $50,000 Rushy Marsh Farm Grand Prix CSI 2*, 11 went clear to contest the jump-off. As the final competitor to enter the jump-off, 25-year-old Catherine Tyree (USA) rode Mary Tyree’s BEC Lorenzo to the top time of 40.05 seconds.

Lacey Gilbertson (USA) & Cobolt

She was chasing a time of 40.24 seconds set by Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Seabrook LLC’s Baloppi, who would settle for second place.

Ali Wolff (USA) & HH Venice Beach

Third place went to Ali Wolff (USA) riding Double H Farm’s HH Venice Beach, who were clear in 40.35 seconds.

“I saw Ali’s jump-off,” Tyree recalled. “I didn’t get to see Lacey’s, but she wins so much with that horse and she’s very fast. I actually didn’t quite like the jump-off for my horse. We have a little bit of a hard time turning, but he was really great with that today, and I was able to use that to my advantage one to two. I did seven strides there, and I think everybody else did eight. He was really game and answered all the questions that I asked.”

Monica McCourt of Rushy Marsh Farm, Ringmaster Steve Rector, and Catherine Tyree (USA) aboard BEC Lorenzo during the awards ceremony

This was the first FEI-level grand prix for BEC Lorenzo, a nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding by Livello x Guidam. Tyree is excited for his future and pleased with the progress they have made in the past year. “It’s really gratifying to know that the hard work has paid off,” she said. “We’ve all put a lot of effort into him, and I have to give a big thank you to John Brennan, Missy Clark, and his groom Ally Bradley.”

Fellow 25-year-old rider Gilbertson relied on her longstanding relationship with Baloppi, her 12-year-old Danish Warmblood mare. They had great success in the Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix Series in 2018, which Gilbertson believes helped prepare them both for bigger competition.

“I loved the Under 25 [Series],” she stated. “It’s such a good transition between the highs and these bigger classes. It teaches you how to go fast and be competitive. I started jumpers a bit late when I was 19 so I never had all those years of running around in the [Low Jumpers]. It’s nice to have that.”

Final Results: $50,000 Rushy Marsh Farm Grand Prix CSI 2*

Place / Rider / Country & Horse – R1 Penalties / Jump-off Penalties – Time

1) Catherine Tyree (USA) & BEC Lorenzo – 0/ 0 – 40.05

2) Lacey Gilbertson (USA) & Baloppi: 2007 – 0 / 0 – 40.24

3) Ali Wolff (USA) & HH Venice Beach – 0 / 0 – 40.35

4) Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) & California 19 2009 – 0 / 0 -40.98

5) Katherine Strauss (USA) & All In – 0 / 0 – 41.07

6) Aidan Kileen (IRL) & Fair Play – 0 / 0 – 41.33

7) Chloe Reid (USA) & Luis P – 0 / 0 – 43.75

8) Pablo Barrios (VEN) & Le Vio – 0 / 4 – 40.65

9) John Perez (COL) & Extra Minkus – 0 / 4 – 41.67

10) Ramiro Quintana (ARG) & Iluna – 0 / 4 – 43.26

11) Vanessa Mannix (CAN) & Alentino d’Elte – 0 / 8 – 44.64

12) Hilary McNerney (USA) & Captain Cooper – 1 – 71.14

For full results, please click here.

Source: Jennifer Wood and Summer Grace for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.

for PBIEC – Palm Beach International Equestrian Center / ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions

Photos: © Sportfot