Traverse City, Michigan, USA – August 01, 2019 – The first of two weeks of CSI 3* competition began during Week V of the 2019 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, LLC, with the first half of the week dominated by the Bluman brothers as they accumulated victories in two major classes to make it a family affair. Thursday’s big winners proved to be Ilan Bluman (COL) and Eax Run Run LS, who galloped away with the tricolor in the $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI 3* as the fastest double-clear pair ahead of a large 16-horse jump-off. On Wednesday, Mark Bluman (COL) and Jenni’s Chance kicked off FEI competition with a victory in the $1,000 1.40m Jumper CSI 3* to best a field of 23 contenders.

At the conclusion of the first round of riding in the $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI 3*,16 horse-and-rider partnerships had successfully navigated course designer Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) track to earn a spot in the jump-off. Athletes slated to return over the short course included Ilan, Sydney Shulman (ISR), Peter Leone (USA), Peter Lutz (USA), Santiago Lambre (MEX), Molly Ashe Cawley (USA), Jim Ifko (CAN), Catherine Tyree (USA), Schuyler Riley (USA), Wilhelm Genn (GER), Sloane Coles (USA), Vasco Flores (PUR), Mattias Tromp (USA) and Tanner Jorotkin (USA) with their respective horses. Riley and Bluman posed the greatest threats of winning with two mounts apiece qualified for the tie-breaking round.

Back for the abridged jump-off course, Catherine Tyree (USA) and Mary Tyree’s Enjoy Louis served as the pathfinders and the first pair to lay down a second fault-free effort, breaking the beam in 43.600 to set the pace ahead of the large returning pack.

As the class progressed, eight duos were able to catch Tyree and Enjoy Louis by turning in quicker foot-perfect performances, led by Ilan Bluman (COL) and Blue Star Investments’, Eax Run Run LS, one of the final entries to ride. The combination improved upon their competitors’ times with a clear trip in 38.640 to jump to the lead, and no subsequent entries were able to catch them, solidifying Ilan and Eax Run Run LS, an 11-year-old bay La Silla gelding (Casall x Montebello La Silla), as the $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI 3* victors. Sydney Shulman (ISR) piloted Jill Shulman’s Azilis du Mesnil (Tinka’s Boy x Jarnac) to second place in a penalty-free 39.290 seconds, and Bosch Sport Horses’ Excellent (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Ahorn) carried Peter Lutz (USA) to third overall in the rankings in a clean time of 40.570 seconds.

Ilan Bluman (COL) & Eax Run Run LS

Winner’s Circle

Ilan Bluman – $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI 3* Winner

On Eax Run Run LS:

“This horse I got almost three and a half years ago. I have been working really hard with him, and this is the first time we went that fast. He is learning. He is not that young, but he is still learning. I’ve been working really hard to be able to do what I did today.”

On his jump-off strategy:

“I was clear with both of my horses. The first one [J-Boston S.E] I started on the right lead, and I think that wasn’t a good idea. My brother Mark [Bluman], he told me to start on the left lead with my second one. I think my strategy was just to try to go really fast and to leave strides out, and it worked out.”

On GLEF:

“I love this show. This is the third year I’ve come here and every year it is better. I think I’m going to come next year, and the next year and the year after that. The footing and the weather are amazing, and I love it.”

Results – $35,700 Welcome Stake CSI 3*

Place / Rider /  Country / Horse / Owner / R1 Penalties / Jump-off Penalties / Time

1. Ilan Bluman (COL) & Eax Run Run LS – 0 / 0 / 38.640

2. Sydney Shulman (ISR) & Azilis Du Mesnil – 0 / 0 / 39.290

3. Peter Lutz (USA) & Excellent – 0 / 0 / 40.570

4. Santiago Lambre (MEX) & Doloris – 0 / 0 / 40.680

5. Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) & Cassandra – 0 / 0 / 40.750

6. Ilan Bluman (COL) & J-Boston S.E – 0 / 0 / 40.790

7. Mattias Tromp (USA) & Eyecatcher – 0 / 0 / 40.980

8. Vasco Flores (PUR) & Dubai – 0 / 0 / 42.450

9. Catherine Tyree (USA) & Enjoy Louis – 0 / 0 / 43.600

10. Jim Ifko (CAN) & Un Diamont des Forets – 0 / 4 / 37.640

11. Sloane Coles (USA) & Chippendale’s Boy DZ – 0 / 4 / 40.220

12. Peter Leone (USA) & Capito Z – 0 / 4 / 41.220

Source: Press release by Elaine Wessel / Phelps Media Group for GLEF – Great Lakes Equestrian Festival