Wellington, Florida, USA – February 23, 2020 – Spencer Smith (USA), 23, guided a new and promising mount in Princeton Z to a win in the $50,000 Dutta Corp/Guido Klatte Grand Prix CSI 2* to close week seven of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida, on Sunday, February 23.

Course designer Santiago Varela (ESP) welcomed 44 horses to the final event of the week with 15 advancing to the tie-breaking jump-off. Smith and Princeton Z, a nine-year-old Zangersheide stallion (President x Indoctro) owned by Torrey Pines Stable, rose to the top while promising a bright future for the young horse and a blooming partnership.

Madison Goetzmann (USA) & Prestigious

Their time of 39.52 seconds bested Madison Goetzmann (USA) and her own Prestigious, who pocketed a time of 40.14 seconds to finish as the runner-up.

David Blake (IRL) & Don’t Touch du Bois

Ireland’s David Blake (IRL) and Don’t Touch du Bois, owned by Pine Hollow Farm, rounded out the top three in 41.04 seconds.

“Princeton came to us in the beginning of January, and I got along well with him right away,” said Smith, who has worked with Canadian Olympic champion Eric Lamaze (CAN) at his Torrey Pines Stables for several years. “He jumped really well in the [Hermès] Under 25 team event earlier in the season, so we thought we’d step him up to this. He’s a nice horse. And I think he’ll do everything; he’ll jump all the big tracks.”

Smith candidly described Princeton Z, the former mount of French rider Mathieu Laveau (FRA), as “a little monster!”

Spencer Smith (USA) & Princeton Z in their winning presentation with Vice President of Development Tim Luby of CaptiveOne Advisors and ringmaster Steve Rector.

“He just wants to win and wants to go faster,” said Smith. “He’s got a lot of fight.”

Of Varela’s jump-off track, Smith noted, “At this show, with this top level of riders, it has to be difficult, so it wouldn’t just become a total runner. It was a nice track, and I love having the two-star running along with the five-star. It’s an awesome division; it brings everyone into the FEI ranking system you’re able to step up.”

Just off the podium, Bliss Heers (USA) took fourth aboard Christos in 41.23 seconds for owner Bridgeside Farms LLC, while Spain’s Miguel Torres capped the top five in 41.84 seconds riding his own Chacendra.

WEF continues at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) through March 29, 2020, with 12 consecutive weeks of world-class competition and $13 million dollars on offer. The eighth week of competition, sponsored by Premier Equestrian, runs February 25 through March 1 and is recognized as a Nations Cup CSIO 4* by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release by Lindsay Brock and Sabrina Brashares / Jennifer Wood Media, Inc. for ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions

Photos: © Sportfot