Wellington, Florida, USA – September 13, 2020 – Diego Vivero (ECU) clinched victory aboard in the $20,000 ProElite Grand Prix on Sunday morning to finish up the ESP September Show at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

Hector Loyola designed Sunday’s Grand Prix course, which took place in the Van Kampen Covered Arena due to inclement weather. Of the 27 combinations, only the top three finishers went double-clear and eight moved on to the jump-off after their first round.

Viero and Silvana Cabral’s Casquero stopped the jump-off timers in 43.656 seconds to best the field of 27 total competitors.

Vivero explained that his plan going into the first round was just to make it to the jump-off. “I had two horses in the class today, so of course my goal was to have both make it to the jump-off. I wasn’t quite as fast with my first horse [Casquero], but it was a clean round, which I was very happy about because my second horse had one rail. So I’m very happy with the win!” The duo is a newer pair, having just begun their work together approximately three months ago. Vivero continued, “Casquero is my student’s horse. This is only the third show I’ve competed him at and the second Grand Prix. So we’re all very happy with today’s results.”

Coming in second place with a time 47.166 seconds was Gonzalo Guevara (COL), riding Valentine Car, owned by Fernando Cardenas Senior.

Sophia Studd (DEN) claimed the yellow ribbon with Marie Botved Studd’s Holsteins Matina after completing the jump-off in 48.099 seconds.

For full results, please click here.

Source: Press release from ESP – Equestrian Sports Productions

Photo: © Anne Gittins Photography