WELLINGTON, Fla.--Lillie Keenan won Friday's WEF Challenge Cup, the grand prix qualifier, and also the $200,000 CSI4* on Sunday, March 24 at the Winter Equestrian Festival
Lillie Keenan on Agana van he Gerendal Z (Photo by Sportfot)Keenan, 27, on Agana van het Gerendal Z, a 13-year-old Zangersheide stallion, was clean in 35.76 to win in a five-horse jump-off over courses designed by Andy Christiansen of Ecuador in the Grand Prix.
Mario Deslaureiers of Canada on Bardolina 2 was second, clean in 37.23 seconds, and France’s Nina Mallevaey was third in 38.41 seconds on Cartier SR.
“Every class I put him in he can win, so when he’s my number-one I have a few chances to win some important classes,” said Keenan, who was a member of the U.S. team at the 2022 FEI World Equestrian Games in Herning, Denmark. “He was a star on Friday and he bettered that performance in the grand prix.”
Keenan also won the WEF challenge Cup qualifier on Friday with Agana van het Gerendal Z, and as a result, won the Martha Jolicoeur Leading International Rider Award.
“UNLIKE many in the jump-off, he improves from the speed round,” said Keenan. “He gets scope from speed and momentum. That’s why he's a wonderful horse to have in your string; no matter the type of class, he can win."
“We had a nice flat around on Saturday, and then he came in here to win the grand prix,” she said. “I was in the best position to be able to go last. I have had him for many years and he is my partner, but when your emotions are running high and you’re trying to win, your horse has to believe in you. I trust him completely.”
Christopher Payne of Cincinnati, Ohio on Reign won $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on the grass field at Equestrian Village on Sunday from a field of 24 over Ken Krome’s courses.
The class was held in the traditional hunter derby format where all riders tested across the classic round course, the top 12 returning for the handy round.
Payne was second heading into the handy with a total classic score of 193 and had g a handy round score of 189 for a class total of 382 to win.
“Reign is wonderful. I won the green incentive on him and he has been champion so many times, but he hasn't done a lot of derbies,” said Payne of the 10-year-old stallion. “We've come through the ranks and he's a very smart horse. He's very athletic. In my mind I find him to be the epitome of a hunter because he is a beautiful mover, jumps in beautiful style and I think the grass was fun for him because you could open his stride up and give such a beautiful gallop.”
Jimmy Torano, of Mohrsville, Pa., on Laskano and Jacob Pope, of Columbia, Md., on Unbelievable tied for second in both Friday’s and Sunday's Derbies..
In Sunday's Derby, both Torano and Pope had total scores of 379 from the two rounds, with Torano getting a classic score of 185 then moving up in the ranks with a handy score of 194, while Pope kept his scores nearly even, with an 189 for the classic round and a 190 for the handy.
