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Laura Chapot sweeps Lake Placid grand prix

Laura Chapot sweeps Lake Placid grand prix

Laura Chapot on Chandon Blue clears a jump during the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix at the North Elba Show Grounds on July 9. Chapot and Chandon Blue were the winners of the Lake Placid Grand Prix on July 3. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

LAKE PLACID — It’s not often that Laura Chapot achieves a new feat in Lake Placid, but that’s precisely what she did at the I Love New York Horse Show on Saturday, July 9.

The veteran rider rode Diarado’s Flying Dutchman to claim the $100,000 Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix, which completed the Lake Placid grand prix sweep.

Chapot’s win made her the seventh rider ever to sweep both grand prix in the same year — after winning the Lake Placid Grand Prix just six days prior. It also marked her seventh total grand prix win in Lake Placid.

“I’m sure we’ll go in the record books in my history having done so well up here this year,” Chapot said. “It’s certainly not something you think is going to be possible. We were very lucky and the stars aligned for us this year. We’re happy to go home the lucky winners this time.”

Saturday’s grand prix started with a field of 17 in the opening round and then moved into a jump-off after nine horses and eight riders advanced with clear rounds, which was a jump up from the Lake Placid Grand Prix last weekend, which had four horses and three riders in the jump-off round.

Laura Chapot rides Diarado’s Flying Dutchman over a jump during the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix at the North Elba Show Grounds on July 9. Chapot and Diarado’s Flying Dutchman were the winners of the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

In the eight-jump tiebreaker, Chapot and Diarado’s Flying Dutchman turned in a fault-free ride in 35.205 seconds to claim the top prize of $30,000. Chapot’s combined winnings from the two grand prix was $73,000.

“It’s just been amazing. Every time I come up here, I’m just like, ‘I hope I win one class up here, it would be really nice,'” Chapot said. “We’ve just had an incredible two weeks up here. All of my horses went great. They all really enjoy jumping on the field. I think it’s the best footing that we ever have all year for our horses and it really shows in the way that they go.”

While Chapot ultimately walked away as the big winner on Saturday, her victory wasn’t easy.

Alex Matz, who swept both Lake Placid grand prix last year, was the first rider in the jump-off and the first to earn a clean ride. Matz rode Erdento Van De Leeuwerk to a fault-free ride in 36.557, and held the top spot through five horses, including his second horse, Ikigai, before Chapot turned in her winning ride.

“I think, with that horse (Diarado’s Flying Dutchman), I have to concentrate on my plan and just keep him moving between jumps and so he stays focused on the next jump,” Chapot said. “He’s naturally a very fast horse and his turns have gotten a lot better. We’ve just developed a very good level of trust between the two of us over the last year. I can just be very patient at the jump and as long as I know he’s looking at it he really tries his best.”

Sarah Scheiring rides Anibale De Hus rides over a jump during the Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix at the North Elba Show Grounds on July 9. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

Matz’s time on Erdento Van De Leeuwerk was good enough to earn second place, while his second horse, Ikigai finished in fifth place with a clean ride in 37.808.

Mattias Tromp, who rode Infuria P&P, finished in third place with a clean ride in 36.849 and Carly Anthony, on Heavenly W finished in fourth with a clear round in 37.108.

“All of the horses love the field. They enjoy jumping on it,” Chapot said. “It’s great that we have this opportunity to come up here each year. It’s the best two weeks of our summer.”

Results

1. Laura Chapot, Diarado’s Flying Dutchman, $30,000

2. Alex Matz, Erdento Van De Leeuwerk, $22,000

3. Mattias Tromp, Infuria P&P, $13,000

4. Carly Anthony, Heavenly W, $8,000

5. Alex Matz, Ikigai, $6,000

6. Heather Caristo-Williams, Highlander MVF, $5,000

7. Zayna Rizvi, Exquise Du Pachis, $4,000

8. Sarah Scheiring, Anibale De Hus, $3,000

9. Jimmy Torano, Chewbacca HCC, $3,000

10. Amber Harte, Catch the Dark Z, $2,000

11. Michael Desiderio, Le Muguet, $2,000

12. Paige Jardine, Chaccara Blue, $2,000

13. Laura Chapot, Chandon Blue

14. Christian Coyle, Coco Mercedes

15. Ashley Baker, Caressiloubeta

16. Eva Fisherman, Casallvano

17. Mattias Tromp, Noemi VH Wuitenshof

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