Laura Chapot and Samantha Tops in $10,000 US Mortgage Corp Welcome Stake at 110th Annual Monmouth County Horse Show

Freehold, NJ–August 19, 2005 – The beautiful weather that graced the first two days of this year’s 110th Annual Monmouth County Horse Show failed to make an appearance on Friday, but the rain and the grey skies did little to slow down Laura Chapot and her grey mares in route to victory in the Friday feature. New Jersey’s oldest and most prestigious equestrian showcase is being held at East Freehold Park in Freehold, NJ.

Today’s main event was the $10,000 US Mortgage Corp Open Jumper Welcome Stake Class. The forty starters that went to the post today competed over a course designed by Blake Alder of Germantown, Tennessee. Scoring was under USEF Table II, Sec 2 a/b. Time First Jump-Off. There were twelve numbered obstacles and fourteen jumping efforts, including a double and a triple combination.

Of the forty starters, sixteen produced first round clears, while ten of those horse and rider combinations went on to be double clear. Eleven competitors had four faults in the first round, and nine had more than four.

Carsten Jaeger set the early pace out the second spot in the order. Riding Classic H, owned by Winley Farm, LLC of Millbrook, NY, Jaeger produced a double clean effort and cleared the timers in the jump-off in a speedy 30.669 seconds. Jaeger would be the only rider, other than the winner, to clock in under 31 seconds and his effort would gain him the eventual second place finish.

Today’s winner, Laura Chapot, rode tenth in the order on Samantha, owned by the Sundance Group of Neshanic Station, NJ. The athletic grey mare toured both rounds fault free and lit up the scoreboard in 30.205 seconds which was the best time of the day and good enough for a 0.46 margin of victory over Jaeger.

Chapot and her amazing speed horse Sprite had the perfect spot in the order to capture another win, going third to last, but Chapot was unable to pull it off today. They cruised home in 30.843 seconds, just 0.17 seconds behind Jaeger. Sprite wound up with the yellow ribbon for third.

Naritas, owned by Picolo 3 and piloted by Helen Goddard, finished fourth with two clear rounds and a time of 32.679 seconds. Fifth place went to Lift Off and Jose Rega. Victoria D’Agostino’s horse tripped the timers in 32.775 seconds. Christine McCrea and Candy Tribble’s Laddidor were sixth in a time of 33.084 seconds.

Chapot talked about her pair of grey mares following today’s presentation. “They’re quite similar types,” she said. “Sprite, at this point, is more of a veteran, while Samantha is just moving up. Sprite really knows the game when she goes in the ring, and Samantha is still prone to a green mistake once in a while. Sprite is the more seasoned of the two,” Chapot admitted.

Chapot said that Sprite, who is rarely beaten in speed classes, got caught up in the footing on one of the final turns in the jump-off to cost her a couple of ticks on the clock. But Chapot was thrilled for her rising young star, Samantha. “This is going to be her first grand prix class this weekend. She won the welcome class at HITS Saugerties and won both speed classes at Devon this year, so I think she’s ready,” Chapot smiled.

Chapot enjoyed Blake Alder’s track for today’s feature. “I thought Blake set a very nice course for the group that was in the US Mortgage Welcome Stake,” she said. “There were a lot of clear rounds, but it gave everyone an opportunity to get in the ring and get a little feel for it. I’m sure it will be a lot tougher on Sunday,” Chapot said.

Sunday’s main event is the $30,000 Stillwell-Hansen Grand Prix, scheduled for 1pm. Just prior to the grand prix, Laura Chapot’s father, Frank Chapot, will be honored for his years of service to the United States Equestrian Team in a very special ceremony. Many past Olympians, students, friends, and fans of Chapot are expected to attend.

Results - $10,000 US Mortgage Open Welcome Stake – Table II Sec 2a/b – 08-19-05 Stillwell-Hansen Arena – Course Designer – Blake Alder

1-563-Samantha-Laura Chapot-Sundance Group-0-0/30.205

2-440-Classic H-Carsten Jaeger-Winley Farm Llc-0-0/30.669

3-561-Sprite-Laura Chapot -Laura Chapot-0-0/30.843

4-75-Naritas-Helen Goddard-Picolo 3-0-0/32.679

5-401-Lift Off Ii-Jose Rega-Victoria D'agostino-0-0/32.775

6-190-Laddidor-Christine Mccrea-Candy Tribble-0-0/33.084

7-393-Memphis-Caitlyn Shiels -Caitlyn Shiels-0-0/34.206

8-885-R Mable Kz-Michelle Spadone-Morgan Hill Ptrs-0-0/34.341

PHOTO CREDIT: Samantha and Laura Chapot win $10,000 US Mortgage Welcome Stake. Photo by Randi Muster