Canada’s Erynn Ballard and Coconet were in it to win it in the $140,000 Palm Beach County Sports Commission CSI3* Grand Prix on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village on Sunday afternoon. The culmination of three-star competition highlighted the conclusion of the third week of the 2024 ESP Spring Series, presented by Florida Coast Equipment. The Spring Series at Wellington International runs for five weeks as part of the ESP Annual Series and finishes on May 12.
In the warm-up arena, trainer Ilan Ferder told Ballard that the class was hers to win and he was proved right. She guided Coconet, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare (Colman x Cornet’s Stern) owned by Wight Show Stables to top a six-horse jump-off over courses designed by Andy Christiansen Jr. (USA).
“I haven't won [a grand prix] in a long time, and a comment like that can make you grow and rise to the occasion,” said Ballard. “My plan was to go as fast as I've ever gone with her before, because if today was the day and I didn't win, I wanted to lose trying to win.”
Ballard’s plan became a reality as she posted a jump-off time of 36.69 seconds, just fractions faster than runner-up Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) and Condara in 36.92 seconds. Larrazabal settled for second with owner Victoria Heurtematte. Luis Francisco de Azevedo (BRA) and Collin pocketed the third-place ribbon in 38.49 seconds for owner Santa Cecilia Stables.
source: press release/ ph. © sportfot