Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist McLain Ward won the $20,000 Deeridge Farms 1.40m Open Jumper Stake Friday at the I Love New York Horse Show, the second week of the 49th annual Lake Placid Horse Shows, presented by Sea Shore Stables, LLC and sponsored by BainbridgeFarms, LLC.
Eight of 24 entries reached the jump-off by riding clean over the 12-jump, 15-effort first-round course designed by Michael Vaillancourt. Seven of the eight then went clean over the seven-jump jump-off course with Ward, the 2017 FEI World Cup champion and currently the world's number two ranked rider, taking home the win with the fastest time of 32.812 seconds aboard Cerise.
Less than two tenths of a second away from first place was Laura Chapot and Out of Ireland, who won Wednesday's featured class. They finished with a time of 32.964 seconds. Kevin Babington, Irish Olympic veteran and winner of last Sunday's $75,000 Prevost Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix, took home third aboard Call Me Ruth with a time of 33.801 seconds followed by Chapot in fourth place aboard Shooting Star with a time of 34.072 seconds.
Earlier Friday morning, Laura Chapot and Umberto, winner of Tuesday's featured class, took home the win in the $1,500 Milagro Tequila 1.35m Jumper Class. Chapot was one of thirteen to go clean in the one-round class and she earned the win by having the fastest time of 52.665 seconds. Second place went to Tom Foley aboard Barney Rubble with a time of 53.399 seconds and Chapot also took third aboard Cybel II with a time of 54.011 seconds.