Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince Win Again! Take First in $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix

Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince Win Again! Take First in $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix
Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Chapot and McLain Ward, claimed yet another victory at HITS-on-the-Hudson, taking first place in Sunday's $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix.

The win follows their blue ribbon in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix and Chapot's consistent stellar performance at HITS-on-the-Hudson so far this year. Seven horses made the jump-off Sunday, including two ridden by Chapot.

Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, when first in the jump-off on ISHD Dual Star, owned by her mother, Mary Chapot, but had a rail down to finish with four faults in 36.664 seconds and place fourth. Ronan McGuigan, of Far Hills, New Jersey, on his Capall Zidane took the ring next, but retired after an unfortunate refusal at fence 12a. Brianne Goutal, of New York, New York, on Rebeca LS, owned by Remarkable Farms LP, went third and finished in a clean 38.833 seconds to take the lead and set the Great American Time to Beat.

Judy Garofalo Torres, of Dover Plains, New York, on Quattro Queen, owned by Juan Torres, went fourth but had a rail down to finish in 39.340 seconds to take fifth place. Mauricio Guevara, of Plantation, Florida, and his Capano Z completed the next clean round and finished in a time of 42.326 to put them in third. Andrea Torres Guerreiro, of Waterford, Virginia, who won the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper 1.45m Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines, earlier that day, had rails at the last two fences to finish with eight faults in 39.058 seconds, placing sixth.

Chapot, on Quointreau Un Prince, went next and, like their win in Friday's $25,000 Grand Prix, cleared all the jumps in a lightning fast round to claim the top prize. She credits her horse for their victory. "He does cover the ground really well. He is fast. For him, it's not like I was running. He has such a great length of stride. He covers a lot of ground without having to race."

She said of her consistent wins, including Sunday, "I think it's key for me not to think too much about who it is that's in the lead, and to just try and put in a really good round for my horse.”