Jeff Welles and Prem Dollar Boy winning the $75,000 Devoucoux Grand Prix at the Lake Placid Horse Show (The Book LLC)
Riding Prem Dollar Boy, an 11-year-old French-bred gelding owned by Mary-Kate Olsen, Welles was one of 5 entries from the starting field of 27 to qualify for the jump-off by completing the 15-jump, first-round course designed by Olaf Petersen, Jr. fault-free. He was the first to return to try the 8-jump tiebreaker at the North Elba Show Grounds and he set the mark to beat with a clean ride in 40.600 seconds.
None of the remaining entries could catch Welles, giving him his third win in the class following wins in 2000 on S&L Riviera and 2006 on Armani. The closest was Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, NJ who finished the jump-off clean in 42.775 seconds on Quointreau Un Prince to take second place.
"I really didn't think my time would hold up," said Welles who in 2006 became just the fourth rider to sweep Lake Placid's two Grand Prix events in one year. "I thought that both Laura and Tori (Colvin) would be faster. Fortunately, this time they weren't."
Third place went to Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL, on Macoemba while Colvin placed fourth on Chanel B2. Rounding out the top five was Margie Engle and Royce.
Prior to the Grand Prix, Victoria Colvin and Don Juan won the $10,000 Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort Junior Jumper Classic. Michael Hughes placed second and third on Luxina and Cool Z respectively. The win earned Colvin and Don Juan the horse show's High Junior Jumper Championship. Also, Catherine Tyree and Don't Go won the $10,000 Mirror Lake Inn Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Charlie Jacobs placed second on Cassinja S to earn the High Amateur-Owner Championship. Both Classics are member events of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame Jumper Classic Series.