Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince (The Book LLC)
Chapot was one of four entries from the starting field of 19 to reach the jump-off by riding without penalty over the 16-jump, first-round course designed by Pierre Jolicoeur. Julie Welles went first over the eight-jump, jump-off course and set the mark to beat with a clean round in 39.723 seconds on Ramses Du Lavillon, owned by Missy Clark.
Two rides later, Chapot dropped Welles to second place when she rode her 10-year-old, Selle Francais gelding which she owns with McLain Ward to a clean ride in a blazing 36.986 seconds. Kelsey Thatcher followed with a four-fault ride in 37.385 seconds on Athena to take third place with fourth place going to Paul O'Shea who finished the jump-off with eight faults in 37.128 seconds on Primo De Revel.
"With the fast horses we had in the jump-off, I felt that I had to go all out," Chapot said. "I thought I lost a little time early so I tried to pick it up and go as fast as I could over the rest of the course."
The Grand Prix win, Chapot's third in Lake Placid following wins on Aiko in 1996 and Little Big Man in 2004, capped off an incredible three weeks at the Lake Placid Horse Shows where she won featured classes every day. "I really don't think I'll ever have another series like I did this year," she said. "It just doesn't happen. It was just an amazing three weeks in Lake Placid and I am so thankful for how well it worked out."
In a special presentation prior to the Grand Prix, Dennis Sisco was honored with the Lora Schultz Award, given for outstanding performance in the Hunter Ring combined with excellence in turnout and sportsmanship. The award was established in memory of longtime Lake Placid Horse Show competitor and supporter Lora Schultz.