Lisa Goldman set the pace with Centurion B to win the $5,000 Welcome Class at Lamplight's Equifest II (Andrew Ryback)

Wayne, Ill – The feature class at Lamplight Equestrian Center’s Equifest II today was the $5,000 1.40m Welcome class in the newly remodeled Grand Prix ring. Fourteen entries vied for the prize over the Manuel Esparza designed course. Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico, was the Assistant Designer for the Olympic Games from 1996-2008. His time allowed on today’s track was comfortable and the toughest two spots seemed to be a wide oxer off a short turn by the in-gate and the triple combination.

“I thought the course was big and technical,” said Goldman, “right to the specs. The triple was tough being an oxer, vertical, vertical set as a long one to a short two.  The number eleven oxer was literally two strides from the gate which made it challenging.”

Only three managed to put in a clear round to proceed to the jump off. Two of those were Lisa Goldman’s of Hawthorn Woods, IL. Centurion B proved to be the fastest by fractions of a second with 40.523. Goldman’s second mount, Morocco, was right behind with 40.844 and Liz Atkins, Hampshire, IL, with NIro 8, caught a rail and a time of 43.657.

“I tried to slow down at the end,” said Atkins, “but I didn’t get it done soon enough and he got too flat.”

Atkins and Niro 8, a thirteen year old Trakehner stallion, finished third in the $35,000 Prix de Lamplight last week at Equifest I.

Goldman was at Traverse City last week and came to Equifest with two big wins under her belt, the $2,500 1.40m Open Speed Class for Centurion B and the $10,000 Welcome Prix with Morocco. Goldman was first on Centurion B, a twelve year old Belgian Warmblood, and quickly set the pace in her usual fashion with a clean, fast time.

When she returned on Morocco, she knew she only had to go clean but says Morocco is naturally fast.

“I wasn’t planning on doing the harder inside turn with him but it just showed up,” said Goldman.

“I was actually really most pleased with my seven-year-old, (Rocs to Riches) who did her first Welcome today. She had the tough oxer eleven down but we just started her in the 1.40m and she was great.”

Rocs to Riches finished fifth and is a Roc USA baby like Morocco.

Competitors will now gear up for the $35,000 Prix de Lamplight, which takes place Saturday afternoon with VIP seating available.

Equifest II continues through August 3rd and is managed by Allen Rheinheimer. The week features a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby and the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby along with a fantastic Derby Brunch.

$5,000 1.40m Welcome Class
            #             HORSE NAME                RIDER NAME            JF1     TF1     TIME 1    JF2    TIME 2
1         174          CENTURION B              LISA GOLDMAN          0          0       78.826        0        40.523
2         404          MOROCCO                    LISA GOLDMAN          0          0        0.000         0        40.844
3         247          NIRO 8                           LIZ ATKINS                  0          0         0.000         4        43.657
4         245          ESCONIAL                     LIZ ATKINS                  0           2        84.310
5         173          ROCS TO RICHES        LISA GOLDMAN           4           0        75.497
6         231          LEGOLAS                      THOMAS CERRA         4           0        77.710
7         41            SPITFIRE-W                  KATHERINE DEWAR    4           0        79.087
8         384          S & L ELITE                    DOROTHY DOUGLAS  4           0        80.864
9         248          UNDINE                          LIZ ATKINS                    4           0        81.413
10       116           REPLIQUE                     KATIE LEVERICK          4           0        82.507