Thomas Cerra and Legolas win the $1,500 1.30m Open Jumpers at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship. (Kendall Bierer/Phelps Media Group)

Wayne, Ill. - After concluding an action-packed week of competition for the Showplace Jumper Spectacular, management and crew packed up the trucks and relocated to the Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, for the Showplace Fall Classic Championship. The first day kicked off with a deluge of rain, yet the torrential downpour did not dampen the competition as Thomas Cerra and Legolas raced to the 1.30m Open Jumper victory with a blazing time.

Only two were able to navigate the opening track, set with 11 obstacles and 13 efforts, including two double combinations set against the tricky stone wall of the Grand Prix Ring. David Dorner was the first to master the opening round aboard Chaciara, owned by Heyday Investments, LLC of Town and Country, Missouri, immediately preparing for the consecutive speed track.

Although their double-clean effort was quick, their time of 44.886 seconds would leave the door open for Cerra and Legolas, who followed only two rounds later to take the lead in 39.796 seconds.

"He is always fast," Cerra said. "I can go as fast as I want, and he is always right there. He is super fun to ride-you sort of just wind him up and go. He is always a competitor. I always know that I am in the hunt on that horse."

Cerra bought Legolas as a 6-year-old in Sweden for his customer, Amanda Dollinger. He worked with the young horse to bring him up through the ranks, and Dollinger has shown him throughout the Amateur-Owner Jumper divisions. Cerra currently is showing Legolas for Dollinger as she experiences the joys of motherhood, and is working to find a new owner for the 10-year-old gelding.

"It's a great feeling to know that he is always right there with you," Cerra said of Legolas. "I thought the courses were great, and the footing held up remarkably well with all of the rain this morning. Everything at my place, which is nearby, is under water right now, but this footing is dry."

Cerra has been showing at the Lamplight Equestrian Center since the pony hunter divisions, and remarked that "it is nice that they have made so many improvements to the facility. It is nice to see it turned into such a nice venue."

The third place was also clinched by Cerra, as the fastest of the four-fault efforts aboard his first mount of the class, Compis, owned by Kate Diggs of Burr Ridge, Ill.

The Showplace Fall Classic offers a week slated with highlight events for all levels, including the Young Horse Championships, $10,000 Welcome Stake, $5,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner SJHOF Classic, Marshall & Sterling Medal Finals, and the annual Illinois Hunter Jumper Association Medal Finals.

"This is the last normal show of the season for us, so everyone likes to end strong," Cerra said. "It is always nice to do well at home. I have a couple of horses for sale, so it would be nice to maybe match them up with someone this week. We are taking everything day by day. This is always an exciting show for us. The kids are excited about the Medal Finals this weekend."

The Fall Classic Championship Horse Show is one of the Midwest's most important competitions and includes the USEF Zone V Horse of the Year Finals, the IHJA "A" Medal Finals and the Marshall and Sterling Midwest Finals. The $10,000 Welcome Stake is scheduled for Thursday with the $30,000 Showplace Grand Prix set for Saturday, prior to the start of the Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal, Sore No More Children's Medal and Farnam Adult Medal Finals. The IHJA equitation medal finals will conclude the championship competition on Sunday with a full day of medal finals.

For a schedule of the Showplace Fall Classic Championship, click here.

For more information, directions or complete results, please visit www.showplaceproductions.com.