Freddie Vazquez and Esprit De Vie (Andrew Ryback Photography)

Wayne, Ill. –Patrick Boyle and the organizers of Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular produced a great day of competition at Lamplight Equestrian Center.

Freddie Vazquez and his Pan Am Games mount, Esprit De Vie won the $20,000 C & E Transportation Welcome Stake over international course designer, Anderson Lima’s challenging track. In the hunter ring the professional hunter division champions were named.

“He is one of my favorite designers,” Vazquez said of Lima.

Lisa Goldman, who rode six horses in the class agreed, “I love Anderson Lima’s courses. All my rails were spread around the course. I thought everything rode really well.”

Out of 43 top Olympic, international and national horse and rider combinations, 12 completed Lima’s first round fault-free. After their clear rounds, riders were given the choice to move directly on to the jump off phase or come back at the end of the class.

Goldman and Sovereign were the second in the order and the first to go double clear. In Goldman’s signature style, she had a blazing fast second round, laying down the time to beat at 36.580 seconds.

Jill Knowles and her Contessa Z and Liz Atkins and her Niro 8 were both double clear, and completed slower jump off rounds. After everything played out, they would end up sixth and fifth, respectively.

Vazquez had clear rounds on both his mounts, Esprit De Vie and Bachelor 4 and opted to return at the end of class. That choice would be seal the deal for the international rider.

“She is quite special to me,” Vazquez said of his mare. “She’s got the heart of a lion.”

Kyle Timm and Coronet’s Gold 2, owned by Apec Equestrian, also had a faultless first round and opted to come back later to complete the second track.

Caitlin Hope and her partner of eight years, Total Touch, owned by Kathleen Hope, completed a double clear round and were fast enough to take over the second place position.

Timm returned for his second round and was fast enough to take the third place position.

Vazquez had a rail with Bachelor 4. Then, last to go with Esprit De Vie, he navigated the course as if he were driving a Ferrari, making up time and edging Goldman out of the top spot by stopping the timers at 36.554. Vazquez earned the victory gallop, with Goldman and Sovereign in second, Hope and Total Touch in third and Timm and Coronet’s Gold 2 landing in fourth place.

“I prefer to come out, take a breather, let her blood come down, rather than just go again,” Vazquez said about his strategy to wait for his second round. “If I keep her in the arena too long, she gets a little overzealous and excited.”

Vazquez has had the mare for just one year. He purchased Esprit De Vie (Sperry) just two weeks before representing Puerto Rico at the 2015 Pan Am Games.

“When you get a top-level jumper, it is important that you start collecting data on the horse – what kind of bridle, what kind of spurs, how long a stick, how much flatwork.”

According to Vazquez, all her qualities multiply in the arena – her scope, her strength. Last fall she won the $30,000 Showplace Fall Classic Championship Grand Prix
grand prix. She had a good season in Tryon, then went to Florida.

“I am married to a very strong American woman,” he said. “I should know not to take things for granted. I have to keep working to make sure I am prepared.”

Vazquez credits his success to his wife, Jodi Vazquez and his friend and coach Chris Kappler. He says that his groom, Arturo Novaro cares for his horses as if they are his own.

“This could have never happened without Connie Luecke,” he said.” She bought half of this mare with me. I am indebted for life.”

Second place finisher Goldman shared some exciting news. June 29 she will travel to Europe as part of the USEF Developing Rider Team tour. She plans to take her horses Centurion B and Hindsight. For information on Goldman’s GoFundMe sight go to her Facebook page.

Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular resumes bright and early Friday, June 17, featuring the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.30 Grand Prix. In the hunter rings the junior hunters kick off.

Click here for the live stream of Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular by Star Creek Video.