Lisa Wilcox and Pikko del Cerro HU. (SusanJStickle.com)
Judges for the FEI Grand Prix Special were Janet Foy (USA) at E, Lorraine MacDonald (CAN) at H, Sandy Phillips (GBR) at C, Wojek Markowski (POL) at M, and Jennie Loriston Clark (GBR) at B. Judges for the FEI Intermediare 1 were Anne Gribbons (USA) at E, Wojek Markowski (POL) at H, Lorraine MacDonald (CAN) at C, Jennie Loriston Clark (GBR) at M, and Sandy Phillips (GBR) at B.
Winning the $10,000 FEI Grand Prix Special was Lisa Wilcox (USA) riding Horses Unlimited's Pikko del Cerro HU (Pik L x Rohdiamant). The 10-year-old dark bay Hanoverian stallion and his rider received a score of 71.583%. Being the youngest amongst his competitors this morning, Wilcox was quite proud of Pikko. She conveyed, "He is a very fast learner. I've enjoyed developing him through the Prix St. Georges, then the Grand Prix and now the Internationals in what I like to call the 'Adult Grand Prix'. He just amazes me, how quick he's stepping up and catching on."
Wilcox continued, "The year he spent developing in the Grand Prix was really good for him. It allowed him to learn what I call the 'Freshman courses' and now he can go onto his sophomore year with self-assurance. He knows the work. Although there is a little different choreography and a little longer test, he's confident."
In evaluating the test, Wilcox felt, "It was much more fluid than last week. This is the second time he's done it. I was very happy to have improved on the transitions. He's also catching on, I can tell, and understanding the test."
Wilcox and Pikko were third in Thursday's FEI Grand Prix. Ecstatically she declared, "I was thrilled to have placed third. I was competing against the five-star riders from last week and I'm just doing the three-star stuff, so I'm very pleased with that placing. I am very honored to be in their midst and finish that close!"
This morning also saw another win for Sonia Zugel (IRL) riding her mount, Ungaro (Weltmeyer II x Wendekreis) in the $5,000 FEI Intermediare I. The pair also won yesterday's FEI Prix St. Georges. Zugel and her 16-year-old BWP bay gelding scored 64.395% for the win.
In the FEI Junior Individual class, Naima Moreira-Laliberte posted the highest score of 67.053% for victory with Diamond (Donnerhall x Werther).
Final Results: FEI Grand Prix Special sponsored by The Dutta Corp.
Pikko del Cerro HU, Lisa Wilcox (USA): E: 70.833%, H: 70.104%, C: 70.417%, M: 71.875%, B: 74.688%, Total: 71.583%
Paganini, Cheryl Meisner (CAN): E: 68.958%, H: 67.396%, C: 66.979%, M: 66.458%, B: 69.583%, Total: 67.875%
Currency DC, Susan Dutta (USA): E: 65.313%, H: 66.979%, C: 66.354%, M: 69.375%, B: 65.938%, Total: 66.792%
Jewel's Adelante, Elaine Cordia-Van Reese (USA): E: 65.625%, H: 68.646%, C: 66.458%, M: 66.563%, B: 66.146%, Total: 66.688%
Unico G, Anna Marek (USA): E: 64.271%, H: 62.708%, C: 65.000%, M: 61.771%, B: 63.125%, Total: 63.375%
Eminence, Lindsay Kellock (CAN): E: 58.542%, H: 63.229%, C: 67.083%, M: 61.042%, B: 63.125%, Total: 62.604%