Goldstein watches, waits, finally wins
After last year’s top two finishers drop rails, victory is hers.
WELLINGTON — Danielle Goldstein of Israel watched last year’s top two finishers, McLain Ward and Eric Lamaze, drop rails before breaking into a wide smile after clinching the $384,000 Rolex CSI5 Grand Prix.
Goldstein and 12-yearold AES mare Lizziemary turned in a blistering jumpoff round of 35.92 seconds to capture the Winter Equestrian Festival’s second fivestar grand prix in the featured “Saturday Night Lights” event in front of a standingroom-only crowd at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Goldstein, 33, had to wait out three riders including Lamaze and Ward, the final rider who dropped the last rail, before earning $126,720, her biggest career paycheck. The field had 39 riders, including six in the jump-off.
“The horse had a big summer,” said Goldstein of her European Championships horse. “I was gearing her toward one of these classes, specifically tonight. I was thrilled with her.”
It was the third consecutive week a member of Team Israel captured a major grand prix. Daniel Bluman and Ladriano Z won the $384,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix CSI5 and he won the $205,000 NetJets Grand Prix CSI4 with Sancha LS. Goldstein, who has dual citizenship, acquired Israeli citizenship in 2010.
“It’s huge (for Israel),” Goldstein said. “We’ve been building for a few years, trying to get a number of riders up to this level. We are a close-knit group. All we want to do is go to the Olympics and represent our country well.”
Russia’s Liubov Kochetova and 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Veneno, were second with the only other clear round in 45.77.
Ward, the defending champion, and HH Azur were third in 36.606 with four faults. Lamaze, last year’s runner-up, and Chacco Kid were fourth in 37.238 with four faults.
For her success this past week, Goldstein was also named the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider.
On Sunday, Santiago Lambre and Doloris won the $70,000 Hollow Creek 1.50meter Classic in a nine-rider jump-off in 36.725 seconds and earned $23,100. Also Sunday, Rodrigo Pessoa and Chaganus won the $50,000 Dutta Corp Grand Prix with double clear rounds, including the 36.114-second jumpoff. The event had 45 riders, including 12 in the jump-off. In early-week events:
■ Ward and Hija van Strokapelleken won the $132,000 Equininity WEF Challenge Cup Round 7. It was his second five-star WEF Challenge Cup win of the season. Ward and the 11-year-old BWP mare won the jump-off in 35.20 and earned $43,560.
■ Ecuador’s Diego Vivero and 12-year-old KWPN mare Bijoux won the $35,000 Douglas Elliman Real Estate 1.45-meter Jumpers CSI5. The pair topped a field of 66 riders and had the fastest jump-off round of 30.35 and won $11,550.
■ Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio won the $35,000 Dutta Corp 1.45-meter Classic with a clear round in 32.921 and won $11,550.
■ Kristen Vanderveen and Bull’s Run Faustino De Tili won the $35,000 Bainbridge 1.45-meter Classic with a clear round in 63.88 and won $11,500.