Earning her second win of the week in Ocala, Florida, Lisa Goldman went from winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Friday to winning the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix of Ocala on Sunday.
Lisa Goldman proved that warm weather suits her this week at HITS Ocala. Just two days before bringing her horses to Florida, the temperatures at her home in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois plummeted to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Today, however, Goldman and her family-owned Centurion B basked in the southern sunshine while jumping to a win in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis.
Goldman and the 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding warmed up earlier in the week with a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, before making it two in a row today.
Representing her family’s Red Coat Farm, Goldman was the first to best the first-round course, designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida, which included 13 fences and a technical triple combination at the end. Eight more would later join her for a nine-horse jump-off. “Even though there were several clear, this course was a challenge – it was very technical and it fit the increase in money well,” said Goldman.
Before heading south, Centurion B jumped his last class in October before “being a horse for two months,” as Goldman explained. “The time off has brought him here really fresh and I am very pleased with how he and all my horses are performing,” she added.
First to return in the jump-off, Goldman preceded the likes of Ocala grand prix veteran Tracy Fenney, 2013 star Jared Petersen and Zoetis Million top-three finisher Sharn Wordley, to name a few. “I think you’re always worried with people like that behind you,” admitted Goldman. “Honestly, all I wanted was a solid double clean round – I really wasn’t expecting to win this one.”
She posted an immediate Great American Time to Beat at 38.75 seconds. Three trips later, Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas rode MTM Farm’s MTM Centano clear in 39.14 seconds to sit just behind Goldman.
Another clear wouldn’t be jumped and the two remained at the top of the money. Petersen of Archer, Florida was the fastest of three four-fault round in the jump-off. He and Derek Petersen’s Titus 2:11 had a rail at the beginning of the shortened track to hand them third. Wordley of Ocala, Florida was fourth aboard Ashland Stables’ Axel and Australian native Scott Keach capped the top five in the irons of Viriato, owned by Southern Cross.
Goldman will look to expand her streak to three in a row on Thursday as grand prix competition continues at HITS Ocala with the $25,000 Smartpak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, to kick off the second week of winter competition at HITS Post Time Farm.
Source: HITS Press Release