Lucy Deslauriers (USA) and Hester © Sportfot,

February 11, 2021 – Wellington, FL – Lucy Deslauriers (USA) and Hester, owned by Lisa Deslauriers, were in fine form on Thursday, February 11, as they flew to the top of the leaderboard in the International Arena for a victory in the $73,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round 5 CSI5* at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

Over a track set by Kelvin Bywater (GBR), 18 combinations from a starting field of 56 qualified to return for the jump-off, with 15 electing to challenge the second round. Deslauriers and her partner of eight years answered all the questions to fly into first with a time of 31.97 seconds.

“There weren’t too many places to change the strides in between the jumps so I knew I just had to be super prompt everywhere,” said Deslauriers. “He was really right with me today; I felt like I was just looking, and he knew what I was going to do before I did it.”

Olivia Chowdry Rides to Second Win in Two Weeks

Fresh off an opening day victory in the CSI2* during WEF 4 with Chuck Berry 8, Olivia Chowdry (USA) repeated her performance, this time in the $6,000 Restylane 1.45m CSI2* with Balkana du Tillard, owned by Atlas Equine Holdings LLC. Chowdry was fastest out of 21 entries and 14 clear rounds to take the win in 50.80 seconds.

Chowdry felt that she won the class by leaving out a stride between the first and second jumps on course.

Second place went to Gabriela Reutter (CHI) and Atticus Diamant, owned by Lumiere Horses Inc. in 51.21 seconds. Zoe Conter (BEL) and Stephex Stables’ Soory de l’Hallali were third in 51.79 seconds.

Chowdry has been riding Balkana du Tillard for a year and a half after an initial lease period in Europe through Axel Verlooy. The 10-year-old Selle Francais mare by Kannan x Landgold has exceeded expectations for Chowdry and her trainers, Katie and Henri Prudent.

For more information and results, please visit www.PBIEC.com.