U.S. Olympic team gold medalist Will Simpson swept the top two placings in the $32,000 Palm Beach Equine Clinic CSI3* Speed on Saturday during the ESP Pre-Charity week at Florida’s Wellington International. Winning aboard veteran mount Chacco P, Simpson was second with up-and-coming 9-year-old Keminko N.
Simpson and Chacco P were in it to win it and posted the unbeatable time of 60.34 seconds from third in the original order over the Hector Loyola (PUR) designed speed track. His second place round on Keminko N stopped the clock at 61.39 seconds. The United States swept the podium with Alessandra Volpi rounding out the top three placings aboard her own Berlinda in 61.5 seconds.
When asked about how Chacco P feels at 15, Simpson said, “He’s in perfect condition and there’s no slowing down, he feels like he will go until he's 20.
“He was on fire today; he's so fast with his feet,” continued Simpson of the Mecklenburg gelding (Chacco-Blue x Elite). “He's 18 hands, yet he can turn on a dime. He's a real fun horse to ride in the speed classes.”
After challenging the rest of the 34-horse field to chase him, Simpson returned with Keminko N, a Dutch Warmblood gelding by Grand Slam, and proved the young horse is one to watch. “He's very green; he’s nine but he feels more like a seven-year-old.
“He's come up through the ranks and he's a real fighter,” continued Simpson. “At first, I thought he was long-strided, but now I can leave strides out anywhere. You can also see in his eyes that he loves the sport and being out there competing."
After pocketing two top finishes early in the season, Simpson hopes to return to Wellington during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and compete in one of four five-star offerings during the 2025 season.
“It is very exciting for me to be here in Wellington,” said Simpson, who recently relocated to Ocala, FL, after basing the last 40 years of his career in California. “This is one of the reasons; it's a quick jaunt here and it’s very nice to be able to come down and show because I've got a couple of nice horses that I want to stay competitive with for a few more years.”
Also taking a win in the International Ring on Friday, Lillie Keenan (USA) topped the Bainbridge Companies 1.40m riding Le Louvre 5, owned by Chansonette Farm, and Canada’s Mikayla Sancho of Kirkland, QC, won the BrainJuice Junior/Amateur 1.40m aboard her own OBF Marcus.
In the E.R. Mische Hunter Stadium, Wellington’s own Jennifer Prior rode Le Chat Noir, owned by Catomine Farm, to victory in the ArthramidVet 3/6”/2/9” Hunter Derby on a leading score of 175.
Competition comes to a peak on Sunday when the $140,000 Flagler Insurance CSI3* Grand Prix takes center stage in the International Ring to conclude the ESP Pre-Charity week.
To view complete results from Saturday at ESP Pre-Charity, click HERE.
