Wayne, IL - June 23, 2016 – Another stellar day of top-notch hunter/jumper competition continued Thursday at Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular just West of Chicago at Lamplight Equestrian Center. No strangers to the victory gallop, Lisa Goldman and her reliable partner Morocco handily won the $20,000 Welcome Stake, presented by Barrington Saddlery.
A field of 39 horse and rider combinations tried their hand at the Oscar Soberón designed course. Of the starters, 16 advanced to the short track and nine had double clear rounds.
Seventh in the order Nick Novak and his Dirkie Z (Dutch Capitol-Brioche V/H Gehucht Z) had a clear round with a time of 41.058 seconds and led the class until Trapp O’Neal and Capitano, owned by TKO Partnership, edged them out of the top spot with a jump off round of 40.926. Then, Dorothy Douglas and S & L Elite, owned by MTM Farm, beat O’Neal’s time and temporarily led the class.
Nick Novak and Dirkie Z
Four rounds later Novak and his own Climbus, a gray Holsteiner gelding (Cartani-Santa Fe), took over the lead, which they held for the second half of the class, with a blazing fast short course time of 39.863 seconds.
Goldman and Morocco (Roc USA-Pinky’s Pumpkin) came back for their jump off round. In their signature form, they beat Novak and Climbus by more than a second.
Trapp O'Neal and Capitano
Goldman typically does her jump off round right away when given the choice, but her saddle had slipped back during her first round and she left to reset it.
“I had taken a picture of the course earlier in the day,” Goldman said. “I hadn’t heard the announcement about the change in the jump off course. I didn’t know the last jump was in the jump off. I’m really glad that I came out with him.”
Dorothy Douglas and S & L Elite
She said that even though she rode her second track at the end of the class, she didn’t change her strategy based on what had transpired.
“My ride on that horse almost never changes,” she said. “We are just generally fast. At home he could be be a little Western pleasure horse unless something sets him off. He’s either one extreme or another.”
Nick Novak and Climbus
Goldman was selected to participate in the 2016 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Show Jumping Development Tour. The selected athletes will compete at CSI2* Knokke, Belgium, July 6-10, and CSIO3* Samorin, Slovakia, July 28-31, led by USEF Show Jumping Developing Rider Chef d’Equipe DiAnn Langer.
Novak, who trains with Nancy Whitehead, purchased Dirkie Z and Climubus on a shopping trip with Kent Farrington a year and a half ago.

Lisa Goldman and Morocco
“I bought them to focus on more of the FEI classes,” Novak said. “I did really well in Florida and Climbus was recently fourth in the Split Rock Grand Prix. They are progressing really nicely.”
Though they are serious athletes, Novak says they are both very gentle, sweet horses. Every morning he stops at Dunkin’ Donuts for apple fritters, their favorite treat.
Novak was selected as the alternate for the team USEF Show Jumping Development Tour. He said that his goal is to go the next step, to try to compete in more international classes.
“We’ve grown up together,” he said of Goldman. “Nancy and Mary (Goldman) have been best friends for a long time. I’m just so happy for Lisa. She’s a great person.”
Novak is grateful for the support of his entire network.
“I thank Pat (Boyle) for running great shows,” he said. “This week there were more jumpers in Illinois from different places than in quite a while. Thanks to Nancy Whitehead for getting me to where I am and to my parents for their support. I feel lucky to be surrounded by a lot of good people.”
Goldman wanted to send out a thanks to Barrington Saddlery and Chicago Equestrian. During Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular, both are selling wristbands to help support her trip.
“I leave Wednesday,” she said. “I am so excited!”
Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular Friday, June 24 features the $15,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.30m Grand Prix, presented by Nutrena, a leg of Showplace Productions’ all-new $150,000 Marshall & Sterling series held at 10 shows. In the hunter rings the junior and amateur hunter divisions will kick off.
Click here for the live stream of Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular by Star Creek Video.
Lisa Goldman and Morocco accept their award from Barrington Saddlery
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
$20,000 Barrington Saddlery Welcome Stake Results
1 640 Morocco Lisa Goldman 73.293 38.528
2 817 Climbus Nick Novak 77.861 39.863
3 591 S and L Elite Dorothy Douglas 79.189 40.684
4 263 Capitano Trapp O`Neal 78.961 40.926
5 1708 Dirke Z Nick Novak 78.417 41.058
6 819 Kingdom Christina Kelly 80.859 41.624
7 643 Rocs To RichesLisa Goldman 76.842 41.828
8 412 Vorione FortunaTrapp O`Neal 79.334 42.443
9 648 Callisto Z Tiffany Hammack 79.839 43.958
10 584 MTM Reve Du ParadisTracy Fenney 76.027 4 37.349
11 585 MTM Como No Tracy Fenney 81.357 4 41.007
12 106 Undine Liz Atkins 81.221 4 43.443
Other Jumper Results
Lisa Goldman and Air Guitar
$2,500 Open Jumper 1.30m, sponsored by Matchmaker Ltd
Taylor Fury and Carrasca Z won the class and were champions of the division.
$1,000 Young Jumper 6 Year Old Championship, sponsored by HorseFlight
Taylor Fury and Catania Saflo Z were reserve champions of the division
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Kyle Timm and Vaissac, owned by Apex Equestrian, won the class and were reserve champions of the division.
$1,000 Young Jumper 7 Year Old Championship, sponsored by HorseFlight
Liz Atkins and Niro 8
Best Turn Out Award, sponsored by Equis
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
Hunters and Equitation
USHJA 3’3 Jumper Medal
Charlotte Novy and Cimberly
USEF Talent Search Medal
Paige Matthies and Icaris Vede, owned by Dudley B Smith
Green/Regular Hunter Conformation
Postmark, pictured with Larry Glefke, owned by Cismont Manor Farm and ridden by Kelley Farmer
First Year Green
$2,500 Open Hunter Classic
Because, owned by Jane Gaston and ridden by Kelley Farmer, topped the First Year Green division and won the Open Hunter Classic.
Second Year
Moonwalk, owned by Copper Fox LLC, ridden by Hillary Johnson
Performance Working Hunter 3’6”
Calido’s Son, owned by Mimi Rothman, ridden by Douglas Boyd
Performance Working Hunter 3’3”
Counting Stars, owned by Kim Calamos, ridden by Kara Raposa
$2,500 Pre Green Hunter Challenge
Pre Green Hunter Division Champion
Double Play, owned by Southern Arches LLC, ridden by Winn Alden
“Well, I really wanted a cooler because they’re really pretty,” said Double Play’s rider, Winn Alden, jokingly, after championing the Pre Green Hunter Challenge. Double Play, owned by Southern Arches LLC, had a successful time at the Showplace Productions Spring Spectacular, winning the Pre Green Hunter division in the first week of competition and again this week. Alden said she looks forward to moving up to the First Year Hunters with Double in Wellington."
“I think he might be the hunter horse of my dreams. He’s one of my favorites to ride,” she said. Alden said she and owner Patty Taylor immediately fell in love with the bay Warmblood when they saw him at a show in Kentucky."
“We were at Kentucky showing and shopping,” Taylor said. “Someone said, ‘Oh, I just got this one in, go look at it.’ I said, ‘we have to have him.’ He’s a lovely, lovely horse.” Taylor said she credits this horse’s success to his “wonderful team”.
$2,500 USHJA Pre Green Incentive Stake
Kathleen Caya took the top two spots in the Pre Green Incentive Stake as with her horse Zorro as champion and Melissa Hirt’s entry Valcony in reserve.
IHJA Junior Medal
Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal
Rebecca Kozma took both medal classes with Perfecta Farm’s entry, Corochino Z.