There were 37 entries in the five-star grand prix, and six were clear and moved on to the jump-off over a course designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio.
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Alex Granato and Page Tredennick’s Carlchen W went in the jump-off next and brought the leading time down to 39.51 seconds, which would finish in second place. Mario Deslauriers and Wishing Well Farm LLC’s Bardolina 2 were clear in 40.75 seconds and they finished in fifth place.
“Going around [from jumps one to two] I got a little hung-up,” said Granato. “I got one or two extra strides to the wall than I wanted. That was the only place I wasn’t thrilled with in the jump-off, but I thought he was really on the pace and did exactly what I wanted and stuck to the plan. I was happy with how it ended up. [Dani] was the clear winner with how she laid it on the table.”

Granato and Carlchen W, an 11-year-old Mecklenberg gelding by Chacco-Blue—Celline-W, Continue) have had a streak of top finishes in the past year, including a win three weeks ago in a World Cup qualifier.

“In the last year and a half he’s exceeded all of my expectations,” said Granato of the horse he’s ridden for six years. “He’s come so far, and he’s done a lot for and with me now. He’s on form, and now he just keeps stepping up to the plate for me. I’m thrilled about it.”

Alex Granato (USA) scored the weekend double, beating two former FEI World Cup champions to win the $208,200 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Wellington at the CP Palm Beach Masters Winter Classic CSI4*-W presented by Suncast. Riding Carlchen W, Granato also won the FEI $71,200 Suncast Palm Beach Masters World Cup Qualifier on Friday.
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“It’s all just very surreal. It’s been an amazing week," said Granato. "It’s a privilege to get to ride at a venue like this and against riders like these whom I have looked up to for a long time. To have a week like this is amazing.”

The jump-off read like a who’s-who of international show jumping with Olympic veterans and FEI World Cup™ champions among the nine who jumped in the second round on the Alan Wade-designed course. Conor Swail (IRL), was the pathfinder in both rounds and rode the first clear in the jump-off in a time of 44.68 seconds on GK Coco Chanel, which resulted in fourth place. Granato and Carlchen W shaved off nearly two seconds with a time of 42.70 to take the lead with a slew of stars yet to jump.

“I have a naturally fast horse, so for both classes I got to play that to my advantage and try to let him run at this pace and stay focused on my track and my turns,” said Granato. “I think I got lucky here and there with a rub in each jump-off, but the horse is very fresh. I’ve been gearing him towards this week and I think he came out really fresh and strong and ready for it.”

The crowd held its breath as last to go was 2007 FEI World Cup Champion and Olympic veteran Beat Mändli (SUI) raced around the course on Dsarie and was on track to take the win, but missed with 44.16 seconds for third place.

Granato will long remember his time at Deeridge Farms. “It’s a beautiful venue, I can’t say enough nice things. They do a great job. It’s so great of them to open their facility for us to come over. It’s an energizer in the middle of the circuit for us as riders and for the horses to get to jump at this kind of venue.”

​​This is the fourth year for the Palm Beach Masters at Deeridge Farms and if the riders have any say, the series will continue for a long time.

“To see the level of competition here is extraordinary. That was the most gratifying to me that people plan their year and bring their best horses here,” said Lou Jacobs, series co-founder along with siblings Charlie Jacobs and Katie Robinson. “As a family the best times we’ve had have revolved around horses. It brings us closer together as a family. It’s a love that we all share and we’ve got some great memories. This is a special place for us. We’ve spent a lot of happy times here as a family. It’s wonderful now for me to enjoy it with my daughter and extended family. It’s been really very much a labor of love.”
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There were several special presentations awarded on Sunday. As Sunday’s winner, the Hunter Harrison Award was presented to Page Tredennick, owner of Carlchen W. Tredennick also won the Sue Grange Award on Friday, as the owner of the winning horse of the FEI $71,200 Suncast® Palm Beach Masters World Cup Qualifier.
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