Keenan, 16, New York, N.Y., said she'd watched Minikus go on Tuxedo, and she knew that replicating his performance would be the key. Minikus went 10 horses before Keenan, and he held first place until Keenan beat his time. Minikus also rode two other horses to fourth and sixth places.
"I knew that to be any faster, I'd have to take the same track and just be a little faster in the air," said Keenan. "There wasn't a second out there that I didn't think, 'Just keep going forward,' and I was able to do that because I trust my horse so much."
Keenan has owned Londinium, 11, since January, and this was her most valuable win since moving out of the junior jumper division. "The Hampton Classic is a prestigious event, and to win anything in the Grand Prix Ring is really exciting. And to win this big class is really icing on the cake," said Keenan.
Darragh Kenny, of Warren, Vt., and Peter Lutz, of Golden's Bridge, N.Y., split the two divisions of the $10,000 Newsday Open Jumper class, in which more than 100 horses started on the rain-dampened Grand Prix Ring. Kenny rode Top Gun IV, owned by Oakland Ventures LLC, to the victory with no jumping faults and a time of 50.2 seconds. Lutz rode Adorose, owned by Kelly Tropin, to victory by jumping faultlessly in 51.8 seconds.
"The course was great. It used the whole field, and there were places to gallop and places to save time on the turns. I won, I think, because I left out a stride to the last fence," said Lutz. "And the footing was great, even with the rain last night and this morning."
Adorose is an 8-year-old, Dutch Warmblood mare. Lutz said they bought her two years ago, "and Kelly and I have been developing her together ever since."
Tropin, of New Canaan, Conn., also shows Adarose in the amateur-owner jumper division. "I think she's a really great horse for Kelly, but Kelly has a new job, and she may not have the time to show her for awhile, so I may be showing her more. But, ultimately, she's a winner for Kelly."
Kenny bought Top Gun IV, an experienced13-year-old gelding, in July to sell. "We've gotten along quickly because he's a simple horse to ride, and we won this class because he's quick across the jumps and fast across the ground. So I could just go in there and go for it," said Kenny, a native of Ireland.
After winning the show's first open jumper class, Lutz became the early leader in the Longines Rider Challenge. The $30,000 prize goes to the rider who accumulates the most points in the week's open jumper classes, with the show's Sunday finale, the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix, counting for double points. Since he won't be riding in the grand prix, Lutz allowed that this would probably be his last chance to wear the royal blue armband that designates the current leader.
"I'm very happy to wear it now, though," he said.
But with a stable aisle full of jumpers, two of which are entered in the grand prix, Kenny is hoping to be a Longines contender. "I might as well take a shot," he said with a smile. "It's not going to change anything I do with my horses, but it's certainly in the back of my head."
Following Tuesday's classes, Kenny is leading the Longines Rider Challenge with 62 points, followed by Minikus (60) and Peter Leone (58).