Susan Hutchison and Ziedento
International FEI Course Designer Anderson Lima of Mexico considered the large number of entries and variety of experience. "Every level here is represented - there are some amateurs, and some professionals, and I have nice questions for all of them."
With the track he set, Lima predicted approximately ten would jump-off. Elements of the triple combination by the in-gate came down over a dozen times, and the final fence, an oxer facing toward the hill on the side of field, proved to be even more difficult. Time allowed was another challenging factor, as four competitors ended with just one time fault.
First in the ring, Keri Potter aboard Paloma (owned by Melanie Brooks), was also first to go clean. Making it look easier than it was, only a few more managed to ride fault-free over the next forty plus rounds. Once John Perez and Daniel Rihan's Chianti Classico, 48th in the order, laid down a clean round, then three of the next four entries joined the jump-off group, for a total of eight clean.
Rails fell for Potter and Paloma, John Perez on Gran Amour and Misti Cassar aboard Allstar 5 (Gavin Brodin, owner). Mandy Porter and David Murdoch's Eminent turned in the first double clear in a speedy 38.99. A short-lived lead, as next in, Perez and Chianti Classico, also went double clear and edged out Porter by less than a second, in 38.32.
Josephina Nor Lantzman and Unlimited had a heartbreak rail for four faults. Next in, Hutchison knew what she had to do to take the lead. Shaving over a second off the leading time, she and Ziedento took a fast and tidy track, clean in 36.69. Last to go, Ashlee Bond on Little Valley Farms' Agro Star, also had a fast time in 38.53 but had a rail, picking up fourth.
After the class, Hutchison praised Lima's course. "I thought that with so many horses - good, experienced horses that will likely be going again in Sunday's grand prix - the course designer did a beautiful job with his design and with the time allowed. But also as a class for the younger horses that are stepping up to the grand prix ring, no one really got into trouble out there. And it was good preparation for Sunday."
Cook Takes Top Two Spots in the $7,500 CashCall U25 Qualifier
With the first and second place finishers returning from the initial CashCall U25 Qualifier in June, Zazou Hoffman and Vani Khosla, along with two entries from Karl Cook, today's class was quite a competition. In the end, Cook and Basimodo, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood owned by Signe Ostby, took home the blue.
In anticipation of next month's $15,000 CashCall U25 Final, course designer Lima ensured the horses and riders met a challenging yet approachable track. The oxer at fence 9 on a bending line after the triple combination, as well as the 11ab combination on the far side of the Grand Prix Field, both proved to be trouble spots for several of the competitors.
Cook and Basimodo were first in the order and clean, followed by Martin Jimenez aboard Arturo Parada Vallejo's Mr. Blue, who had a beautiful round and left all the jumps up, but ended up with a time fault in 83.22. The only other clear round of the class was Cook and Signe Ostby's Caillou 24, but they couldn't quite beat Cook and Basimodo's time, placing second in 79.82 seconds.
"I think it's important to have a U25 class like this," said Cook. "There needs to be something that helps people going up. That's the goal - to jump bigger, and to do better in those classes - and so having a 'pipeline' like this is good for the sport."
The remaining CashCall U25 Qualifiers:
Showpark August Festival, July 29 - August 2, 2015
Showpark Summer Classic, August 19 - 23, 2015
Showpark All Seasons Summer Classic, August 26 - 30, 2015
The Showpark Racing Festival continues with the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby later today, and the $40,000 Racing Festival Grand Prix presented by EQ Almanac on Sunday.
RESULTS
$10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic
Place - Entry Number - Horse - Rider - Owner - Faults/Time
1. 241 - Ziedento - Susan Hutchison - St. Bride's Farm - 0/0/36.696
2. 830 - Chianti Classico - John Perez - Daniel Rihan - 0/0/38.327
3. 908 - Eminent - Mandy Porter - David Murdoch - 0/0/38.993
4. 130 - Agro Star - Ashlee Bond - Little Valley Farms - 0/4/38.532
5. 267 - Paloma - Keri Potter - Melanie Brooks - 0/4/41.113
6. 574 - Unlimited - Josephina Nor Lantzman - Josephina Nor Stables, LLC - 0/4/42.496
7. 357 - Allstar 5 - Misti Cassar - Gavin Brodin - 0/4/57.473
8. 824 - Gran Amour - John Perez - John Perez - 0/8/39.251
9. 835 - Iris von Heike - Jacob Saaib - Jacob Saaib - 1/76.021
10. 791 - Mighty Mouse - Gerardo Pasquel - Gerardo Pasquel - 1/76.177
11. 781 - Big Red - Nick Hein Ruus - Gerardo Pasquel - 1/76.411
12. 662 - Zanzibar - Tanya Levorchick - Megan Camaisa - 1/76.921
$7,500 CashCall U25 Qualifier
Place - Entry Number - Horse - Rider - Owner - Faults/Time
1. 568 - Basimodo - Karl Cook - Signe Ostby - 0/78.42
2. 569 - Caillou 24 - Karl Cook - Signe Ostby - 0/79.82
3. 881 - Mr. Blue - Martin Jimenez - Arturo Parada Vallejo - 1/83.22
4. 146 - Billy Mexico - Vani Khosla - Vani Khosla - 4/77.38
5. 164 - Umbra 34 - Zazou Hoffman - Paris Sellon - 9/81.47
6. 201 - Chicago Lyngriis - Mitch Endicott - Mary McDonald - 10/86.61
7. 257 - Cupilor - Nick Gegen - Cross Creek Farms, Inc. - 12/76.12
8. 652 - Springfield Hill - Paige Coles - Paige Coles - 16/111.70