The $30,000 Copa de Amistad Grand Prix, presented by EquiFit, Inc., welcomed 24 horse-and-rider teams onto the Peter Holmes-designed course at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. With seven riders, six of them women, earning spots in the jump-off, it was the second to last duo of Mandy Porter and Wild Turkey Farm’s young stallion, LaMarque, who led the victory gallop.

Porter also qualified her other mount, Chesapeake (Wild Turkey Farm, owner), joining Susan Hutchison and El Dorado 29’s Cantano, Leslie Steele and Oh My Goodness, Joie Gatlin aboard Camaron Hills Quick Dollar (Camaron Hills Farm, owner), and Lauren Hester riding Cracky Z (Hester Equestrian Inc., owner) for the jump-off. Riding LaMarque, Porter was the last woman to leave all of the fences up in the first round, followed by Michael Endicott and Fred Bauer’s Zico 13, the only male to join the jump-off group.

Hutchison and Cantano were first to return. The excellently matched pair and winner of the previous week’s grand prix had an uncharacteristic run-out at the second fence. Otherwise quick and clean, the pair didn’t accrue any time faults, finishing with just four in 53.83 for a fifth-place finish. Next in the ring was Porter on the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion Chesapeake. Lowering the height of two jumps in a time of 38.24, they ended up sixth. Riding her own Oh My Goodness, Steele sailed around the second-round course in a time of 42.66 but unfortunately lowered the height of three fences along the way for 12 faults, finishing seventh. Always the competitor, fourth to jump-off, Gatlin, riding Camaron Hills Quick Dollar, turned in a great time of 39.98 but regrettably brushed the top rail of the second-to-last fence for four faults and third place. Twenty-two-year-old Hester and Cracky Z returned to the grass next and only lowered one jump in a time of 45.73 for fourth. Enter LaMarque and Porter, who conservatively galloped around the shortened course in a time of 42.15, giving spectators the fault-free performance they were looking for. Last to go, Endicott, aboard Zico 13, entered the ring knowing he had to be fast and clean. They accomplished the goal, clean in 42.27 but falling short of the lead by just two-tenths of a second and collecting second-place honors.

Riders earning eighth- through 12th-place honors all lowered the height of one jump in round one. Fastest of the four fault rides in 76.40 and good enough for eighth place was Michelle Parker and Socrates de Midos (Cross Creek Farms, Inc., owner). Twenty-four-year-old Lane Clarke and McLord’s First John (Mickey Hayden, owner) collected four faults in 78.30 and ended up ninth. New Zealander Maurice Beatson and his own Apollo Van Evendael dislodged fence three and stopped the clock in 80.02 for 20th. Eleventh-place finisher Rusty Stewart and his talented eight-year-old mount, Bristol (Kandi Stewart, owner), heartbreakingly brushed the top rail of the last fence on course, just keeping them out of the jump-off with four faults in a time of 80.20. Veronica Tracy on her own Muscadet de la Saveriere rounded out the top 12 finishers by lowering a fence early in the first round for four faults and a time of 81.06.

To wrap up the month of June and celebrate the Fourth of July at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, Blenheim EquiSports offers the $25,000 Red, White and Blue Grand Prix, presented by St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, and a Kids Day on Saturday, July 3. Check www.showpark.com for event details.

Results of the $30,000 Copa de Amistad Grand Prix, presented by EquiFit, Inc.
1. LaMarque - Mandy Porter (Wild Turkey Farm) 0/80.397, 0/42.153
2. Zico 13 - Michael Endicott (Fred Bauer) 0/81.079, 0/42.276
3. Camaron Hills Quick Dollar - Joie Gatlin (Camaron Hills Farm) 0/76.430, 4/39.985
4. Cracky Z - Lauren Hester (Hester Equestrian Inc) 0/80.038, 4/45.738
5. Cantano - Susan Hutchison (El Dorado 29) 0/80.288, 4/53.831
6. Chesapeake - Mandy Porter (Wild Turkey Farm) 0/79.524, 8/38.243
7. Oh My Goodness - Leslie Steele (Leslie Steele) 0/78.099, 12/42.664
8. Socrates De Midos - Michelle Parker (Cross Creek Farms Inc) 4/76.400
9. McLord's First John - Lane Clarke (Mickey Hayden) 4/78.308
10. Apollo Van Evendael - Maurice Beatson (Maurice Beatson) 4/80.020
11. Bristol - Rusty Stewart (Kandi Stewart) 4/80.209
12. Muscadet De La Saveniere - Susan Hutchison (Veronica Tracy) 4/81.067

Blenheim EquiSports, an equestrian event management company based in San Juan Capistrano, CA, produces over 30 events per year in three locations: San Juan Capistrano, Del Mar and Las Vegas, NV. The events include 18 USEF “A” or “AA” rated hunter-jumper shows featuring several World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix, USHJA International Hunter Derbies, Pony Finals, Medal Finals and more.