Photo by Flying Horse Photography (Michelle Parker and Socrates de Midos)
Vaillancourt remarked, “I think today’s course dimensions are very worthy of this class. It is definitely a solid 1.50m course. We will have a jump-off but not certain how many.”
Two riders maneuvered their mounts to double-clean performances during this key event of the Blenheim Red, White, and Blue Classic, but the win was ultimately decided by fractions of a second, with top honors awarded to Michelle Parker and Socrates de Midos (Cross Creek Farms, Inc., owner).
Parker was the first of the two qualifiers to step back onto the grass to negotiate the jump-off track. Seventh to enter the ring in round one, Josephina Nor-Lantzman and her gelding Chello Z also went clean in round one and advanced to the jump-off. With 50 seconds allotted for the second round, Parker and her mount went for the clean and conservative ride initially and then picked up the pace at the end in a solid time of 40.947 and clean, presenting Nor-Lantzman with a difficult task. As spectators on all sides of the International Field looked on, it appeared as though Nor-Lantzman was going to answer the call. Despite a fault-free performance, the pair stopped the clock just over Parker’s time in 41.227, forcing them into a well-earned second place.
Occupying third through seventh positions were riders who incurred four faults in round one. Camaron Hills Farm horses fared well with three horses in the class and three top 12 finishes. One pair often in the ribbons, Joie Gatlin and Camaron Hills Quick Dollar, were the fastest of the four-fault rides in a time of 75.124 for third place overall. First to go in the class, Molly Talla rode another Camaron Hills horse, Carrow Cruise, and stopped the clock at 81.425 ending up fourth.
Notably the fifth and sixth positions were the consistent pairs of southern California trainers Leslie Steele and Rusty Stewart. Riding eight-year-old mounts that they’ve brought along themselves, Steele and Oh My Goodness had one down in 82.666 and Stewart aboard Bristol (Grey Fox Farms, owner) also lowered just one jump for a sixth-place finish in 83.689. Rounding out the four fault performances and picking up seventh-place honors, Michael Endicott piloted Fred Bauer’s Zico 13 around the Vaillancourt course in a time of 83.799.
Riders earning eighth- through 12th-place honors lowered the height of two jumps in round one for eight jumping faults overall. Fastest of the eight fault rides in 76.785 and earning eighth place was Parker aboard her second mount in the class, Clever. Talla, also aboard her second mount, Camaron Hills Shanroe (Camaron Hills Farms, owner), clocked in at 83.109 for ninth. Tenth went to the impressive Contact Me (AMA Marketing & Management, Inc., owner) and Justin Resnik, who completed the course in a time of 81.018. Lane Clarke and Bay Rose’s Nikko (Bay Rose LLC, owner) stopped the clock at 86.456 with eight faults for 11th place. The twelfth-place horse-and-rider combination, Granville Equine’s Casseur de Prix and Becky Smith, finished with eight in 87.958.
“After four weeks of showing the condition of the footing is still good,” commented Vaillancourt. “The jump material here is great, and the condition of the field is wonderful.”
Blenheim EquiSports moves to the Del Mar Horse Park for the Showpark Summer Series with three weeks of shows July 21-August 8. The Showpark Racing Festival features a $10,000 USHJA High Performance Hunter Challenge on Saturday, July 31, and the $25,000 Racing Festival Grand Prix on Sunday, August 1. Check www.showpark.com for event details.
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.