Katie Dinan and Vancouver (The Book LLC)

North Salem, NY - After a week of final exams at Harvard University, Katie Dinan came to Old Salem Farm ready to get back on her horse and in the ring. She and her trusty partner of five years, Vancouver, galloped to victory on the grass Grand Prix Field in the $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. She and Vancouver, a 15-year-old gelding by Voltaire II, beat a list of 33 competitors and five in the jump-off after they finished in the fastest time of 41.24 seconds. Second place went to Michael Hughes on Luxina as the only other double clear in 42.76 seconds. Finishing in 39.55 seconds, but with four faults, Lillie Keenan and Vanhattan were third.

Dinan came in just for Sunday's class. She explained, “I love this horse show; it's one of my favorites of all year. When I realized I had exams these two weeks, I was really upset because I always look forward to coming here. My horse felt like he's jumping the best he has in a while. I think that really speaks about the venue. He's impressed with this place. To be able to gallop around the big field is really great.”

Dinan showed indoors at the Rolex FEI World Cup Finals in Sweden in April, so it took a bit of an adjustment to the big grass field. “I think when the ring is this big, you have to make sure to keep your pace everywhere. When you're in an indoor, everything comes up much quicker. Here, especially in the first round, you can have time faults without even feeling slow. In the jump-off today, I planned on being very prompt to the first few jumps. There was a little bit of an inside angle that I took to the third oxer. One of the nice things about a big grass field, you have more range of stride. They can really get on a big stride.”

Since he is 15 years old, Dinan is keeping Vancouver's show schedule light. “It's nice though that for when he does show, he steps up to the plate like this and to bring home a big win is really fun,” she acknowledged. “This is a great venue for him. I won my first grand prix ever, on him two years ago here. This horse show has always been very special for me.”

She added with a smile, “I didn't have a Mother's Day gift, so I was hoping one of my horses could bring one home! Vancouver did that.”

The winner of Sunday's $7,500 Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by The Manocherian Family was 15-year-old Kira Kerkorian of East Hampton, NY. She rode Leopold 221, a nine-year-old Westphalian gelding by Lordanos, to the top of the 48-entry class. There were 13 that made it through to the jump-off, and the best pair of Kerkorian and Leopold stopped the timers in 40.703 seconds. Second place went to Taylor Burns on Cordero Zaffiro in 40.840 seconds, while Wesley Newlands and Vertigo were third in 41.198 seconds.

For her win, Kerkorian was also presented with a $500 Der Dau gift certificate.

It was an auspicious start for Kerkorian and Leopold as it's their first show together, having only been together for a month. “I've been learning him. I just wanted to go clear and have a nice, solid round so I could maybe move up to the Highs later on,” Kerkorian said. “I want to take it slow with him because I want to build a good partnership. I think today was great.”

She said of Leopold, “He's very fast actually. He pulls me to the jump, which is great, because I like something in my hand. He's super brave; he just wants to go and win. He has his own motor.”

“It feels amazing,” Kerkorian said of her victory. “I really wasn't expecting it, but I'm so happy.”

In the morning's 7/8  Year Old Young Jumper Qualifier sponsored by Watershed Agricultural Council, Jeffery Welles rode Bilion to victory for owner Triton Ventures Farms Inc. Darragh Kenny and Oakland Ventures LLC's Cequila was second, and Penny Brennan on Class Act, owned by Jacquelyn Ventorino, was third.

Final Results: $10,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
1 KATHERINE DINAN, VANCOUVER: 0/0/41.24
2 MICHAEL HUGHES, LUXINA: 0/0/42.76
3 LILLIE KEENAN, VANHATTAN: 0/4/39.55
4 CHELSEA MOSS, DOLCE D'IVE Z: 0/4/45.28
5 MICHAEL HUGHES, DROMMA: 0/8/42.73
6 BENJAMIN SIMPKINS, VIVARO B: 1/82.61
7 ISABELLA SALLES, PRINCESS EMILY: 4/73.54
8 KATHERINE STRAUSS, CAPACITY: 4/76.62
9 CATHERINE TYREE, DON'T GO: 4/77.19
10 LILLIE KEENAN, LONDINIUM: 4/78.54
11 WESLEY NEWLANDS, WIEMINKA B: 4/78.87
12 GABRIELLE BAUSANO, UBICO H: 4/79.08

Final Results: $7,500 Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic sponsored by The Manocherian Family
1  LEOPOLD 221, KIRA KERKORIAN: 0/0/40.703
2  CORDERO ZAFFIRO, TAYLOR BURNS: 0/0/40.840
3  VERTIGO, WESLEY NEWLANDS: 0/0/41.198
4  OSCAR 72, LAUREN WARD: 0/0/41.367
5   ALORIEN, CLEMENTINE GOUTAL: 0/0/41.666
6  TURBO R, KELLY TROPIN: 0/0/44.191
7  NORTON DE LA SAP, LAUREN FISCHER: 0/0/47.051
8  TARANTEL'LA, EMILY D'ALESSANDR: 0/4/38.634
9  GAMA CHAMACO, FRANCESCA BOLFO: 0/4/39.668
10 SANDRO, KATHERINE DINAN: 0/4/42.203
11 E BAY, BRITTNI RAFLOWITZ : 0/4/42.972
12 ADOROSE, KELLY TROPIN: 0/4/43.752