Susie Hutchison and Cantano win the $25,000 Red, White and Blue Grand Prix on June 28 to add to the pair’s string of Grand Prix victories.
Cantano, owned by Jim and Pat Iverson of El Dorado 29, has won three Grand Prix events during the 2009 spring-summer, hunter/jumper shows managed by Blenheim EquiSports.
The 9-year-old bay Holsteiner stallion only started competing in the Grand Prix level in spring 2008—and amazingly won four out of five Grand Prix events it entered last year with Hutchison aboard. In 2009, Hutchison and Cantano also won the $35,000 Blenheim Spring Classic II Grand Prix on April 5, and $30,000 Copa de Amistad Grand Prix on June 21.
Top honors also went to Hutchison riding Muscadet de la Saveniere, owned by Veronica Tracy, in the $30,000 Blenheim Classic Grand Prix held during the first week of the June 2009 series. Of the four Grand Prix events hosted at Blenheim in June, Hutchison walked away with three for three—she entered three and won each one.
At the $25,000 Red, White and Blue Grand Prix, San Diego-area resident Erin Duffy successfully placed second and third. For the jump-off, Duffy riding Lionel, owned by Elizabeth Oliver, gave the crowd what they were looking for—a clean round, but a few seconds slower than Hutchison and Cantano’s time. Duffy directed her second mount, Kir Royal, to another clean trip in the jump-off with a time of 52.44 seconds for third place.
Young riders earn their ribbons at Zone 10 Pony Hunter Finals
The Zone 10 Pony Hunter Finals wrapped up June 21 during the Blenheim June Classic III show. Young riders piloted their small, medium, and large mounts around the hunter course and added another score to the mix, having already shown in the model and under saddle during the previous day’s competition.
First in the ring was small pony, Helicon Take Notice, owned by Newmarket Inc. and ridden by Pearl Theodosakis. The pair started off right by laying down a solid trip, earning them a score of 84. It wasn’t until the second-to-last rider, Tara Spencer, trotted onto the field aboard Rainbow Canyon, owned by Wild Sky Farm, that spectators saw another score in the 80s, this time an 88, bringing the team’s total to an impressive 261. Rainbow Canyon’s nearly flawless round secured a blue ribbon in the class and champion honors in the Zone 10 Small Pony Hunter division. Pearl Theodosakis scored a 78 on her second mount, Made For Me, owned by Marigot Bay Farm LLC, taking home reserve champion in the division with an overall total of 251.
The medium ponies were next and proved to be quite competitive when out of the 12 entrants, four earned scores of 80 or better. The class winner, Truly Noble, ridden by Mitchell Endicott, scored an 89. Skylar Nelson and her classy mount Macy Grey, owned by Wild Sky Farm, were second with a score of 83.5 and when added to their already solid total, clenched the championship for the division. Destry Spielberg was in the irons on As You Wish, owned by Pegasus Show Stable LLC, and rode to a score of 82 and a third place finish. When points were tallied for the mediums, the duo received reserve champion.
Tara Spencer and Romeo, owned by Marissa Platt, were the first to show in the large division and quickly became the pair to beat with a score of 80. Third to go, McKenna Skelton riding Balthazar had a rebuttal to Romeo’s round, taking over the top spot and earning a blue ribbon in the class with a score of 81. With their second place over fences added to their previous day’s scores, Spencer and Romeo were champions in the large division. Also, Spielberg finished third aboard Love And Laughter, owned by Olivia Jack, to secure another reserve championship.
The Zone 10 Pony Final Grand Champion was small pony Rainbow Canyon, ridden by Tara Spencer. Grand Reserve Champion was medium pony Macy Grey with Skylar Nelson in the tack.
Show organizers wished congratulations to Wild Sky Farm, the Nelson family and trainers Archie Cox and Richard Slocum for taking home the top honors.
For complete Blenheim EquiSports show results, visit: www.showpark.com/results.asp
August 6th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Another great story Daniel! Thank-you for all the coverage, articles & the wonderful support of our Blenheim EquiSports events!