DEL MAR — Susan Hutchison continued her Blenheim EquiSports grand prix win streak, taking the $60,000 Grand Prix of California at Showpark on May 10. The Temecula-based rider added another big victory on the weekend with SIG Excel, winning the $7,500 CashCall Mortgage Futurity.

The grand prix win was well-earned, as she topped a 45-entry field that included several international competitors and a difficult track. She and Ziedento were one of four to master Oscar Soberón’s course.

“The level of horses and riders here this week is very good, so they are getting a course that reflects that,” explained Soberón. “We had more scope questions today. It isn’t as technical as Thursday’s class, but it is bigger and wider. The jumps came up more quickly — they didn’t have much time to breathe.”

Time allowed was a factor for almost half of the class, including those placing fifth through eighth, whose only faults were not rails down but the clock.

John Pearce and Forest View Farms’ Chianto, going 23rd, were the first to jump the course clean. Only three more entrants followed suit, Vinton Karrasch on Coral Reef Baloufino, Hutchison on Ziedento and Richard Spooner aboard Chivas Z (SN Partners, owners).

Pearce set the pace in the jump-off, going double clean in 38.44. Hutchison, with a winning time of 38.28, chose to leave out a stride in one line, which was the deciding factor in the win. Both Karrasch and Spooner had one rail down, finishing fourth and third overall, respectively.

“I thought the course was big, but it rode really well,” Hutchison said. “I don’t think I’ve had him as a course designer before, but he’s done a phenomenal job all week.”

Hutchison isn’t certain of her career grand prix win count, but it’s near 80. She is thrilled with Ziedento, whom she reunited with at Thermal this year.

“Really — Ramiro, Joe Fargis and St. Bride’s Farm have made him the horse that he is,” she said. “I jump into the combinations and they feel like little gymnastics. They’ve really done their homework with him, and I’m lucky to have him.”

Hutchison and SIG Excel are quite a pair, too. Once again, they took the top prize for SIG International, this time in the $7,500 CashCall Mortgage Futurity. The mare continues to win whenever she steps into the show ring.

In a class of thirty-one, 16 were clean. Of the 10 who jumped double-clear, it was Hutchison and SIG Excel who edged out Eric Navet on Farrari, followed closely by Michelle Parker riding Cupilor.

With its popular spring season coming to a close, Blenheim EquiSports is gearing up for an exciting summer line-up of competition.

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$60,000 Grand Prix of California
May 10, 2014 * Showpark, Del Mar, Calif.
Place – Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1 – 318 – Ziedento – Susan Hutchison – St. Bride’s Farm – 0/0/ 38.282
2 – 679 – Chianto – John Pearce – Forest View Farm – 0/0/ 38.440
3 – 997 – Chivas Z – Richard Spooner – SN Stables LLC – 0/4/40.751
4 – 335 – Coral Reef Baloufino – Vinton Karrasch – Coral Reef Ranch – 0/4/41.938
5 – 932 – Alfie – Eduardo Sanchez Navarro – Eduardo Sanchez Navarro – 1/83.416
6 – 522 – Taunus – Francie Steinwedell Carvin – Prentiss Partners – 1/83.760
7 – 933 – Quilebo du Tillard – Enrique Gonzalez – Enrique Gonzalez – 2/84.159
8 – 106 – Charly – Joie Gatlin – High Voltage Farms LLC – 3/85.971
9 – 663 – Chello Z – Josephina Nor Lantzman – Josephina Nor Stables LLC – 4/79.552
10 – 1009 – Bernadien Van Westuur – Benjamin Meredith – River Farm Sporthorses – 4/79.887
11 – 340 – Coral Reef Follow Me II – Vinton Karrasch – Coral Reef Ranch – 4/80.876
12 – 826 – Flexible – Rich Fellers – Harry & Molly Chapman – 4/80.975

$7,500 CashCall Mortgage Futurity
Place – Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1 – 312 – SIG Excel – Susan Hutchison – SIG International – 0/0/28.284
2 – 377 – Farrari – Eric Navet – Signe Otsby – 0/0/29.311
3 – 388 – Cupilor – Michelle Parker – Cross Creek Farms Inc – 0/0/29.684
4 – 646 – Zanzibar – Tanya Levorchick – Megan Camaisa – 0/0/30.994
5 – 401 – Alhaurin De La Nancy – Michelle Rodal – Morgan Hill Partners – 0/0/31.623
6 – 445 – Callboy – Meredith Ellis – Meredith Ellis – 0/0/32.539
7 – 853 – Comet – Emily Esau Williams – Theresa Boucher – 0/0/33.010
8 – 226 – Matinique – Rich Fellers – Judy Pace – 0/0/33.095