Karl Cook and Lavito take the $10,000 1.4m Jumper Classic May 14 at Showpark.
DEL MAR — As the spring climate warms up along the California coast, so is Susie Hutchison and Cantano.
The Temecula-based pair returned to the grand prix spotlight May 14 with a decisive victory in the $50,000 Grand Prix of California, held May 14 at Showpark.
The victory, the pair’s second in a matter of weeks, was the 15th of their career, and it highlighted the Blenheim EquiSports Ranch and Coast Classic at the northern San Diego County venue.
Hutchison and Cantano were one of four clean entries to go clean in a 12-horse jump-off, and their 36.56-second distinguished them from a strong field that included Helen McNaught on Caballo in second place (38.12) and Hap Hansen on Archie Bunker (39.2). Clean jumpoff rounds also were turned in by fourth-place finisher Michelle Spadone on Uwwalon (40.19) and Kirsten Coe on Kilkenny Randall Z (40.54).
John French and Crown Affaire take the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Showpark May 14.
Just nine of 38 riders managed to navigate the first round without fault, advancing to a true race to the finish jump-off. A number of veteran show jumpers earned a spot in the second round, but none of them were able to beat the blazing double-clean trip set by Hutchison and the 11-year-old stallion owned by El Dorado 29.
Flying to the final jump-off fence, Hutchison not only managed to be fastest by almost two seconds, she also secured her 15th grand prix win on Cantano.
“It never gets old,” exclaimed Hutchison. “[Cantano] has learned it all now which just makes him so much fun to ride.”
Third to go in the jump-off, Hutchison galloped Cantano around Palacios’ shortened track, knowing she would have to put in a quick, accurate and clean ride to challenge the remaining six riders.
Susie Hutchison and Cantano win the $50,000 Grand Prix of California May 14 to highlight the Blenheim EquiSports Ranch and Coast event at Showpark. Cantano's victory came on the heels of his win in the $40,000 OC Register Grand Prix in San Juan Capistrano.
Also ending the day double clear, McNaught and Hansen battled it out for second and third place honors. Navigating the shortened track second to last, Hansen masterfully piloted Archie Bunker, owned by Linda Smith, to stop the clock in 39.20 seconds. He seemingly had second place secured until, last to go, McNaught and Caballo shaved one more second off his time with a 38.12 finish, bumping Hansen to third. First clean and first to return, Michelle Spadone and Uwwalon (Morgan Hill Partners) set the pace by crossing the timers double clean in 40.19 seconds which put her fourth. The fifth place went to the fifth double clear ride of the afternoon, Kirsten Coe on Kilkenny Randall Z (Ilan Ferder) in 40.54.
Fastest of the four faulters, Canadian Chris Pratt and Cruise sailed around the shortened track in a time of 36.80, just brushing a rail mid-way through for the four fault penalty and sixth place. The remaining three jump-off rides – Brazilian Eduardo Menezes and his horse Radja Mercedes Benz, Mandy Porter and Little Annie (Rolling Oaks West LLC) and Mexican Alejandro Rodal atop Uitteraard – finished seventh through ninth, respectively.
When designing the course for the afternoon competition, Palacios said it was very important to him to understand the level of every horse and rider in the class.
“I believe this show is one of the biggest events on the west coast and I’m building big so those who are winning, are winning at the top national level,” noted Palacios.
In addition to his challenging courses, Palacios is also known for his setting tight times. Originally, competitors were not to exceed 79 seconds but after watching a few go Palacios adjusted the time allowed to 81 seconds, which ultimately saved several riders from time faults.
Despite the altered time, Danielle Korsch riding her own San Diego was clear over the 16 efforts, but crossed the timers in 83.08 seconds, incurring three time faults for 10th place. Well within the adjusted time allowed in 74.73 but barely brushing the top rail of the first element of the fourth obstacle, Rusty Stewart and Bristol (Grey Fox Farms) finished 11th. Will Simpson and OBE (Anne Frankel) rounded out the top 12 with four faults and a time of 76.78 seconds.
Another highlight at the Ranch and Coast Classic was the $10,000 1.4m Jumper Classic, a hotly contested event taken by Karl Cook on Lavito. Just a shade over one second separated the champion and third place. Cook’s winning time of 33.88 edged Paris Sellon on Orlando LA (34.48) and Kara Chad on Alberto (34.91). Saer Coulter finished fourth on Atticus (35.7), just ahead of her other entry in the Jumper Classic, Asgard, in 35.76 seconds. Both horses are owned by Copernicus Stables LLC.
As expected, Venezuelan course designer Leopoldo Palacios challenged riders and horses alike with courses that demanded a technically accurate ride within a tight time allowed. Of the 38 horses who entered the $10,000 1.40M Jumper Classic, 11 were clean and the top five spots went to the up-andcoming young riders. Last to go, Cook and Lavito, owned by Signe Ostby, took the top prize away from Paris Sellon on her Orlando LA. Right behind Sellon was 14-year-old Kara Chad of Canada on Stone Ridge’s Alberto. College freshman Coulter rounded out the top five on her two mounts.
In hunter competition, $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby went to John French riding Yellow Dog Farm’s Crown Affair. The duo’s 362 tally topped reserve champion Come Monday, ridden by Christa Endicott for owner Davlyn Farms (360.5) and third-place finisher Catwalk, ridden by Nick Haness for owner Pamela Stewart (359.25). Qualifying for the Handy round of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby required a cumulative first round score of 169 or better.
The challenges of the Handy Round included a snake vertical, galloping up a hill, a trot jump and galloping down the hill to an oxer option. Although some illustrated classic hunter style, Crown Affair and French proved their handy prowess, scoring a solid 10 points higher than any other round. The 13-year-old Holsteiner stallion moved up from 10th after the first round for the win.
“I wasn’t sure if it was his day after the first round,” explained owner Gail Morey. “But he really perked up for the next round, he just loves to be handy!”
Second to Crown Affair was Davlyn Farm’s Come Monday with Christa Endicott in the irons. Still green at the Derby level, the mare has a fabulous jump and no doubt will be a recognizable name in the hunter ranks.
Blenheim EquiSports begins the month of June at the Del Mar Horse Park with the Showpark June Jamboree Festival on June 2-5. The horse showing continues for four consecutive weeks in San Juan Capistrano with $120,000 in grand prix prize money. The summer series kicks off on June 8 with the Blenheim June Classic I, featuring a $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Saturday, June 11 followed by the $30,000 Blenheim Classic Grand Prix presented by the Orange County Register on Sunday.
More Results: See website http://bit.ly/105CHT_HJ
$50,000 Grand Prix of California
Results:
1. Cantano – Susan Hutchison (El Dorado 29) 0/0/36.56
2. Caballo – Helen McNaught (Helen McNaught) 0/0/38.12
3. Archie Bunker – Hap Hansen (Linda Smith) 0/0/39.20
4. Uwwalon – Michelle Spadone (Morgan Hill Partners) 0/0/40.19
5. Kilkenny Randall Z – Kirsten Coe (Ilan Ferder) 0/0/40.54
6. Cruise – Chris Pratt (Indigo Farms, LLC) 0/4/36.80
7. Radja Mercedes Benz – Eduardo Menezes (Eduardo Menzes) 0/4/38.09
8. Little Annie – Mandy Porter (Rolling Oaks West LLC) 0/4/38.37
9. Uitteraard – Alejandro Rodal (Alejandro Rodal) 0/4/40.32
10. San Diego – Danielle Korsch (Danielle Korsch) 3/83.08
11. Bristol – Rusty Stewart (Grey Fox Farms) 4/74.73
12. OBE – Will Simpson (Anne Frankel) 4/76.78
$10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic
Results:
1. Lavito – Karl Cook (Signe Ostby) 0/0/33.88
2. Orlando LA – Paris Sellon (Paris Sellon) 0/0/34.48
3. Alberto – Kara Chad (Stone Ridege) 0/0/34.91
4. Atticus – Saer Coulter (Copernicus Stables LLC) 0/0/35.70
5. Asgard– Saer Coulter (Copernicus Stables LLC) 0/0/35.76
6. Con Air – Joie Gatlin (Cathy Morris-Schmitt) 0/0/36.01
7. Tarnot – Alejandro Rodal (Alejandro Rodal) 0/0/36.01
8. Arezzo – Helen McNaught (Rolling Oaks West LLC) 0/0/37.75
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Results:
1. Crown Affair – John French (Yellow Dog Farm) 170+192=362
2. Come Monday – Christa Endicott (Davlyn Farms) 178.5+182=360.5
3. Catwalk – Nick Haness (Pamela Stewart) 176.75+182.5=359.25
4. Woodstock – Hope Glynn (Sabrina Hellman) 178+179.5=357.5
5. Cr Masterpiece – Jamie Taylor (Melanie Selleck) 174.5+179=353.5
6. Gelato – Nick Haness (Conor Perrin) 177.5+175.5=353
7. Paddington – John French (Liberty Lane Farms) 169+182=351
8. Cruise – John French (Jessica Singer) 170.5+176=346.5
9. Havana – Nick Haness (Carolyn Mitler) 172+174=346
10. Clooney – John French (Oscany, Inc.) 173+169=342
11. Azlan – Gabbi Langston (Fastball Farm LLC) 170+153=323
12. Illusion – Hannah Von Heidegger (Oscany, Inc.) 185+105=290
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