Friday welcomed back the FEI Ruby and Diamond Tour in the Grand Prix Stadium at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA, for the Ruby Speed Stake, sponsored by Ariat, and the Diamond Speed Stake, sponsored by The Equine Platform.

Ali Ramsay (CAN) and Lutz landed in first place in the $40,000 Diamond Tour Speed, sponsored by The Equine Platform, with a speedy trip halting the timers at 69.7 seconds. Keean White (CAN) and Vampyr van de Rib (Roccossifred x Gratianus), owned by Alexandra Millar, completed the speed course in a time of 70.15 seconds to grant them second place. While Katelyn Denby Edwards (USA) aboard Mountain View West Farm LLC’s Escapado S (Whitesnake x Elcaro) were awarded third for their time of 70.34 seconds.

Course Designer Alan Wade (IRL) had 40 pairs challenge the Diamond Speed CSI3* course with eight finishing with clear rounds. “I think speed rounds are a little easier to keep him [Lutz] focused because you’re just running and going for it; he has less time to focus on other things,” Ramsay noted. “For me too, maybe, because I’m focusing on the track and rather than in a big class where there are more technical aspects to it,” she admitted.

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