Canadian Olympian Mario Deslauriers won the $35,700 New York Welcome Stakes CSI2*, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate, riding Amsterdam 27 on Friday, May 10, exactly one year after adding the horse to his string at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows running May 7-12 and May 14-19 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY.
“Amsterdam came to us at this same show last year and was jumping in the 1.30m,” said Deslauriers of the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Catoki x Acord II) he and Wishing Well Farm imported from Germany. “He moved up throughout the year and we won a grand prix together in Florida this winter. I’ve had some good horses, but this one is really fantastic.”
Deslauriers, 54, led the way with the first clear over Eric Hasbrouck’s (USA) track. Eleven more riders eventually joined the jump-off from a starting field of 41. Returning first, Deslauriers put Amsterdam 27’s ground-covering stride and foot speed to the test by crossing the timers double clear in 37.45 seconds over Israel’s Daniel Bluman riding Entano.
“He’s such a good athlete, a great jumper, and gorgeous to look at,” said Deslauriers. “He always wants to win, but I have been very patient with him and tried to figure out where I can push him. Now he’s at a point in his experience where he needs to learn to go fast and I need to manage it. We were slow in the jump-off a couple weeks ago at the Longines Masters [of New York], but today I had my mind set on giving it a shot and I made them all chase me.”
Chase him they did, but no one had the key to beating him. Bluman and his Over the Top Stables-owned gelding came closest with a time of 38.55 seconds ahead of Ireland’s Jonathan Corrigan who rode Loughnavatta Indigio to 38.95 seconds for owner Twin Oaks Stables. Lillie Keenan (USA) and Fasther, owned by Chansonette Farm, took fourth in 39.43 seconds while Alexandra Maracic (USA) rounded out the top five aboard Conventa for owner Amara Equestrian.
Deslauriers has found early success during the first week of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows and will next pilot Amsterdam 27 in the $50,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix CSI2*, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 12.
“This place is awesome and today the field was in great condition,” concluded Deslauriers. “Horses learn a lot from jumping here, and for me, this is great preparation for the Vancouver Nations’ Cup and our upcoming season at Spruce Meadows.”
Open Jumper competition in the Jumper Annex was highlighted by a win for U.S. rider Georgina Bloomberg, whose own Gotham North is based just up the road from Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. She and homebred South Street, owned by Gotham Enterprizes, were victorious in the $6,500 Open Jumper 1.35m.
International jumper competition continues Saturday with the $15,000 Old Salem Farm Speed Derby, presented by TownVibe, while the Grand Amateur-Owner Hunter Champion will be crowned in the June Road Ring. Also on Saturday, the $5,000 Equitation Challenge will welcome top junior riders to the Sand Ring to battle it out for the 2019 title.
Spectators are welcome at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with free general admission to Old Salem Farm Tuesday through Friday. On the weekends of May 11-12 and 18-19, admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and children 10-15, and free for children under 10.
Final Results: $35,700 New York Welcome Stake CSI2*, presented by Douglas Elliman Real Estate
1 AMSTERDAM 27: 2010 Holsteiner gelding by Catoki x Acord II
MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN), Wishing Well Farm LLC: 0/0/37.45
2 ENTANO: 2009 KWPN gelding by Namelus R x Numero Uno
DANIEL BLUMAN (ISR), Over the Top Stables LLC: 0/0/38.55
3 LOUGHNAVATTA INDIGO: 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Luidam x VDL Arkansas
JONATHAN CORRIGAN (IRL), Twin Oaks Stables Inc.: 0/0/38.95
4 FASTHER: 2010 KWPN gelding by Vigo d’Arsouilles x Farmer
LILLIE KEENAN (USA), Chansonette Farm LLC: 0/0/39.43
5 CONVENTA: 2008 SBS mare by Kashmir van Schuttershof x Kannan
ALEXANDRA MARACIC (USA), Amara Equestrian, LLC: 0/0/39.52
6 FANTASY BB: 2010 KWPN mare by Cardento 933 x Indorado
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Candy Tribble: 0/0/41.23
7 RAPIDASH: 2010 Zangersheide gelding by Chaqui Z x Lancelot
MCLAIN WARD (USA), McLain Ward: 0/4/41.35
8 D ALBBA R 15: 2008 KWPN mare by Namelus R x Mermus R
STEVEN BLUMAN (ISR), Steven Bluman: 0/4/44.27
9 TESS DE JALESNES: 2007 Selle Français mare by Baloubet du Rouet x Allegreto
CHLOE FIELD (USA), Hidden Brook Farm: 0/8/42.94
10 VIVA COLOMBIA: 2005 Oldenburg mare by Couleur-Rubin x Landor S
BRIANNE GOUTAL-MARTEAU (USA), Rose Hill Farm: 0/9/57.61
11 QUINTA 106: 2007 Holsteiner mare by Quidam de Revel x Cento
PETER LUTZ(USA), Swede Ventures LLC: 0/10/54.82
12 CADANS Z: 2009 Zangersheide mare by Carosso VDL x Navarone
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT (USA), Starlight Farms, LLC: 0/15/59.49
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