The ESP New Year’s competition wrapped up today at the main grounds of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Mark Bluman of Colombia and his entry, Cartouche won the $25,000 Vita Flex Lactanase National Grand Prix, which was the highlight class of the day, after flying through the jump-off timers in 36.527 seconds. Santiago Lambre of Mexico navigated his Doloris through the short course in 38.086 seconds to claim the second-place finish, while Ryan Genn of Lebanon, OH and Dieta, owned by Shannon Reid, rounded out the podium with a jump-off time of 39.64 seconds.
Twenty-eight entries contested the first round set by course designer Andy Christiansen with only six returning for the jump-off. “I think the course was pretty fair for the amount of people that we had in the class today. We ended up having a good number for the jump-off, and I had the good luck of being the last one to go clear,” Bluman commented. Since Bluman was the last to go clear in the first round he gained the advantage of going last in the jump-off. “Going last in the jump-off is always a big advantage, especially when you have a horse like the one I’m riding. He’s super-fast, turns very tight, and is really careful. Basically, the only thing that I have to worry about is aiming to the jump and to just let him go as fast as he wants. It worked out today.”
Bluman revealed that he and Cartouche have been working together since the summer when his cousin, Daniel Bluman, went to Europe this summer and elected not to take Cartouche overseas. “He’s been making money at every show he goes to. He’s just a winner and it’s a pleasure to ride him.”
As for the upcoming WEF season, Bluman admitted that Cartouche will get a break from back-to-back competition: “I don’t think I’m going to show him much during WEF. I’m going to save him for the summer when I have a better chance of making money. I showed him a lot pre-circuit, and he placed in every Grand Prix he jumped. Today, we finally got the win and it was a good way to close the year. I’m very happy,” Bluman concluded.
Jumper Highlights
Friday’s $10,000 Vita Flex Open Stake saw Robert Daza of Bolivia win the blue ribbon aboard his mount, Brownie & Cream after flying through the jump-off timers at 39.096 seconds. Luis Larrazabal of Venezuela piloted Juan Carlos Morsdadt’s Cassini Miraflores to a second-place finish with a time of 39.182 seconds, while Ryan Genn of Lebanon, OH claimed third place after a 39.62-second round aboard Colora for Bridlebourne Stables LLC.
The $5,000 1.35m Stake presented by The Brazilian Court Hotel was championed by Michael Murphy of Apopka, FL and Beate Leinhos’ Dollarboy L after they completed the jump-off in 37.962 seconds. Molly Ashe Cawley of Wellington, FL and Viktor N, owned by Georg Hirth, claimed second place with a jump-off time of 40.644 seconds, while Giavanna Rinaldi of St. Charles, IL piloted HS Sportpferde GMBH’s entry, Kwinto VD Bishop, to a third-place finish after completing the short course in 47.529 seconds.
Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, CA rode Ashland Farms’ entry, Vanderpump to top honors in the WIHS Jumper Phase presented by Score At The Top after receiving a score of 88. Lillie Parr of Marshall, TX obtained a score of 82 with Charlsten, owned by Pinecone Farm, LLC, to clinch second place, while Austin Krawitt of Canada rounded out the top three with a score of 81 riding Worthy for Glen Haven Farm, LLC.
Jorge Ganoza of Peru claimed the blue ribbon in Sunday’s Omega Alpha Add Back Jumper class after stopping the timers at 72.605 seconds with his entry Alegro. The second and third ribbons were claimed by Deborah Perkins of Wellington, FL after she piloted her entry Vigo Massuere through the course in 76.612 seconds, and after her second mount Prince Garbo completed the course in 78.16 seconds.
Emma Seving of Newtown Square, PA and her own Brighton Bay bested the field in the $2,500 Equiline Medium Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic after their 43.782-second jump-off. With a time of 44.553 seconds and four faults was Rogelio Pellerano of the Dominican Republic with his own entry, Baghera du Leon. Rodrigo Cunha of Miami, FL claimed third with his Carpet after completing the short course in 46.712 seconds and five faults.
Sunday’s 1.25m Semican Jumper Class awarded Jazz Johnson Merton of Oldwick, NJ and her mount, The Boss top honors after completing the course in 71.26 seconds. Lielle Rhodes of Wellington, FL claimed second place aboard Kobi Rhodes’ Lordi with a time of 73.412 seconds, while Daniela Marcon of Lake Worth, FL and Forest Jump Chavannaise, owned by Marcon Equestrian Group LLC, clinched the third-place finish after a 78.322-second round.
The $1,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic presented by Score At The Top named Stefani Green of Bernardsville, NJ champion after a 40.224-second performance aboard her entry Wender R. Kenya Sanders of Sherborn, MA and her Gilbert took home second place after crossing through the timers in 42.295 seconds, while Maggie Alexander of Wellington, FL rode Wheels Up for Shadow Creek NY LLC to third in 45.527 seconds.
Hunter Highlights
The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Vita Flex took place Friday in the Rost Arena. Top honors went to Gabrielle Sokolow of Westlake Village, CA and her own Socialite after obtaining a total score of 174. Second place was awarded to Geoffrey Hesslink of Shelbourne, VT and Luminosity, owned by Sabrina Hellman, after receiving a final score of 172, while Hannah Brown and Greta Kroeger’s Commander claimed third with a final score of 168.
The Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal saw Caroline Tinsley of Sudbury, MA and Zonder Z Quattro, owned by Abigail Tinsley, take the blue rosette, while Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, CA claimed second place with Barbara Smith’s Conto Blue. Joyce Mersereau of Concord, MA and Vas LLC’s Cloud Nine rounded out the top three.
Kelly Mullen of Franklin, TN rode Joni Werthan’s Gio to champion honors in the Triple Crown Nutrition Green Hunter 3’3” division, while Abby Funk of St. George, KS piloted Asteri for MMK Equestrian LLC took reserve honors.
The ASPCA Maclay presented by The Fit Equestrian awarded Isha Swani of Ponte Verda Beach, FL and Sandalwood Farms’ Aribo top honors. Second place went to Katherine Lebaron of New Canaan, CT and her Cocktail 51, while Caroline Tinsley of Sudbury, MA claimed third with Abigail Tinsley’s entry, Zonder Z Quattro.
Henry Healy of Cincinnati, OH rode Patton, owned by Blue Mountain, LLC, in the #1 Education Place Large Junior Hunter 3’6” Division to earn champion honors, while Taylor Griffiths-Madden of Wellington, FL piloted Starbit Partners, LLC’s Pointe Milou to reserve champion in the division.
The WIHS Pony Equitation saw Hannah Famulak of New York, NY and Mind Your Step, owned by Ashland Farms, take top honors after receiving a score of 68. Olivia Sweetnam of Wellington, FL claimed second place with Hinton LLC’s Wait for Me after obtaining a score of 64, while Anais Dufresne Powell of Wellington, FL and AnnaKate Long’s entry, Rollingwoods Stickler, earned a score of 40 to claim third place.
Suzanne Duncan of East Greenwich, RI and her Bellevue claimed the champion ribbon in the Pure Wellness Adult Amateur Hunter division, while reserve was awarded to Tracy Scheriff-Muser of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Melissa Burns’ Bode Well.
The Dover Saddlery Small Pony Hunter division awarded Olivia Sweetnam of Wellington, FL and Sweet Oak Farm’s Mr. Magoo champion honors, while J.J. Torano piloted Smitten to reserve for Townline Equestrian LLC.
Kimberly Maloomian of West Palm Beach, FL took top honors in the Vita Flex Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3” division with Theodore Iorio’s Light It Up, while Caroline Kellogg of Bedminster, NJ and her Antigua claimed reserve champion.
Keri Kampsen of Wellington, FL earned champion honors with her Chagall in the Pilates Rocks Low Adult Hunter Division, while Nicole Lyvere of Lakewood, CO piloted her Lugatti to reserve champion in the division.
The ESP Holiday Series will conclude next week with the Holiday Finale show from Wednesday, January 1 – Sunday, January 5.
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