Shawn Casady Takes Grand Prix at Desert Circuit II

Adding to their victory in Wednesday’s $5,000 SmartPak Welcome Speed, Shawn Casady (USA) aboard Neil Jones Equestrian’s Lyranta Van’t Gebroekt captured first place in the $25,000 FarmVet Grand Prix speed class. Casady and the Belgian Warmblood mare (Lord Chin x Gyranta) stopped the timers at 60.76 seconds.

Coming in second place was Carlee McCutcheon (USA) aboard her own MTM Unexpected (Sir Shutterfly x Innovation) with a time of 64.046 seconds. In a close third was Ben Asselin (CAN) and Attache Stables’ The Freshman (Namelus R x B. Amelusina R22) for their effort of 64.934 seconds. Asselin was also 10th riding Luikan Q.

“Lyranta – she has a lot of character,” shared Casady. “She’s really fun to ride, has a huge stride, a lot of scope, and is really careful. She is just super competitive in those [speed] classes.”

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Casady competed earlier in the day in the $5,000 FEI 1.40m 275.2.5., so he was familiar with some of the lines in the Grand Prix course. “I knew I could do a few leave outs. She really thrives off of doing that; when we leave a stride out. She always jumps amazing,” commented Casady. “This was kind of her course and I knew where I could take chances and where I needed to be conservative.”

Misti Cassar and Viking De Laume Capture First FEI Win Of Desert Circuit 2021

FEI competition kicked off Thursday afternoon for Desert Circuit II and it was Misti Cassar (USA) and Viking de Laume (Newton de Kreisker x Issue de Laume) who captured the win in the $5,000 FEI 1.40m 275.2.5., sponsored by Run Amok Horse Transportation. Cassar and the Selle Francais gelding, owned by Alberto Rivera Torres, crossed the timers 25.94 seconds to earn the top spot.

Mavis Spencer (USA) and Georgy Maskrey-Segesman’s Belladonna 42 (Clearway x Vita 24), finished in second place with a time of 27.25 seconds. Landing in third place was Kaitlin Campbell (USA) and Famke (Boss x Zephyrus), owned by HD Horses LLC, for their time of 27.59 seconds. Top Canadians were Ali Ramsay riding Casino (7th) and Beth Underhill with Count Me In (9th).

Cassar and Viking, as he is known in the barn, have been paired together for two years. “A lot of the time, I don’t think I am going fast enough. I will look up and be ten seconds under,” Cassar noted about the 18hh horse’s stride. “He feels a little like an Equitation ride, but in the 1.50m because you need to keep it all together with him. Otherwise the distances get short.”

The pair will continue competing through Desert Circuit III and return for Desert Circuit VII and VIII. “I really love the changes here,” commented Cassar. “I think the horses are really, really happy here and the energy here feels great. We are just so happy to be here.”

Final Results: $25,000 FarmVet Grand Prix

Final Results: $5,000 FEI 1.40m