Traverse City CSI2* Highlights: Tiffany Foster, Sam Walker Win

Tiffany Foster And Vienna Win $72,900 Grand Prix

The conclusion to Week II of the Traverse City Spring Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, kicked off Sunday afternoon in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. A total of 35 international horse-and-athlete combinations vied for top honors in the $72,900 Four G Surfaces Grand Prix CSI2* in the hopes of closing out the week with a win. After a valiant fight to the finish, it was Canada’s Tiffany Foster and Artisan Farms LLC’s Vienna who claimed their rightful spot at the top of the leaderboard as the only pair to produce a double-clear effort.

Nick Granat (USA) offered a 13-fence first round course to whittle down the field of athletes who would qualify for the jump-off tie-breaker. Just seven pairs managed clear efforts, with many finding difficulty at the various triple-fence combinations on course, as well as two athletes incurring one time fault to leave them out of contention for the top prize. Jump-off competitors included Katie Laurie (AUS), Emily Ward (GBR), Jonathan Corrigan (IRL), Vani Khosla (USA), Ali Ramsay (CAN), Foster and Gustavo Prato (ARG).

Returning to the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring for one final shot at the lion’s share of the prize during Week II, Laurie and Cera Caruso, owned by Carissa McCall, were the pathfinding duo for the rest of the class. Coming off of an impressive top finish during Friday’s $36,600 Speed Classic CSI2*, Laurie hoped to nab another win, but unfortunately had two rails on course to finish on eight faults with a time of 37.50 seconds. Ward and Millioninmind followed, also incurring faults on course after knocking one rail, completing the jump-off on four faults in a time of 39.96 seconds to slip into the top spot. Immediately after, Corrigan and Super Chilled also managed to take a rail from the cups, finishing on four faults just behind Ward’s time in 40.39 seconds.

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After refusals from Khosla riding Billy Mexico and Ramsay retiring with Bonita VH Keizershof Z, a double-clear effort was left up to just Foster and Prato. Foster had been knocking on the door of victory over the last two weeks, consistently finishing in the top three with Vienna. Foster and the 10-year-old Hannoverian mare entered the arena determined to conclude their time in Traverse City with a win, galloping quick across the ground and leaving all of the rails intact to complete the first double-clear effort of the day in a time of 40.11 seconds. Though Prato and King Van Het Keizershof would put their best foot forward, they could not catch Foster’s impressive lead to finish on 4 faults in 40.58 seconds. Ward’s quick four-fault round would ultimately lend her the second place honors, with Corrigan rounding out the top three.

Accumulating valuable points toward the 2021 CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus, Foster’s win and her previous consistent placings allowed her to slip into the second position on the leaderboard, closing the week out on a total of 27 points. Laurie’s success over the last two weeks allowed her to hold her lead just one point ahead of Foster, concluding on a total of 28 points. Keeping a top position on the leaderboard after two major wins during Week I of the Traverse City Spring Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, Israel’s Daniel Bluman currently sits in the third position with a total of 24 points. Offering show jumping competitors the chance to accumulate points throughout the 12-week Traverse City Horse Shows series, the bonus is awarded to the athlete with the most points at the conclusion of the 2021 $230,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors. The CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus is a highly sought-after prize among the field of international competitors that attend Traverse City Horse Shows.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE- Tiffany Foster –

On producing the only double-clear effort:

“Those are the worst because you don’t know what to do, because if you start too slow then you have one rail down and you can’t catch up. Vienna is a very, very fast horse and I was trying to stay confident. She has been so consistent here, she hasn’t had one rail in both weeks. I think she has been in the top three of every class she has jumped. I just trusted her quality, took a little risk into the last double combination but I thought that she would handle it. She is really good off of her right lead, risk management, but it paid off! My working student Emily Ward was second place; she’s a little mad that I beat her but she loves Vienna, so I think she will forgive me!”

On Vienna:

“She’s an incredible horse and she is my longtime sponsor Andy Ziegler, she is his absolutely favorite darling horse. We bought her as a six year old from Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut. She has been a fantastic horse. She was produced in England and she has been a winner from day one, she loves to win. When you come back for that second round she is fired up. You can tell she knows and she’s an awesome horse.”

On Traverse City Horse Shows:

“I came here about 10 years ago with Caitlin Ziegler to jump the children’s jumpers and the facility has been improved, the show is run beautifully. It’s really world-class and I will definitely be back.”

$72,900 Four G Surfaces Grand Prix CSI2*

Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time
1. Vienna / Tiffany Foster / CAN / Artisan Farms LLC / 0 | 68.34 / 0 | 40.11
2. Millioninmind / Emily Ward / GBR / Emily Ward / 0 | 71.51 / 4 | 39.96
3. Super Chilled / Jonathan Corrigan / IRL / Debra Wycoff / 0 | 72.50 / 4 | 40.39
4. King Van Het Keizershof / Gustavo Prato / ARG / Kisma Equestrian Inc. / 0 | 70.64 / 4 | 40.58
5. Cera Caruso / Katie Laurie / AUS / Carissa McCall / 0 | 67.93 / 8 / 37.50
6. Billy Mexico / Vani Khosla / USA / 0 | 68.48 / EL
7. Bonita VH Keizershof Z / Ali Ramsay / CAN / Ramsay Equestrian Inc. / 0 | 69.69 / WD
8. Livestream 2 / Lisa Carlsen / CAN / Lisa Carlsen / 1 | 73.76
9. Loro Piana Ebony MSF / Saree Gordon-Solank / ISR / Tomboy Farms / 1 | 76.54
10. Brighton / Tiffany Foster / CAN / Artisan Farms LLC / 4 | 68.74

Sam Walker and Evita. (Andrew Ryback Photography)

Sam Walker and Evita Emerge Victorious in $36,600 Welcome Stake

The penultimate day of Week II of the Traverse City Spring Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, spotlighted international show jumping competition Saturday afternoon in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. A total of 23 hopeful horse-and-rider combinations took to the $36,600 Welcome Stake CSI2* looking to nab a spot in the highlight event of the week, the $72,900 Four G Surfaces Grand Prix CSI2*, set to take place Sunday, June 20. In the end, it was Canada’s Sam Walker who emerged at the forefront of the victory gallop riding MarBill Hill Farm’s Evita.

Course designer Nick Granat built a challenging 12-obstacles track for the first round of competition, asking athletes to navigate their way through tactful turns and various combinations. By the conclusion of the first round, just nine pairs managed clear efforts, including Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Easy Girl, the first duo to leave all of the rails intact. Additional clear athletes included Jonathan Corrigan (IRL), Wilhelm Genn (GER) with two mounts, Vani Khosla (USA), Victoria Colvin (USA), Juan Pablo Gnecco (COL), Walker (CAN) and Will Simpson (USA).

As the pathfinders for the shortened seven-fence jump-off track, Lambre and Mario Onate’s Easy Girl put forth a decent double-clear finish in 29.59 seconds to set the pace for those to follow. Quickly taking over the top spot was Corrigan aboard Super Chilled, owned by Debra Wycoff, as they stopped the clock nearly one second faster in 28.68 seconds. The lead would quickly exchange hands again to Colvin riding BMT Partner’s Gemino after their tidy jump-off time of 28.64 seconds. Her spot at the top of the leaderboard was short lived, however, as veteran show jumping competitor Simpson slipped into the first place position with his trusted partner Chacco P, owned Will Simpson Stables Inc., notching 21.12 seconds on the clock.

Walker and Evita were the final pair to tackle the jump-off course, and after earning seventh place in Friday’s $36,600 Speed Classic CSI2*, they were hungry for a win. Walker took advantage of the 12-year-old KWPN mare’s experience and quick pace across the ground in order to leave out strides throughout the course. Finishing strong, Walker and Evita crossed through the timers in an impressive 27.40 seconds to close out the class with the blue. Walker recently took over the ride on Evita in 2020 from previously ranked Longines FEI World Number One Steve Guerdat (SUI), and the pair has quickly grown into a force to be reckoned with. Walker looks forward to his future with the talented mare and hopes to notch more wins throughout his summer competing in Traverse City. Simpson and Chacco P would ultimately receive second place honors for their efforts, with Colvin and Gemino rounding out the top three.

Finishing out the afternoon strong, young Canadian talent Walker earned valuable points toward the 2021 CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus. Australia’s Katie Laurie held the first place position with 26 points after her top placings over the past two weeks. Offering show jumping competitors the chance to accumulate points throughout the 12-week Traverse City Horse Shows series, the bonus is awarded to the athlete with the most points at the conclusion of the 2021 $230,000 American Gold Cup Grand Prix CSI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors. The CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus is a highly sought-after prize among the field of international competitors that attend Traverse City Horse Shows.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE – Sam Walker:

On his win:

“It was an excellent round, I’m very pleased with [Evita]. She came out on fire yesterday going clear in the [$36,600 Speed Classic CSI2*] and picking up seventh place. I thought today, if I made it to the jump-off I would turn up the heat a little bit. She is a super fast mare, of course previously ridden by number one in the world Steve Guerdat, and I’m so grateful to MarBill Hill Farm to have the ride on her. The course today was fantastic, the ring is beautiful. It’s my first time here in Traverse City, Michigan and I’m really looking forward to spending the rest of the summer jumping spectacular classes at this great facility. Some days it’s going to be my day and some days it’s not. Again, I am just really lucky that today proved to be one of my good days.”

On if he feels the pressure riding Evita after Steve Guerdat:

“I think a little bit, yes, because she has already done great things with a top rider in the world, but also no, because I can confidently go in the ring and know that she has got it covered. Again, I am really grateful to my sponsors and owners for having her.”

On where he made up the time in the jump-off:

“Right off the bat, I walked the inside seven strides to the second jump. If you caught that on enough of an angle and went dead straight you could get eight strides back to the vertical. I watched some people do nine strides so I took an extra one out there. My horse is very careful and she backs up naturally so I could continue right over to the vertical. I think the kicker for me was that I was always planning on doing nine strides to combination, and when I landed off of fence 15 across the middle, the eight strides was great showing up. I thought, ‘Everybody has been fast already, I’ve got to take the chance.’ I took the chance, she stayed super careful, jumped to the top over the combination and the seven strides was right there to the last. A little kick across the finish line and there she goes.”

The third and final week of the Traverse City Spring Horse Show, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, will kick-off Wednesday, June 23. Week III will conclude with the highlight show jumping event, the $137,000 Staller Grand Prix CSI3*, set to take place Sunday, June 27.

$36,600 Welcome Stake CSI2*

Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time
1. Evita / Sam Walker / CAN / MarBill Hill Farm / 0 | 60.53 / 0 | 27.40
2. Chacco P / Will Simpson / USA / Will Simpson Stables Inc. / 0 | 61.08 / 0 | 28.12
3. Gemino / Victoria Colvin / USA / BMT Partners / 0 | 63.23 / 0 | 28.64
4. Super Chilled / Jonathan Corrigan / IRL / Debra Wycoff / 0 | 64.24 / 0 | 28.68
5. Bugatti / Wilhelm Genn / GER / Eduardo Leon / 0 | 63.66 / 0 | 29.16
6. Easy Girl / Santiago Lambre / MEX / Mario Onate / 0 | 64.19 / 0 | 29.59
7. Van Gogh / Wilhelm Genn / GER / Wilhelm Genn / 0 | 64.31 / 0 | 30.31
8. Amerigo / Vani Khosla / USA / Vani Khosla / 0 | 61.61 / 4 | 30.59
9. VT Majeur de Brecey / Juan Pablo Gnecco / COL / Juan Pablo Gnecco / 0 | 64.47 / 4 | 32.82
10. Comtess 202 / Santiago Lambre / MEX / Mario Onate / 1 | 65.13