Daniel Bluman and McLain Ward Capture Friday’s Victories at the Hampton Classic

Bridgehampton, NY – September 1, 2017 – For the second day in a row, Daniel Bluman heard the Israeli anthem played in the grand prix ring at the Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Daniel Bluman and Bacara d'Archonfosse won the $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier at the Hampton Classic. © Shawn McMillen Photography
Daniel Bluman and Bacara d’Archonfosse won the $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier at the Hampton Classic. © Shawn McMillen Photography

Winners in Thursday’s $40,000 SOVARO® Speed Stake, Bluman and Bacara d’Archonfosse flew to the top of the standings in Friday’s spectacular $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier presented by Longines, besting the field of 53 entries and topping the ten-horse jump-off.

Olympic veteran Bluman had the advantage of qualifying both Ladriano Z and Bacara d’Archonfosse for the jump-off, over the shortened and adjusted track by renowned course designer Alan Wade of Tipperary, Ireland. From that point, strategy and more than a little luck had to take over.

“With Ladriano Z, I thought I went as quickly as I could with him, because he will go Sunday in the grand prix, and I couldn’t just let him run all the way,” related Bluman following the class.

“With Bacara, I was able to watch Darragh Kerins’ jump-off from the in-gate before going in the ring. It was beautiful, and I knew I would have to just go for it.”

Bluman and the nimble Bacara flew around the jump-off course, leaving out strides and turning at such angles that Bacara’s body was nearly horizontal to the ground at times, in particular around the water jump, between the Hermes oxer and the vertical wall.

“Every time you have the chance to do the same track with two horses it definitely helps you,” confirmed Bluman. “Plus, I already knew I was assured of a fairly good ribbon no matter what, so I was able to take the risks. This was the last round of the competition for Bacara, she is finished for the week and she was feeling great.”

Daniel Bluman and Bacara d'Archonfosse won the $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier at the Hampton Classic. © Shawn McMillen Photography.
Daniel Bluman and Bacara d’Archonfosse won the $86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier at the Hampton Classic. © Shawn McMillen Photography.

The pair stopped the jump-off clock with a fault-free round and a time of 38.40 seconds.

Second place went to Ireland’s Darragh Kerins with Silteplait de Circee, just behind Bluman with a time of 38.80 seconds. Third went to America’s Catherine Tyree, with Enjoy Louis, with a time of 39.09 seconds. Bluman took fourth, with Ladriano Z and a time of 39.43 seconds.

In conjunction with the Hampton Classic’s Jump for Charity program, Bluman’s win earned more than $11,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Kerins earned $2,000 for ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption and Tyree earned $1,000 for the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation.

When asked how he felt about earning money for his designated charity, Bluman responded, “It’s always nice of course when your performance helps a charity. But the fact is, a charity would have been given a donation no matter what. The truth is, the Hampton Classic is the one who should be commended for instituting a program like this in support of local charities.”

Richie Moloney of Ireland maintained his lead in the $30,000 Longines Rider Challenge with a total of 232 points. Bluman has taken over second position with 150 points, and McLain Ward has added to his third-place position with 149 total points. The Challenge continues throughout the week, and will be awarded Sunday.

RESULTS

$86,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier – CSI**** presented by Longines
Rider / Country / Horse / Faults / Time
1. Daniel Blumam / Israel / Bacara d’Archonfosse / 0 / 38.40
2. Darragh Kerins / Ireland / Silteplait de Circee / 0 / 38.80
3. Catherine Tyree / USA / Enjoy Louis / 0 / 39.09
4. Daniel Bluman / Israel / Ladriano Z / 0 / 39.43

McLain Ward Captures the $15,000 LeSportsac Speed Derby Friday Morning at the Hampton Classic

Activity in the jumper rings ramped up Friday at the Hampton Classic, with qualifying classes taking place for those hoping to move forward to the weekend, and championships being awarded in divisions taking place throughout the week.

McLain Ward and Bellefleur PS Z won the $15,000 LeSportsac Speed Derby at the Hampton Classic. © Shawn McMillen Photography.
McLain Ward and Bellefleur PS Z won the $15,000 LeSportsac Speed Derby at the Hampton Classic. © Shawn McMillen Photography.

This year’s Longines FEI World Cup Final winner, and current number two ranked rider in the world, McLain Ward, of Brewster, NY, took top honours in the $15,000 LeSportsac Speed Derby Friday morning at the Hampton Classic.

Riding the cat-like eight-year-old gray mare, Bellefleur PS Z, Ward bested the competition, and the course, to come out on top in a time of 74.227 seconds. Bellefleur is owned by Ward’s godmother, Susie Heller, and his daughter, Lilly.

The course included the natural obstacles of the bank and the open water jump scored with a rail on top.

“She’s really a fun horse, she’s very careful, but she’s like a little lion,” described Ward after the class. “We’ll just keep stepping her up the ladder and we’ll see where she ends up. She is naturally fast and so brave. I wasn’t sure what she was going to think about the naturals though – the bank and the open water with the rail. We had practiced them a little bit, but she hasn’t had a lot of experience with them yet. She just takes everything in stride and, you know, with her rhythm and carefulness, it allows you to stay at just the right pace. A lot of the careful horses love the grass field, and for some it is intimidating. It really depends on the personality of the horse. Bellefleur is not intimidated by much really!”

Second place went to Brazil’s Fabio Leivas Da Costa with Tosca De L’Esques, with a time of 76.051 seconds. Third went to American Molly Ashe, with Picobello Choppin PC, finishing on 76.130 seconds.

Earlier on Friday, was the $10,000 Land Rover Junior/Amateur Owner Welcome Stake. Held as a qualifier for Sunday’s $25,000 Campbell Stables Jumping Derby, the top 30 horses from the Stake class are eligible to advance.

The course also included the natural obstacles of the bank and the open water with a rail on top..

Claudia Villamil with Quite Close. © The Book, LLC.
Claudia Villamil with Quite Close. © The Book, LLC.

Claudia Villamil guided her own Quite Close to the top spot, finishing with a clean round and a time of 70.226 seconds. Second went to Mckayla Langmeier with Linda Langmeier’s Iliano Van D’Abelendrerf, also with a clean round and a posted time of 72.415 seconds.

After the class, Villamil shared a surprising piece of information: “I’ve never jumped a bank with this horse!” Villamil confided. “I thought she would maybe spook at the bank, but she was really brave and took everything in stride. Since this is my favourite show of the year, I wanted to be quite competitive, so I am very happy with how it turned out.”

The final class in the 7-year-old and Under young horse series, Friday’s $10,000 SHF Enterprises jumper class was captured by Ireland’s Paul O’Shea, riding Hampton Farms’ and Skara Glen Stables’ Skara Glen’s 7 Pillars.

Paul O'Shea and Skara Glen's 7 Pillars. © The Book LLC.
Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s 7 Pillars. © The Book LLC.

Last to go in the jump-off, O’Shea was able to open up the stride of his mount to let him cover the ground and make up time.

“This horse has particularly big strides and in a big grass field like this one, this was very useful,” explained O’Shea. “I felt I could move up the pace without him falling apart, which was a big advantage, as was being the last to go. The horse was educated in Ireland, so he has jumped a lot on grass, but I haven’t gone fast on this horse before. I have been aiming for this class and I haven’t tried to win anything else with him.”

Taylor Flury with Carrasca Z. © The Book LLC.
Taylor Flury with Carrasca Z. © The Book LLC.

Friday’s class,  combined with the $10,000 Brown Harris Stevens 7 & Under class Wednesday, and a third class sponsored by Mario and Lisa Deslauriers made up the series. The Championship went to Taylor Flury with her gray stallion Carrasca Z. Flury and O’Shea ended up tied for the reserve champion position.

In Jumper Ring Two, the $10,000 Junior Jumper Classic was won by Kathryn Hall with her horse Victor E. Runners up were Sophie Gochman, with Wirina, owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC. The Champion and Reserve Champion titles were awarded to Hall and Gochman respectively.

Megan McDermott with Bull Run's Becky Blue. © Shawn McMillen Photography.
Megan McDermott with Bull Run’s Becky Blue. © Shawn McMillen Photography.

The $10,000 Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic presented by Swede Ventures was won by Megan McDermott with her horse Bull Run’s Becky Blue. Second went to Annie Phillips with her own Sundance, third went to Mary-Kate Olsen with Dunotaire V.

 

Hunter Champions Crowned at the Hampton Classic

The Anne Aspinall ring saw a number of hunter champions crowned Friday.

Emma Kurtz with Stellar. © Shawn McMillen Photography
Emma Kurtz with Stellar. © Shawn McMillen Photography

Thanks to their consistent performances in four-over fences classes and an under-saddle class spread over two very intense days at the Hampton Classic, Emma Kurtz from Hudson, OH, was rewarded with the title of Large Junior Hunter 16/17 Champion. Kurtz accomplished the prestigious goal riding Holly Orlando’s Stellar.

“Stellar really shone over fences,” said Kurtz. “She jumps beautifully from any distance, and she is so pretty going around. She always has such a cute expression, she’s happy at her job. I always look forward to coming here. Our preparation really depends on the horse, some of them come out here and they are terrified of the grass because it is really impressive out there, but she walked in there today and it was absolutely perfect. She is very brave. This is my best finish with her, it’s such a prestigious horse show to win at. Usually you can tell after the first day how it’s going and since she went beautifully yesterday I felt quite confident.”

Reserve Champion was Annabel Revers from Weston, MA with MTM Hands Down owned by Beechwood Stables LLC.

Emma Kurtz and Akinda. © The Book LLC.
Emma Kurtz and Akinda. © The Book LLC.

Kurtz and Revers were also named the Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Champion and Reserve Champion respectively, riding Akinda (owned by Hillside Farm LLC) and Kingpin (owned by Beechwood Stables LLC).

Sophie Gochman and Garfield. © The Book LLC.
Sophie Gochman and Garfield. © The Book LLC.

The Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under Champion title went to Sophie Gochman from Palm Beach, FL, riding Garfield (owned by Gochman Sport Horse LLC), while Ava Stearns from Chilmark, MA on Cartello Z owned by Caroline Lloyd was Reserve Champion for this division.

The Small Junior Hunter 15 & Under Division Champion and Reserve Champion titles went to the Gochman sisters with Sophie hitting the best score with Garfield and Mimi right behind her with Evermore, with both horses belonging to Gochman Sport Horse LLC.
Saturday, September 2 is Kids Day at the Classic and will feature activities for the entire family from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Children under 12 are admitted free and receive a free pony ride and an insulated snack pack from Boar’s Head Brand. The Grand Prix ring will host the $10,000 Great Southwest Equestrian Center Equitation Championship beginning at 8:00 a.m. and the $15,000 Carolex Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic followed by the big event of the day, the $50,000 Longines Cup at 2:00 p.m.

Hunters will continue in the Anne Aspinall ring with Championships being awarded in the Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner 36+ division, the GiGi New York Amateur-Owner 18-35 division.

For complete horse show results and more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com. Complimentary live webcasts of all Grand Prix ring competitions air on the Hampton Classic website, produced by ShowNet.

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