Parker, Colo. – June 19, 2018 – The second week of the competitive Summer in the Rockies Series (SIR) concluded on Sunday, June 17, welcoming victories for many competitors throughout the week. The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) hosted almost 500 horses for the five-day competition, numbers to be easily exceeded in the remaining five weeks of competition. In an exciting finish, Kasey Ament rode across the fast track and was named the winner of the $35,000 Holiday Inn Grand Prix presented by Trapper’s Chop House on June 16 aboard Soren Z. International course designer Oscar Soberon of Mexico City, Mexico, designed the courses for the week’s highlight jumper classes.
Ament and Soren Z, owned by Lornnah Investments, qualified for the victory with a jump-off time of 38.556 seconds. “The course suited him very well. He’s so scopey, but then in a minute, he can shorten and fit in a short distance,” Ament, of Agoura Hills, CA, said of the 2008 stallion. “I had the advantage with the inside turn. I’m not always the fastest rider, but if I count strides between, it makes me stay more forward.”
The pair’s partnership began in Europe in 2013. Ament commented, “He is the most well-behaved horse. He is so brave and he’s so good, and really reliable. It has all come together for him. I feel like this is his year,” Ament said of the horse.
Ament traveled to Colorado with four of her horses for the first two weeks of SIR. She and her team, now back in CA, will enjoy a restful and well-deserved intermission from the series, but are set to return for the series’ end. “There’s a lot of prize money being offered. If we’re doing this well at the beginning, I want a piece of it,” Ament said of her adjusted show schedule.
Finishing second, in the $35,000 Holiday Inn Grand Prix presented by Trapper’s Chop House, was Gianni Gabrielli of Wellington, FL. Owner and rider Gabrielli galloped Enrico Blue Z through the timers in 38.834 seconds during the jump-off. Petschenig Show Jumping’s Craggamore 3 and Peter Petschenig of Pilot Point, TX, were awarded third place with a jump-off time of 39.681 seconds.
Jumper Highlights
Competition on Thursday, June 14, saw a victory for Isabella Bleu Baxter of St. Louis, MO, who rode her own entry, Jahil, in the $20,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center Open Welcome Stake. The soon-to-be college freshman at Texas Christian University finished the jump-off in a winning 35.03 seconds. “I really liked the course,” Baxter said. “It rode well and it suited Jahil’s strengths. This horse has taken me from the 1.10m to the 1.40m in three years. He has been amazing.”
The $20,000 Littleton Equine Medical Center Welcome Stake also saw award-winning rides by Kristin Hardin of New Cuyama, CA, and her entry Bert, who crossed the timers in 35.586 seconds, claiming second place. Amanda Comly of Sachse, TX, finished third aboard Comly Sport Horses’ entry Clock-Wise CSH, with a jump-off time of 36.69 seconds.
The $2,000 Holiday Inn and Trapper’s Chop House Low Child/Adult Jumper Classic was ultimately conquered by Jessica Morris of Englewood, CO, aboard Leon owned by Hartford Farm, LLC with an impressive jump-off time of 37.99 seconds. Finishing the jump-off in 41.331 seconds and earning second was Hailey Hak, of Englewood, CO, and her entry Ucelo De Kergane. Lucky, owned and ridden by Sophie Sorenson of Paradise Valley, AZ, who galloped through the timers at 43.824 seconds for a third-place finish.
With a field of nineteen entries the $2,000 Front Range Kubota Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic, named Eleanor Turner of Denver, CO, and Jocelyn Marra’s Louis Louis the winners after a jump-off time of 40.75 seconds. Annabelle Szymanski of Centennial, CO, rode her own Graefin for a second-place finish in 42.399 seconds. 43.692 seconds earned Patryce Wiseman of Morrison, CO, and her mount Izolde, the third-place award.
The stakes rose, as did the prize money for the $4,000 Voltaire Design Modified Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic, as St. Joseph, Missouri’s Lynsey Whitacre and her Zorzuela Lueze Z led the victory gallop after crossing the timers in 36.163 seconds. Finishing in 38.248 seconds, Marjorie Martin had the class’s other double clear ride, earning her the red ribbon aboard her partner Game Power. Fastest of the four-fault rides, Brooke Cudmore of Omaha, NE, rode Karen Cudmore’s entry Rosa for the yellow ribbon.
The $4,000 NAL/WIHS Osphos® Children’s Jumper Classic saw Ashley Shaw of Ellisville, MO, rode Grasso Equestrian’s Billy Graffiti on the fast track for the win in 32.991 seconds. Hardin brothers filled the remaining podium seats as second place was awarded to Zacko Hardin of New Cuyama, CA, and Kristin Hardin’s De Koningin with a jump-off time of 33.005 seconds. Tyler Hardin of New Cuyama, CA, jumped-off Kristin Hardin’s Arnell’s Loaded Weapon in 34.128 seconds for third.
Highest honors were awarded to Gabrielle Thinnes of Englewood, CO, riding her entry Southern Phenomenon after a jump-off time of 35.857 seconds in the $4,000 NAL/WIHS Osphos® Adult Jumper Classic. Taking home the red ribbon was Denver, CO native Kristina Matthews aboard her entry Neolisto Van Het. Blue Catalyst was piloted by owner Inez Be M Aspinwall of Englewood, CO, in 35.129 seconds for the yellow ribbon.
The $5,000 NAL Horseware Ireland® Low Junior/Amateur Classic and awarded Katey Kozeny of Omaha, NE, and her entry Izzora top honors with a jump-off time of 38.269 seconds. Polar Light, owned by Kristin Buchanan and ridden by Ashley Buchanan of Sedalia, CO, galloped through the timers in 41.289 seconds for the second place prize. Owner and rider Dominique Hoffman of Parker, CO, jumped-off in 42.035 seconds for third place aboard Express SB.
With a jump-off time of 38.855 seconds, the $5,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic awarded Parker, CO native Armando Hassey and Hassey Sport Horses’ Lomax first place. Blair Cudmore’s Southern Rose galloped through the timers in 39.781 seconds, clinching second place for Brooke Cudmore. Jacqueline Toomey of Englewood, CO, and her Camerino finished in 42.6 seconds to take home third.
The $5,000 Griffis Residential High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic saw first place awarded to Tali Dejong of Golden, CO, and her Amadeus for completing her clear round in 77.576 seconds. Nicole Peterson of Plano, TX, and her entry Diokaldo earned second place, as the fastest of the four-faulters, in 78.035 seconds. Isabella Bleu Baxter was awarded third aboard Jahil with a time of 78.44 seconds.
Hunter Highlights
Thirty-three entries were seen on Friday, June 15, in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Top honors, with a score of 182.5, were awarded to Amanda Thomas of Brentwood, MO, and her entry MTM First Take. Amberlee Wentz of Colorado Springs, CO, piloted Dana Vollbracht’s Davidson for a score of 181 for second place.
Karen Rider of Durango, CO, piloted her Secret Hideway to champion honors in the $100 Stirrup Hunter Classic. Reserve champion was awarded to Paige Shanahan of Flower Mound, TX, aboard Tommy Brawley’s Highlands Percival.
The $1,000 NAL/WIHS Marshall & Sterling Children’s Hunter Classic saw 17 trips and crowned Gabrielle Young of Spring Hill, KS, champion aboard Sarah Young’s Select. Reserve champion was awarded to Taylor McLelland of Carbondale, CO, aboard Mr. Banks owned by Kathryn Fleck Peisach.
Lindsay Ryan of Greenwood Village, CO, rode her own Keystone for top honors in the $1,000 NAL/WIHS Marshall & Sterling Adult Hunter Classic. Tulsa, OK native Amy Coretz piloted Eighteen Acres Farm’s Caran D for reserve.
Champions Party Time and owner/rider Jordan Gibbs of Colorado Springs, CO, stood out from the crowd in the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic. Gabrielle Young and her pony Hidden Springs Woodstar rode for reserve honors.
The $100 Pre-Children’s Hunter Classic awarded champion honors to Jordan Gibbs and Erin Gibbs’ entry Perseus YC. Lauren Turco of Parker, CO, guided her mount Iconic for a reserve champion placement.
Karen Tanner-Smith of Parker, CO, aboard her entry Bellagio K earned top honors in the $100 Pre-Adult Hunter Classic. Carley Dodgen of Albuquerque, NM, rode for reserve atop her entry Legato
Bentley, owned and ridden by Kat Fentiman of Monument, CO, wore the blue ribbon from the $100 Modified Adult Hunter Classic. Andrea Sullivan of Tucson, AZ, guided her entry Dark Rose for reserve.
The Platinum Performance sponsored $100 Modified Children’s Hunter Classic judges awarded champion honors to Denver, Colorado’s, Lilian Schaffer and her mount Shareef. Reserve went to Viviana Yerkes and Lanzer of Fairview, TX.
Laurie Jueneman of Parker, CO, rode Kelsey Connaghan’s Sanskrit for top honors in the $1,000 Perfect Products Green Hunter Classic 3’/3’3″. Snowbird was piloted by owner Tarah Wolf of Glenwood Springs, CO, and earned reserve champion placement.
The $1,000 CWD Junior Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Classic saw a win awarded to Emma Greenberg’s No Doubt, piloted by Katie Lela Pollack of Pleasant Dale, NE. Elizabeth Woods of Lincoln, NE, earned the distinction of reserve champion atop her own Peroni.
Savile Row carried owner Grace Hutson of Wildwood, MO, to victory in the $1,000 Mile High Golf Carts Amateur Owner Hunter 3’3″/3’6″ Classic. Sarah Kullman of Parker, CO, took home reserve champion awards aboard her entry Rozario.
Five weeks remain of CHP’s signature SIR series. Exhibitor and spectator attendance are expected to increase weekly, in correlation with the prize money offered. Saturday nights will continue to host Grand Prix classes, a true spectator favorite. SIR III competition resumes on Wednesday, June 20 and continues through Sunday, June 24. Highlight classes will include a $20,000 FarmVet Welcome Stake and a $35,000 FarmVet Grand Prix.