Shawn Casady and Campitello 5, owned by Highpoint Farm, LLC, topped the field of 20 competitors in the $20,000 Blenheim U25 Championships. Mary Frances Looke and her own Conthendrix earned the reserve championship.
Shawn Casady and Campitello 5. Photo by Captured Moments Photography
Third to go in the posted order, Looke provided the first clear round. She was one of two to master Marina Azevedo’s course, which included a triple combination, double combination, and many related bending lines. The next sixteen competitors dropped rails throughout the sixteen effort track, but Casady, the last rider to go, provided a beautifully ridden clean round to guarantee a jump-off.
First to return in the jump-off, Looke finished with an unfortunate four fault score leaving Casady with an opening to take the lead. Making the most of his horse’s big stride and scopey jump, the young professional had another fault-free performance to lead the victory gallop.
Mary Frances Looke and Conthendrix. Photo by Captured Moments Photography
Casady spoke of his winning ride, “Campitello is careful, brave, has all the jump you could ask for. He was great today and definitely showed some expression, which is what we’re looking for. He’s had a few weeks to rest at home after Thunderbird before this show, so he was definitely happy to be back in the show ring.”
Looking forward to the competition that the rest of this show season has to offer, Casady mentioned the variety of horse shows and horses he’ll pick from. “Sacramento, Del Mar, Thermal, and Las Vegas are all coming up. Fortunately, we are able pick and choose which horses go to which horse shows, so they’re not showing too often, and we’re able to see which show will suit which horse.”
Photo by Captured Moments Photography
With four competitors dropping only one rail, the third through sixth ribbons were determined by time. Don’s Diamant and Natalie Dean were the fastest of the four fault scores for third in 78.514, while Looke’s second mount, Sea Coast Ferly, was fourth, stopping the clock just a touch slower with four faults in 79.075.
RESULTS
$20,000 BLENHEIM EQUISPORTS U25 CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIC
Place – Entry Number – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1. 663 – Shawn Casady – Campitello 5 – Highpoint Farm, LLC – 0/0/42.786
2. 550 – Conthendrix – Mary Frances Looke – Mary Frances Looke – 0/4/45.666
3. 341 – Don’s Diamant – Natalie Dean – Natalie Dean – 4/78.514
4. 843 – Sea Coast Ferly – Mary Frances Looke – Mary Frances Looke – 4/79.075
5. 485 – Quitana 11 – Savannah Jenkins – Georgy Maskrey-Segesman – 4/80.876
6. 491 – Killosery Kuidam – Julia Nagler – Julia Nagler – 4/81.213
7. 873 – Ariell La Sirene – Hannah Loly – Hannah Loly – 8/82.627
8. 489 – Clint Eastwood 10 – Anna Ishiyama – Anna Ishiyama – 8/82.748
9. 200 – Dexceminka – Danielle Lean – Danielle Lean – 9/84.523
10. 108 – Cajo – Devon MacNeil – Devon MacNeil – 9/88.370
11. 484 – Rahmannshof’s Bamiro – Savannah Jenkins – Georgy Maskrey-Segesman – 10/85.594
12. 521 – Patrol V – Julia Nagler – Julia Nagler – 10/85.756