Fabio Leivas Da Costa Goes One-Two in $5k Open Jumper at Kentucky Spring Classic

Friday morning at the Kentucky Spring Classic opened with the $5,000 1.45m Open Jumpers to kick off jumper competition in the Rolex Stadium, where 21 athletes were tested over Guilherme Jorge’s (BRA) 14-effort track. Seven horse-and-rider combinations finished clear rounds, followed by an immediate jump-off. Fabio Leivas Da Costa rode to first and second place aboard Bonne Chance Farm LLC’s Kalisto The Music and Randon Pleasure, respectively.

Leivas Da Costa first entered the ring aboard another mount of Bonne Chance Farm LLC, Luziada Jmen, but one rail down ultimately placed the pair in the twelfth position. He later came back to the ring with new mount, Kalisto The Music, a 7-year-old Belgian Warmblood, to produce a clear round in an unbeatable time of 43.715 seconds for the gelding’s first big win.

Fabio Leivas Da Costa and Kalisto The Music. Photo by Phelps Media Group

“Kalisto the Music is an 8-year-old horse,” Leivas Da Costa shared. “He’s quite new to the string. We got him last year and he’s been progressing a lot very quickly. This is his first win and first important class. He has a bright future ahead of him.”

Last to return, Leivas Da Costa rode Randon Pleasure, a 13-year-old Selle Français mare to a quick time of 44.357 seconds to follow just behind his winning time for second place.

Fabio Leivas Da Costa and Randon Pleasure. Photo by Phelps Media Group

While Randon Pleasure isn’t new to Leivas Da Costa’s farm, their partnership only just officially began. “We’ve had her for a couple of years. She was very successful with the other rider and I just took over the reins here in Kentucky last week. I have started slowly with her and now I’m looking to step up with her. She’s a very good mare and has a good future.”

Third place was awarded to Karl Cook and Cyrano VDV, a 9-year-old Zangersheide stallion owned by Signe Ostby, with a close time of 44.579 seconds.

Immediately following, 32 riders entered the stadium for the High Amateur-Owner/Junior Jumper speed-style class, which yielded 9 clear rounds with Alma Bjorklund besting the competition aboard her own Flecu. Bjorklund and the 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding mastered the speed round in a time of 57.378 seconds, just a hair ahead of the second place contender.

Alma Bjorklund and Flecu. Photo by Phelps Media Group