Hot on the heels of her victory in the $1,000 1.30m Open Jumper Stake earlier in the week, Lillie Keenan (USA) led Stakki 6 to a second victory. The 2013 NHSAA/ASPCA Maclay Finals champion won the $10,000 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic. The first round course, set at a solid 1.35 meters, tasked riders with an efficient track to be completed in 75.00 seconds.
Lillie Keenan on Stakki 6. Photo by SEL Photography.
Keenan faced 32 top combinations including Olympians Leslie Howard and Rodrigo Pessoa, but with three elite mounts the 23-year-old athlete gave herself some good odds. Ten of the original starting field passed Jewell’s first test and moved on to the jump-off phase.
Keenan’s other equine partners included Double H Farm’s Giorgio Van’t Hagenhof, who had an unlucky four faults in the opening round and Chansonette Farm LLC’s El Balou Old. She and the 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Sunshine’s Botox) also produced a clear round and moved on to place eighth after the jump off.
It was Keenan’s youngest mount, the 7-year-old gelding Stakki 6, a Hanoverian gelding (Stakkato Gold x Adelaide), that proved unbeatable after racing through the final timers in 37.851 seconds of the 50.000 allowed.
“This horse is very mature for his age so I just had to make a plan and stick to it,” Keenan said. “In the jump-off, I didn’t have to do anything crazy or wild because he is naturally a fast horse so everything came up right as planned.
“From the day he entered the barn, Stakki has understood how to win,” she added. “He always gets right down to business and gives everything each time he enters the ring which is definitely unique.”
Keenan plans to return for Week III of the Old Salem Farm Fall Series.
“It is lovely to jump on the field here,” she said. “I think it is best for the horses. It is the most natural footing and teaches them to cope with going uphill or downhill while maintaining their balance.”
Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) and Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC’s 12-year-old Westphalian stallion Samurai 501 (Stalypso x Freixenet) snatched up the second-place honors on a double-clean effort in 39.817 seconds. Pessoa also earned the final spot on the podium with the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare La Caramba (Carambole x Welcome Cor) only falling shortly behind himself and clocking in at 40.257 seconds.
Old Salem Fall Series Week III kicks off with schooling on Wednesday, September 23 and will offer A-rated hunter competition and Level 2 Jumpers beginning Thursday, September 24. Highlights of the week include the $10,000 Jumper Classic and a hunter derby day Sunday, September 27, including a USHJA Pony Hunter Derby.
Final Results – $10,000 Old Salem Farm Jumper Classic
1 STAKKI 6: 2013 Hanoverian gelding by Stakkato Gold x Adelaide
LILLIE KEENAN(USA), Chansonette Farm LLC: 0/0/37.851
2 SAMURAI 501: 2008 Westphalian stallion by Stalypso x Freixenet
RODRIGO PESSOA(BRA), Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC: 0/0/39.817
3 LA CARAMBA: 2010 Holsteiner mare by Carambole x Welcome Cor
RODRIGO PESSOA(BRA, Artemis Equestrian Farm LLC: 0/0/40.257
4 CLARINA: 2011 Holsteiner mare by Clarimo x Ustharia
KRISTY HERRERA(USA), Caroline Ellis:
5 JOY NONSTOP VD MOORSKESHOEVE: 2009 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Non Stop x Orpas
EMMA MARLOWE(USA), TFS. LLC: 0/0/47.399
6 MILAN IV: 2005 Holsteiner gelding by Lasino x Oki Doki
DELANEY FLYNN(USA), Grace Jacobsen: 0/4/36.993
7 FATIMA: 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare by Clinton x Unknown
KATIE LYNCH(USA), David Hopper: 0/4/38.367
8 EL BALOU OLD: 2012 Oldenburg gelding by Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Sunshine’s Botox
LILLIE KEENAN(USA), Chansonette Farm LLC:
9 CHARLY GLB: 2011 Westphalian gelding by Comme II Faut 5 x Carina
CHELSEA MOSS(USA), Pablo Mejia: 0/4/41.189
10 GAUGUIN: 2011 KWPN gelding by VDL Groep Zagreb x Dulci
KEVIN MEALIFF(IRL), TFS. LCC: 0/
11 GK CALIFORNIA: 2010 Hanoverian gelding by Cosido x Ilona IV
LAUREN FISCHER(USA), Lauren Fischer: 0/4/44.370
12 MY JEWEL’S MAGIC TOUCH: 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Stakkato x A-Jewels Touch
RODRIGO PESSOA(BRA), Jewel Court Stud USA LLC: 0/4/44.727