Temecula, Calif. – May 1, 2022 – The final day of Temecula Valley National Premier II welcomed junior and amateur riders to their respective classics to contend for the lion’s share of prize money plus NAYC qualification and a potential spot in the upcoming National Equestrian Tournament in June of 2022. The day got underway with the $5,000 First National Bank of Pasco Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic Med. 1.35m, followed by the $5,000 BioXcellerator 1.30m Open Classic, a Zone 10 NAYC Pre-Junior Trial, which was topped by Leila Diab and Unang De Kergane. The final class of the week, the $10,000 Tack of the Town High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic 1.45m, served as a Zone 10 NAYC Young Rider Trial and was topped by Tali DeJong and Heavenly Star.
Olaf Petersen, Jr.’s final courses for the week were designed to challenge the horse-and-rider combinations just enough to provide exciting competition. At the end of two weeks of horse showing, athletes and their mounts had put forth many efforts and knew they had to conserve their energy and strength for one final classic. Complete with a vertical-vertical-oxer triple combination, a double of verticals and a skinny vertical, the track was properly built for the caliber of athlete coming forward in each class.
The $5,000 BioXcellerator 1.30m Open Classic and Zone 10 NAYC Pre-Junior Trial saw a field of 22 horse-and-athlete combinations tackle Petersen, Jr.’s first round course in the hopes of adding their names to the jump-off list. Asking riders to pilot their mounts around several long bending lines, an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination and tricky verticals set around tight turns, the course offered just the right amount of challenges and helped make for a competitive jump-off.
Returning to the Grand Prix Arena first, Leila Diab and her first of three rides, Quind, set the pace for the pack to follow, completing their round in a quick 37.64 seconds. She would then return to beat herself not once, but twice. Tiffany Sullivan jumped her own Castelissimo to a double-clear effort of 38.462 seconds, claiming the lead and becoming the one to beat as 12 more jump-off contenders followed her. Many came close, but the closest to Sullivan’s time was Lindsay Stefanko and Afriko, crossing the timers in 38.540 seconds and taking over second at that point.
It wasn’t until the final rider on course, Diab on her third mount, Unang De Kergane, that the time would be set even quicker. She took tight turns, opted for inside tracks between obstacles, and opened up the 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding’s stride between long runs. She came home in 37.640 seconds, unseating Sullivan from her leading position and taking the win. Sullivan finished second, Stefkano took the yellow ribbon and Diab captured fourth place as well on Matahari HL.
The course was adjusted slightly for the final class of the day in the Grand Prix Arena, the $10,000 Tack of the Town High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic 1.45m, also serving as a Zone 10 NAYC Young Rider Trial. The track was altered to include the open water, plus an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination and a triple bar oxer. Ultimately, the class saw a single clear round, which was produced by Tali DeJong with Heavenly Star to claim the win. The highest placing NAYC candidate was Aya Clear with Famorku.
Atop the leaderboard of the $1,500 FarmVet Child/Adult Jumper Classic 1.15m was Erin Nichols with Fairy Tale. Nichols secured herself a spot in the upcoming National Equestrian Tournament in June with her win.
Horse showing returns to Galway Downs for Temecula Valley National I running from May 18-22, 2022. Highlights include the $10,000 1.35m Welcome Stake, the $25,000 1.40m Speed Classic, the $10,000 5 Bar, the $10,000 1.35m NEEd for Speed Derby, the $50,000 National Grand Prix and the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Tali DeJong – $10,000 Tack of the Town High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic 1.45m winner
On her ride:
“I thought it was an amazing course. It was technical, it was big and it asked all the right quotations. It rode really nicely. I was impressed actually – I was expecting it to be a little smaller and less technical but I thought, ‘Here we go. We’re going to be riding today.’”
On Heavenly Star:
“I call her ‘Kitty’ in the barn because she is always between being a sweet kitty cat, wanting to cuddle with you, and a wildcat. I got her at the end of her 6-year-old year and she’s 10 so I’ve really developed her and brought her all the way from the 7-Year-Olds to the Grand Prix. I absolutely love her; she’s amazing. I really wanted to do the water tray which was why I was in this class.”
On the Temecula Valley National Series:
“This is my first time here. I’m planning to go to Spruce Meadows with some of my horses and then keep my younger horses here. It’s a really amazing show. It was a last minute decision to come here so I was supposed to go back east. This sounded like a lot more fun and I’m glad I did it. Ali has done such a good job producing this property. Everyone says it keeps getting better each year so I can’t wait to see what future years hold.”
RESULTS
$5,000 Bioxellerator 1.30m Open Classic
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time
1. Unang De Kergane / Leila Diab / Leila Diab / 0 | 71.25 / 0 | 37.64
2. Castelissimo / Tiffany Sullivan / Tiffany Sullivan / 0 | 73.25 / 0 | 38.462
3. Afriko / Lindsay Stefanko / Abbey Lane Farm Inc. / 0 | 75.566 / 0 | 38.540
4. Matahari HL / Leila Diab / Leila Diab / 0 | 74.276 / 0 | 38.850
5. Quind / Leila Diab / Leila Diab / 0 | 75.413 / 0 | 39.180
6. Cool Water GB / Robert Blanchette / Lisa Setzer / 0 | 72.34 / 0 | 39.286
7. Cascalido / Madison Sanders / Lavender Creek / 0 | 74.607 / 0 | 39.512
8. Cameron Diaz 5 / Guillermo Obligado / Milberry Farm LLC / 0 | 76.613 / 0 | 39.518
9. Carnlea Premier Balou / Robert Blanchette / RTS, LLC / 0 | 72.533 / 0 | 40.170
10. Olyda VD Bisschop / Guillermo Obligado / Highland Farms Ltd. / 0 | 77.065 / 0 | 40.539
11. Lutalo / Michelle Parker / Dana B Nemeth / 0 | 75.584 / 0 | 41.070
12. Julietta / Cash Delia / Cash Delia / 0 | 75.878 / 0 | 41.502
$10,000 Tack of the Town High Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic High 1.45m
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults | R1 Time / R2 Faults | R2 Time
1. Heavenly Star / Tali DeJong / Tali DeJong / 0 | 84.948
2. Kasstender C / Katie Murray / Katie Murray / 4 | 84.703
3. Famorku / Aya Clear / AKM Concept LLC / 4 | 85.225
4. Carlsson 72 / Alexa Leong / Alexa Leong / 4 | 86.012
5. Larima / Katie Kehring / Kering Family / 8 | 78.23
6. Fast Lucca / Sahana Ganesan / Sahana Ganesan / 8 | 81.630
7. Global Jativa / Elena Haas / Elena Haas / 12 | 76.911
8. Grand Desert / Nicholas Choi / Nicholas Choi / 12 | 80.861
9. Centana / Elena Haas / Elena Haas / 8 | 84.634