Temecula, Calif. – Apr. 22, 2022 – The Temecula Valley National Premier I kicked the speed up a notch Friday in the Grand Prix Arena as athletes took to the $10,000 1.35m NEEd For Speed Derby, sponsored by Alliant Private Client. Set in the USEF Table III format, each fault incurred on course was converted to four additional seconds on the clock, encouraging athletes to put forth their best efforts and potentially sacrifice a rail if it meant a speedier round. Twenty-two competitors took on the class, which served as a National Equestrian Tournament qualifier at the 1.35m level. Reigning victorious was junior rider Jake Endicott and Carisma, who, despite one rail down, secured the fastest time by nearly two seconds.
The course was built by Germany’s Olaf Petersen, Jr. and was built for speed. With 12 numbered obstacles, including a double of verticals, a vertical-oxer double combination, opportunities for tight turns and bending lines with room to leave out strides, riders attacked the course knowing the win would have to be earned.
The first rider reference time came from Mariano Maggi, clocking in at 72.799 seconds with no rails down on the course, but Maggi opted for slightly wider paths between fences and forewent several inside turns, meaning his time could be beat. While several riders accumulated extra seconds on the clock, Tiffany Sullivan came in with her own Castelissimo and shaved about three seconds off the leading time, finishing on a clear round in 69.572 seconds by taking all inside options and galloping between fences, taking risks across the course that paid off.
Sullivan and her 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding held the lead until Endicott and Carisma blazed a new trail, speeding around the track and leaving nothing to chance. He and the Ashland Farms-owned 11-year-old Hanoverian mare sliced fences, turned tightly and left strides out across the track. His incredible time of 63.329 seconds still placed him first even with a rail down at fence five, clocking in at a final time of 67.329 seconds. The only pair to come close to catching their time was the final pair on course, Danielle Morrow and San Diego, a 10-year-old German Sporthorse gelding owned by Monarch Farms, LLC, who crossed the timers in 65.191 seconds with one rail down for a second-place time of 69.191 seconds. Sullivan finished out in third with her clear round as the class came to a close.
Endicott is no stranger to fast rounds in the jumper ring. Paired with this horse for the past year, he has competed with Carisma in the High Junior Jumpers and at the national grand prix level. The young rider is making a name for himself in the jumper and equitation rings as he navigates his final year as a junior, but, without a doubt, he has the least riding experience out of any competitor in this class, having just begun his time in the saddle in 2019. Despite his parents’, Mike and Christy Endicott, role as trainers in the sport, as well as the influence of his brother, Mitch, who is a young professional, Jake didn’t catch the riding bug until later in his junior career. He opted for football and soccer as a child, amidst other sports, before giving riding a go just a few years ago. His talent was undeniable from the beginning and he’s becoming a force to be reckoned with on both coasts.
Temecula Valley National Premier I continues on Saturday with the $2,000 Show MD 1.20m Speed Classic, followed by Junior/Amateur competition and the $50,000 Hygain Grand Prix, with the $1,000 U25 Jumper Classic, sponsored by CC Fits, running concurrently.
FROM THE WINNERS CIRCLE
Jake Endicott – $10,000 1.35m NEEd For Speed Derby, Sponsored by Alliant Private Client, Winner
On today’s course:
“I thought it was a nice layout for a speed, pretty difficult. It gives you opportunities for inside turns which made it exciting. I thought it was well-designed. It started off as planned, the first four jumps, then things got a little out of hand as they usually do with a speed [class], especially faults converted. The horse helped me out quite a bit and made it work.”
On Carisma:
“I’ve had her for about a year. She’s owned by Ashland Farms – Ken and Emily Smith – who have supported and helped me a lot on the East Coast. It’s nice of them to let me have her for a little bit.”
RESULTS
$10,000 1.35m NEEd for Speed Derby, sponsored by Alliant Private Client
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / R1 Faults / R1 Time | Final Time
- Carisma / Jake Endicott / Ashland Farms / 4 / 63.329 | 67.329
- San Diego / Danielle Morrow / Monarch Farms, LLC / 4 / 65.191 | 69.191
- Castelissimo / Tiffany Sullivan / Tiffany Sullivan / 0 / 69.572 | 69.572
- Cenmietta PS / Mariano Maggi / Gerardo Pasquel Mendez / 0 / 72.799 | 72.799
- Zero-G / Janet Hischer / Janet Hischer / 0 / 75.651 | 75.651
- Irocco Blue S / Olivia Williams / Olivia Williams / 8 / 69.109 | 77.109
- Classic Fly MJ / Savannah Jenkins / Alora Sporthorses LLC / 8 / 70.433 | 78.433
- Ilyas Van De Mispelaere / Stephanie Gershon / Everado A Hegewisch / 8 / 70.893 | 78.893
- Winchester II V Chapelbridge Z / Lisa Hansen / Lisa Hansen / 0 79.763 | 79.763
- Isaac / Ashley Stannard / Ashbrook Farm LLC / 4 / 76.065 | 80.065
- Zirocco / Talise Baker-Matsuoka / Talise Baker-Matsuoka / 4 / 77.482 | 81.482
- Emirat Des Forets / Sophie Simpson-Leckie / Blue Ridge Show Jumping LLC / 8 / 74.409 | 82.409
