Las Vegas, NV – Nov. 17, 2017 – Thirty-two horse and rider combinations flew around the forward track in the $40,000 1.35m Las Vegas National Speed Stake, presented by Equithrive. But it was nineteenth to go, Kristen Vanderveen, aboard her eight-year-old mare, Bull Run’s Divine Fortune, who, for the second night in a row, took the most daring and speedy track in 54.24 seconds for the win. Frenchman Eric Navet and The Flying Ham were closest to catching Vanderveen, boldly galloping between jumps, with the crowd cheering, ultimately stopping the clock in 55.26 seconds for second place.
Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Divine Fortune are a fairly new pair, and this was one of their first speed classes together. “I want her to be a competitive horse, so I walked a competitive track – I figure there’s only one way to learn. I was waiting to see what she would show me tonight, and she really pulled through.”
In reference to Vanderveen’s strategy, she attributed her winning time to taking less steps in the lines. “I did leave out strides, which was a test to see how big her stride length is. My turns were not as quick as Eric’s, so leaving those out really helped me,” she noted.
But the speedster thought she left a little room for someone to go faster. “I couldn’t watch the rest of the class after I went. I was pleased with my horse tonight, but I knew someone could beat my time with a perfect round.”
Gleaming after two victories in two nights on two different mounts, with Navet nipping at her heels in second both times, Vanderveen is excited to compete in tonight’s $100,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Las Vegas, presented by Interactive Mortgage, with her stallion Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili. The competition is certain to be outstanding.
RESULTS
$40,000 Las Vegas National Speed Stake
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Time (before faults)
1. Bull Run’s Divine Fortune / Kristen Vanderveen / USA / 54.24
2. The Flying Ham / Eric Navet / FRA / 55.26
3. C-Valentijn / John Perez / COL / 56.20
4. Lara Croft / Alyce Bittar / USA / 56.90
5. Harriri / Emily Moffitt / GBR / 57.46
6. Aimee / Justin Prather / CAN / 57.77
7. Clapton / Karrie Rufer / USA / 57.99
8. Durango VDL / Tina Yates / USA / 58.59
9. WH Coconut / Lynne Stephenson / CAN / 58.63
10. Kokette van de Heffinck / Sara Scheiring / USA / 59.01
11. Eastern Jam / Hunter Holloway / USA / 59.02 (55.02)
12. Nkh Selena / Christian Heineking / GER / 59.64 (55.64)
For full results, click here.
Chandler Meadows and Damian Take the Win in the $25,000 Interactive Mortgage U25 Developing Riding Series Final
In 2015, Gregg and Evette DeLong of Interactive Mortgage, along with Blenheim EquiSports, introduced the Interactive Mortgage U25 Developing Rider Series. An important part of the pathway for up-and-coming riders under the age of 25, this evening’s final culminated a superb qualifying season. Sixteen competitors competed in the Series Final, with four returning for the jump-off, and three who rode double clean. But it was twenty-two-year-old Chandler Meadows aboard her nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Damian, that set the unbeatable bar.
Of the Oscar Soberon course, Meadows noted, “The two lines up the side of the ring proved difficult for most of the competitors in the class. My plan was to ride forward into both of those lines, since most of the horses tend to back off coming out of the turn. The rest rode very nicely and smoothly.”
Second to go in the jump-off round, Meadows’ time of 30.04 topped Taylor Siebel and Fellini 131 who finished double clean in 32.09. “I got Damian at the beginning of this year and started out showing him in the High Amateur-Owner Jumpers. Then I stepped up into the Markel Grand Prix and U25 classes. I’ve just started showing him in the FEI Classes and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
“Damian is a true competitor. He has a lot of personality and when he’s not in the ring, he wants to be in the ring,” the champion said with a smile.
Hannah Heidegger, who came into the Final as the Series Leading Rider, also went double clean on her mount Di Caprio RV. Making a gallant attempt to take the lead from Meadows, Heidegger stopped the clock 30.43, ultimately finishing second.
RESULTS
$25,000 Interactive Mortgage U25 Developing Rider Series Final
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Damian / Chandler Meadows / 0 | 65.595 / 0 | 30.049
2. Di Caprio RV / Hannah Heidegger / 0 | 65.647 / 0 | 30.430
3. Fellini 131 / Taylor Siebel / 0 | 67.891 / 0 | 32.091
4. Cadence / Jennifer Gates / 0 | 65.716 / 4 | 32.764
5. Milan IV / Delaney Flynn / 4 | 64.660
6. Cavalino / Savannah Jenkins / 4 | 67.847
7. Wallstreet RC / Chenoa Mcelvain / 4 | 69.628
8. Wilton John VDL / Mackenzie Drazan / 5 | 70.778
9. Gamechanger / Hunter Holloway / 5 | 70.987
10. Diokaldo / Nicole Peterson / 8 | 66.425
11. Apex / Emma Reichow / 12 | 66.941
12. Dexceminka / Danielle Lean / 16 | 64.227
For full results, click here.