Will Simpson Adds $20,000 Platinum Performance 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby Win to Temecula Valley National Horse Show Victories

Temecula, Calif. – May 16, 2019 – Day two of the Temecula Valley National Horse Show, now in its second week of riding for the series, continued Thursday with greater prize money opportunities for exhibitors. After a rainy start to the day, the sun finally appeared in the afternoon for the start of the $20,000 Platinum Performance 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby, the feature class of the day in the Audi Grand Prix Arena, presented by Evergate Stables. Adding another achievement to his increasingly long resume, Will Simpson piloted longtime partner Chacco P to the top of the scoreboard, less than 24 hours after his victory Wednesday in the $5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake. In the $7,500 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Classic, John Pearce navigated Seven Seas to the top podium spot as the fastest double-clean pair.

Will Simpson and Chacco P

Up against a 76-second time-allowed and 14 obstacles windingly spread throughout the arena by veteran course designer Alan Wade (IRL), entries were offered a number of opportunities to slice the ring with tight turns as well as pick up a brisk gallop to shave time. One of the first to go, Pearce and Janet Teague’s Firestone S laid the gauntlet down for the pairs that would follow, tripping the timers in a fast 65.323 seconds with all the fences remaining upright. Midway through the start list, Lindsay Archer and Rhys Farms’ Jarpur, the pair that took third in Wednesday’s $5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake, took to the ring with fire behind them as they sped around the arena successfully in 62.315 seconds, edging out the early pathfinders for the top spot with about half of the field still to go.

Proving why he is an Olympic champion, owner-rider Will Simpson was quick to ensure that the lead again swapped hands, usurping the current leading pair of Archer and Jarpur with an even quicker clean time of 61.973 seconds thanks to his mount Chacco P’s quick footspeed. Hot on the combination’s heels, the duo of Tiffany Sullivan and Haley Farms, LLC’s The Gladiator gave the leaders a run for their money, logging a fault-free ride in 62.171 seconds to just miss out on the head of the leaderboard. Though remaining contenders aimed to chase down Simpson and Chacco P, none were able to match the efforts of the horse-and-rider team, solidifying them as the day’s big winners of the prize money and the cooler from Equ Lifestyle Boutique.

Tiffany Sullivan and The Gladiator

Simpson has bagged two victories in only two days at the Temecula Valley National Horse Show, hot off a win Wednesday in the $5,000 CWD 1.35m Welcome Stake, during which he rode Whoop De Doo. No stranger to the winner’s circle, the winning partnership has seen its fair share of success in recent years, last year alone earning top honors in the $30,000 SmartPak Grand Prix in March 2018, $40,000 Blenheim Spring Classic III Grand Prix in April 2018 and the $30,000 Markel Insurance 1.45m Grand Prix in September 2018, among other accolades.

Sullivan and The Gladiator ultimately clinched second position, followed by early frontrunners Archer and Jarpur in third place. With three mounts in the class, Simpson put in good runs on all of them, claiming two more respectable positions in addition to first prize. With Whoop De Doo, the seasoned athlete ranked fourth overall with a clear 64.367-second time, and picked up thirteenth place aboard Chicarito thanks to a fast 4-fault time of 66.853 seconds.

Will Simpson and Chacco P in the presentation

In the class prior, Pearce piloted Seven Seas, owned by Karen Bedrosian Coyn, to victory in the $7,500 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Classic, a new addition to the Temecula Valley series that is meant to give younger horses the opportunity to gain valuable experience in grand prix style classes while not over facing them. Pearce and Seven Seas set an early lead after going second in the order and led the pack all the way to the winner’s circle. Their immediate jump-off time of 33.89 put the pressure on, and no subsequent challengers were able to catch their time. In addition to the blue ribbon and the largest share of the purse, Pearce was also presented a cooler, graciously donated by Equ Lifestyle Boutique, and a helmet from Kask.

John Pearce and Seven Seas

Second place overall was awarded to Madison Bradshaw and Floris, who came closest to Pearce’s jump-off time with their double clean ride in 35.32 seconds. Shelly Stull claimed third position with her own Chappuis 14, clocking in at 37.57 seconds after leaving all the fences intact.

John Pearce and Seven Seas in the presentation

The Temecula Valley National Horse Show will continue Friday, with the $10,000 1.40 Jumper Classic taking centerstage. The highlight event of the week, the $40,000 National Grand Prix, will take place Saturday afternoon, followed by a series of jumper classics Sunday to round out the week.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Will Simpson – $20,000 Platinum Performance 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby winner

Will SImpson and Chacco P

On his rides:
“All three horses felt great, they are jumping better and better all week. The footing and course designer are great. Chacco P had a great show – this is his first class and he had a great show last week. He is really finding his stride right now. He is an incredibly powerful horse, and he is brave and agile for a big horse. He loses no agility being 18 hands. He can really go fast, add strides or leave them out on a dime. He’s finally getting it in the speed classes and the jump-offs.”

On his recent success:
“We came here wanting to support this local show with all the ingredients of a world-class show. We are here and it’s just great that the horses are responding and coming to the party.”

On his strategy for the Speed Derby:
“I just wanted to go medium. There were a couple places you could really flatten them out and leave a stride out, but we have a class on Saturday too, so you don’t want to leave it all on the table this early in the week. We went medium but my horses turn really well. Chacco was right on the game and he can turn back to anything in a half-stride turn, so that’s always nice to have in a reserve. He was really good and I think he’s ready for Saturday, even with the speed today. He was right there with me and we could angle fences, come in on one angle and leave on another, all that fun stuff that I really love to do.”

John Pearce – $7,500 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Classic winner

On Seven Seas:
“I’ve had him for a few years now, I’ve been developing him and bringing him along. He has a lot of potentially and I think he is going to do some really good things in the future.”

On Alan Wade’s course:
“Personally, I think Alan Wade is one of the best course designers in the world. I love his courses – they are always fair, always difficult but very fair for both horse and rider. I think the best thing about it is he sizes up the field really well. He is subtle in that he makes the young horses work but he never gets them into trouble. He did a good job today.”

On the new Futurity Classic:
“I think it’s terrific. It’s a nice little money class, and I’d like to thank personally Interactive Mortgage for sponsoring it. We need more classes for our younger horses. It gives our owners a great incentive to develop these young horses, and it is much appreciated. When I speak, I think I can speak for all the riders when I say that.”

RESULTS

$20,000 Platinum Performance 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby
Place / Horse / Rider / Faults / Time
1. Chacco P / Will Simpson / 0 / 61.973
2. The Gladiator / Tiffany Sullivan / 0 / 62.171
3. Jarpur / Lindsay Archer / 0 / 62.315
4. Whoop De Doo / Will Simpson / 0 /64.367
5. Firestone S / John Pearce / 0 / 65.323
6. Classini / Bjorn Ikast / 0 / 65.506
7. Christian Grey / Tiffany Sullivan / 0 / 65.771
8. Ircos IV / Everado Hegewisch / 0 / 69.119
9. Eta Beta Di San / Lindsay Archer / 0 / 70.257
10. Wallstreet RC / Chenoa Mcelvain / 0 / 70.541
11. Chantico / John Pearce / 4 / 62.865
12. Belize D’Ive Z / Kaitlin Campbell / 4 / 63.780

$7,500 Interactive Mortgage 10 & Under Futurity Classic
Place / Horse / Rider / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / Time
1. Seven Seas / John Pearce / 0 / 0 / 33.891
2. Floris / Madison Bradshaw / 0 / 0 / 35.320
3. Chappuis 14 / Shelly Stull / 0 / 0 / 37.572
4. Quatar / Jamie Taylor / 4 / 70.710
5. Kasstender / Michelle Parker / 4 / 74.387
6. Footloose / Mari Gromkowski / 4 / 77.633

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