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The
Girls Beat The Boys In The $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix
Week 6 of Indio Desert Circuit |
The boys went first
in today's $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix during Week 6 of the HITS Indio Desert
Circuit. Between the three of them, Will Simpson, Richard Spooner and
Ray Texel, they could not post a clear jump off round over Dave Ballard's
course. Misti Cassar was the first of the two girls to jump off, and with
a shout of triumph as Pasadena flew over the final oxer she posted a clean
round in a time of 47.443.
Cassar definitely
learned from the boys as she rode a more conservative track, and was more
than 10 seconds slower than Will Simpson, who posted a blazing time of
36.174 aboard El Campeon's Ado Annie. However, time is not the only factor
in the jump off!
Cassar's lead was
short lived as Sarah Baldwin, the last rider in the jump-off, took to
the course aboard Kijoy Forever. Baldwin was in the catbird's seat and
used it to her advantage. She rode a tighter track than Cassar and left
all the rails up, crossing the finish in a time of 42.067.
"Awesome,"
said Baldwin when asked to describe her horse's performance today. "I
am so stoked. This is the reward for all of the hard work." Baldwin
bought Kijoy Forever, a ten-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, last year
and began showing him during the 2001 Circuit. "I feel like I really
know him now and that we can be more competitive. At first I was just
trying for clear rounds, but now I feel he is sharper and I can go for
the winning ride." And Baldwin did just that, logging her first grand
prix win aboard Kijoy Forever.
Cassar was very happy
with Pasadena's performance. The scrappy little mare is the smallest in
the grand prix field at a little over 15 hands high. However, her amazing
jump belies her diminutive stature. "I am thrilled with her. If she
jumps like this on Sunday...." mused Cassar, alluding to the $150,000
Ford Grand Prix of the Desert.
Richard Spooner will
try for his fifth win, and a number of other riders also have their eyes
on the big class, which also serves as the final West Coast League World
Cup qualifier. The class starts at 2:00 on Sunday and will feature top
horses and riders from throughout the West Coast, Mexico and Canada.
For Agate Records:
$25,000 Ariat Grand Prix
March 8, 2002 - Indio, CA
Place/ Horse/ Rider/
Owner/ Faults - Time/ Prize Money
1st Kijoy Forever/Sarah
Baldwin/ Brookwood Stables/ 0/0 42.067/ $7,500
2nd Pasadena/ Misti Cassar/ Chris Albrecht/ 0/0 47.443/ $5,000
3rd El Campeons Ado Annie/ Will Simpson/ El Campeon Farms/ 0/4 36.174/
$3,500
4th Fighter Pilot/ Richard Spooner/ John Quirk/ 0/4 36.568/ $2,250
5th Fleur/ Ray Texel/ Berverly Hills Equestrian Park/ 0/4 40.920/ $1,500
6th Hilton Flight/ Richard Spooner/ Freedom Farms/ 0/8 42.537/ $1,125
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