Cathleen Driscoll Captures $32,000 Ingram Family CSI3* Welcome Stake

Cathleen Driscoll stands for presentation on Idalgo with John Ingram. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

International competition at the second week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by B&D Builders, continued on Friday with the $32,000 Ingram Family CSI3* Welcome taking center stage in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring. Thirty entries tackled the first round, but Cathleen Driscoll (USA), an athlete who is well-familiar with the GLEF winner’s circle, ultimately took top call with Idalgo. 

Driscoll returned midway through a large jump-off field consisting of 13 combinations and quickly stole the lead from fellow American rider Molly Ashe Cawley. Cawley, riding Don Stewart’s Berdien, had set the tone as the first to return over the short course. In her typical daring fashion, Driscoll left it all on the field and shaved tenths of a second off Cawley’s time to stop the clock in 37.140 seconds with 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Catoki x Quidam de Revel). 

Cathleen Driscoll & Idalgo. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

The win is one of countless top finishes for Driscoll—always hungry for a victory—has acquired at the northern Michigan venue after winning the Leading Rider Bonus in 2023, but the first of the 2024 season.  

“Idalgo is a horse I took over last fall, so we’ve been together about nine months,” explained Driscoll. “I think it takes me about that amount of time to really get to know a horse, so I think we are starting to get on the same page now. He was second in the four-star grand prix here a few weeks ago as well. 

“It was a jump off that suited him well,” she reflected on Mauricio Garcia’s (PUR) jump-off track. “It had a lot of areas for a big gallop and not so many related numbers, which is where he can be fast because he has a big stride but is a bit slow across the ground. It was one of those jump-offs where things didn’t quite come up perfectly for me, but he did a very good job of helping me out where I needed him to.”

Molly Ashe Cawley & Berdien. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

Driscoll, who has progressed from groom to five-star rider over the past five years, expressed her gratitude to the team at Plain Bay Farm and is looking forward to another exciting fall.

“It’s been very exciting to see my position grow at Plain Bay and to get to work under Henry and Katie Prudent,” she explained. “It’s a fantastic role I have right now and a fantastic group of horses. I’m hoping to get this horse a bit more mileage in these jump offs and then I am looking to have him as my horse for the [American] Gold Cup in the fall.”

Sam Schaefer & James Bond HX. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

Crawley’s time of 37.5 seconds held until the end as she claimed the runner-up honors with Louisburg Farm’s 13-year-old Zangershide mare Berdien (Bustique x Querlybet Hero). The victory gallop featured all female riders as Samantha Schaefer (USA) took third place on Bonne Chance, LLC’s 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, James Bond HX (Douglas x Cash), with a time of 39.110 seconds. 

For complete results, click here

Pint-Sized Friday: Charlotte Morassutti Wins Derby Blue

Charlotte Marassutti stands for presentation on Wishlea Star Song. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

Pony action kicked up on Friday in the VanKampen Arena during the second week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders. A staggering 37 ponies took to the $2,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby, presented by Kickapoo Ponies, and enjoyed a Pony Palooza Ice cream social on Friday afternoon, also presented by Kickapoo Ponies. Coming home with the blue and a smile was Charlotte Morassutti of Toronto, ON, and Wishlea Star Song, owned by Wynmore Farm LLC.

Charlotte Morassutti & Wishlea Star Song. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

Held in typical derby format—and divided by pony size—all riders competed over a classic round in their respective small, medium and large heights. The top 12 scoring pony-and-rider combinations were called back to test across a handy round for the win. Competing in the medium pony section, Morassutti and 14-year-old Welsh Pony came out on top with a classic round score of 86 and a handy score of 83 for a winning total of 169. 

“What I liked about my handy round today was the rollback turn from the first jump to the second jump,” said Morassutti. “It was really fun to do because it was a tighter turn.” 

Ella Tarumianz & True Story. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

As for her relationship with her winning mount, the two have been peas in a pod since their partnership began. “I’ve had her for two years now,” said Morassutti. “I’ve done the indoor circuit with her before and I feel like we’ve gotten better so my goal is to go do those again and pony finals. She’s pretty perfect and she loves cuddles.” 

Following on the podium—taking second and third—was Ella Tarumainz of Charlotte, NC. Tarumianz claimed second on True Story, owned by Vivian Golden, with scores of 82.5 and 84 for a total of 166.5. She followed her own lead with Uncloudy Day, owned by North Shore Farm, with scores of 80.25 and 85 for a combined 165.25. 

Ella Tarumianz & Uncloudy Day. Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

For full results, click here.



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