Cathleen Driscoll (USA) pulled off her third FEI win in one week’s time in Thursday’s $37,000 Limitless Performance CSI2* Speed Classic. Of 35 starting entries, Driscoll topped an international field aboard Don Stewart’s Flotylla, her third winning mount of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors.
“I’m just ecstatic,” the 29-year-old from Elk Mills, MD, remarked. “I have such a great group of horses right now. I’ve had three wins on three different horses in the last three classes. It’s just unbelievable. I’m so lucky to have this string of horses.”
Early in the order, Olivia Chowdry (USA) set a quick time of 62.81 seconds aboard Chuck Berry 8, owned by Atlas Equine Holdings LLC. She was then outdone by Sydney Shulman Desiderio (ISR) and Jill Shulman’s Classic Penny, who raced to a time of 60.89 seconds. Driscoll shaved two tenths of a second off of the leading time to bring the Twydil Time to Beat down to 60.70 seconds and hold the lead until the close of the class. Shulman Desiderio claimed second place while Chowdry took third.
“I saw Sydney go, and she was really on it,” Driscoll commented. “I knew I had to do the same plan as her. I thought I could do a slightly better turn from [fence] three to four; I think that’s where I was able to catch her a bit. After that I tried to stay on the numbers everywhere. Every turn just came up forward out of stride exactly how I wanted it to go. My mare was just with me everywhere.”
After claiming both the welcome with Magnolia and grand prix on Dame De Pique during GLEF II, Driscoll is on quite a roll in international competition. After taking over the ride on Flotylla at the end of 2021, she has developed the mare up to the CSI3* level and is breaking into the top ribbons at international levels.
“She’s an unbelievable mare,” Driscoll commented on the Polish Sport Horse (Alvaro 121 x Bajou Du Rouet). “She’s really careful and very fast. She’s a fighter for sure. I prefer horses like that. I want one that is going to go in the ring and fight as hard as I do. I have such a good feeling going in the ring knowing she’s always a contender.”
Consistency in the ring is the result of a strong program at home, and Driscoll can feel confident she is doing right by her horses. “When we’re at home we try to give them a lot of downtime between shows,” she remarked on her program. “I love to take my horses out and gallop them a lot, and we take them on trail rides; I try to keep them happy and fresh. When they come to the shows they’re happy and excited to do their jobs, so they perform well in the ring.”
Driscoll’s fun has not been limited to the Flintfields Horse Park while in northern Michigan this summer. “I love Traverse City,” she continued. “I go out on the lake every Monday. The town is wonderful, the restaurants are fantastic, and I dabble at the casino, not that I’m very good.”
With her third FEI victory in one week, she has a bit more prize money in her pocket and now sits only two points behind Margie Engle (USA) in the CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus Standings.
International competition resumes in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring on Friday with the $37,000 North Face Farm CSI2* Welcome Stake.
Final Results: $37,000 Limitless Performance CSI2* Speed Classic
1. FLOTYLLA: 2011 PZHK mare by Alvaro 121 x Bajou Du Rouet
CATHLEEN DRISCOLL (USA), Donald Stewart: 0/60.70
2. CLASSIC PENNY: 2012 NWB mare by Clapton
SYDNEY SHULMAN DESIDERIO (ISR), Jill Shulman: 0/60.89
3. CHUCK BERRY 8: 2007 HANN gelding by Chacco Blue x Watzmann
OLIVIA CHOWDRY (USA), Atlas Equine Holdings LLC: 0/62.81
4. MAESTRO VICA V/D ARK: 2012 BWP stallion by Lordanos x Heartbreaker
NATALIE DEAN (USA), Marigold Sporthorses LLC: 0/63.40
5. BALOTELLI 5: 2010 HANN gelding by Balou Du Rouet x Contendro I
MATTHEW BODDY (GBR), Purple Road LLC: 64.78
6. CON CALLE: 2009 Holst gelding by Contendro II x Cassini II
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 0/65.93
7. ISAAC 22: 2008 BWP gelding by Nonstop x Darco
VICTORIA KETCHUM (USA), Copperline Farm LLC: 0/68.26
8. EXCELLENT: 2009 KWPN gelding by Cicero Z Van Paemel x Ahorn
ZAYNA RIZVI (USA), Peacock Ridge LLC: 0/69.34
9. CAMINA K: 2011 BRAND mare by Clarimo x Askari 173
KARIME PEREZ NUÑEZ (MEX), Karime Perez Nuñez: 0/69.54
10. MA POMME DE TAMERVILLE: 2012 BWP mare by Deauville Van T&L x Contendro II
ANNA WILKS (GBR), IN Showjumpers: 0/69.70
11. CARISSIMO 25: 2013 HOLST gelding by Cascadello x Clinton
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 0/71.44
12. EXTASY: 2012 HOLST mare by Quadros x Clearway
VICTORIA KETCHUM (USA), Copperline Farm LLC: 0/73.69
Laguna Sails to 3’3” Performance Hunter Tri-Color
The 3’3” Performance Hunter division came to a close on Thursday with a tri-color finish for 11-year-old mare Laguna, owned by Southfields Farm and piloted by Kristy Herrera of Wellington, FL. Over two days, Laguna showed off four consistent rounds and posted two wins, including one in the handy, and two second-place finishes for champion honors.
“I started riding her in Wellington this January and she’s a great horse; a good steady eddy,” said Herrera of Laguna. “She’s coming into her own this summer where she’s on autopilot. I can pick up the reins and cruise around and it’s an easy ride.”
Laguna also competes in the 3’3” Amateur-Owner division with owner Katherine Oberkircher.
“We have found her sweet spot when it comes to preparation and rideability,” commented Herrera. “She likes to go in a nice, easy rubber bit. This morning she had an early-morning flat and that’s all she needed. We were able to put in four really nice rounds this week so we are getting to the point where she’s the same each day.”
Laguna showed off a smooth pace around the GGT Footing Ring to impress the judges. “The course had nice open lines today with nothing too tricky, so I was able to let her shine,” said Herrera. “She can find the distances for you so that makes my job easy. I navigate and she takes care of the rest.”
Herrara has been competing in Traverse City for three weeks and when she’s not taking in wine tours or kayaking on Lake Michigan, she’s easily spotted in the hunter rings. She also collected the reserve champion title in the 3’3” Performance Hunter division on Southfields Farm’s Speaking Of.
“I love Traverse City,” concluded Herrera. “The best part about being here is the openness. There’s so much space for the horses to ride and breathe. I love that the hunters have moved down to the lower rings and the [Traverse City Hunter & Derby Finals] in September is a big draw.”
Megan Holliday Chases Victory in East Wind Farms Children’s Jumper
The East Wind Farms Children’s Jumper division saw a late lead change during Thursday’s opening class of 24 horse-and-rider combinations. Megan Holliday of Littleton, CO, and Revelation took over the top spot three trips out from the finale of the class. Holliday and the 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Numero Uno slid just under the previous winning time by one-tenth of a second to secure the victory.
“He has had a lot of success in the jumper ring prior to becoming my partner, and he really enjoys his job,” detailed Holliday, who took over the ride on the gelding in January. “We’ve been working hard to become a team, and I feel like I’m starting to click with him finally, which is very exciting.”
Holliday hopes that Revelation will help her make the most of her last year before heading to college, but plans to keep him as her partner for years to come. “I am working on moving up as quickly as I can because I will be going to college soon and will have less time for riding,” she added. “My goal is to move up to the 1.20m divisions as soon as possible, and to just be able to continue advancing with this great horse.”
As for her win, the young rider stated that she left nothing to chance and put the pressure on in between as many fences as possible for a blazing time around the Polk Ring.
Alexandra Sica and the aptly-named Quickly Stated earned the second-place ribbon for owner Can We Keep It? LLC after holding the lead until Holliday’s round. Capri Truesdale rounded out the top three riding her own Lexicon van’t Steentje.
Final Results: East Wind Farms Children’s Jumper
1. Revelation / Megan Holliday / Megan Holliday / 0/0/39.301
2. Quickly Stated / Alexandra Sica / Can we Keep It? LLC / 0/0/39.317
3. Lexicon Van’t Steentje / Capri Truesdale / Capri Truesdale / 0/0/40.942
4. Avisee Du Moulinet / Avery Johnson / Alannah Argyle / 0/0/41.088
5. Remmits Delphi / Capri Truesdale / Capri Truesdale / 0/0/41.115
6. Corokato PS / Juliette Propp / Aquitaine Equine / 0/0/41.140
7. Tizimin LS / Olivia Sallaberry / Megan McDermott / 0/4/42.047
8. Pepper / Alexis Orr / Imperial Show Stables / 0/4/42.966
9. WKD Tokyo / Olivia Sallaberry / Daniel Kerins / 0/4/43.419
10. Celsy Bisschop Z / Calogera Borrello / Jaqueline Ruyle LLC / 0/4/45.226
11. Darthus / Isabella Kahn / North Star / 0/5/48.138
12. Caramel / Olivia Love / Jill Shulman / 0/8/44.085
