Luzardo and Stan Earn Major Victory in $60,000 Summer In The Rockies Grand Prix at SIR V

Press release CHP – Juan Manuel Luzardo of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Stan rose to the occasion in the $60,000 Summer In The Rockies Grand Prix at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) on Saturday, July 9, taking their first win at the venue with a time of 38.716 seconds. Will Simpson and The Dude earned second place, completing the jump-off in 38.879 seconds, narrowly missing another win. Christian Heineking and AJE Cluny secured a third place finish, stopping the clock in 40.671 seconds. Competition at CHP continues with the start of SIR VI, which begins tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13, and concludes Sunday, July 17.

Luzardo, in just his first appearance in a grand prix at CHP, stole the win from Simpson as he and Stan entered the ring last in the jump-off line up. Their heart-pounding performance provided an exciting atmosphere for the spectating crowd and Luzardo was ecstatic with the win.

„This is my first time here in Colorado and I think that it’s just amazing. The footing is great and the fences in the ring are very nice. I really like the organization and I think this is in a great town,“ said Luzardo.

The class saw a record high number of entries in the grand prix for the season, featuring 34 combinations and a well-designed track set by Jasen Shelley (USA). A number of talented combinations qualified and returned for the jump-off, which saw five pairs complete the course clear and within the time.

„I always try to be very neat and clean with this horse because he’s very fast, which always makes us competitive. I didn’t try to run him too much in the jump-off because he felt a bit nervous and I wanted to keep him calm,“ he explained.

The 2006 Hanoverian gelding (Stakkato x Silvara) owned by Mauricio Guerra, was imported from Europe three years ago where had started his career as a successful as a young horse in Germany. Luzardo has exercised patience in bringing the gelding up through the ranks and feels that the pair is at a monumental point in their career where their talent and confidence are now on par.

„He was very successful in Europe and after I bought him he was injured so we let him rest of a year. After he turned eight we entered him in his first grand prix and he won. It was an amazing feeling and he’s a special horse,“ detailed Luzardo.

Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS, took home the Equiline Leading Lady Grand Prix Rider Award for her performances in both the $20,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Open Welcome Stake and the $60,000 Summer In The Rockies Grand Prix.

Will Simpson Shines Taking First and Second Place in $20,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Open Welcome Stake
Will Simpson and his mount, The Dude, proved their mastery once again in the $20,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Open Welcome Stake this past Thursday, July 7, at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) as they flew through the jump-off course with a clear effort and an impressive time of 33.03 seconds. Simpson, who hails from Westlake, CA, captured second place too, guiding E-Unanime De La Haie to a quick 34.27 seconds around the short course. Lina Rojas of Denver, CO, finished just behind Simpson, collecting third place aboard Cafino Z, crossing over the final jump with a time of 35.43 seconds.

The class was no match for Will Simpson and The Dude, a 2006 Oldenburg Springpferd gelding (Carry Gold x Honey Moon) owned by Nicole Walker, as they conquered once again, this time against 37 other entries. Simpson commented on the course, saying, „We had twice as many entries as we had here before and today was pretty technical with a lot of combinations out of the turns. It was a nice test for us both.“

„He takes the inside track. The horse operates a lot like a Segway. You just think forward, he goes. You think back and he pulls back and makes a tight turn. He did the five up the front line and made a brilliant turn back to the planks, which is a little risky but he likes that kind of stuff,“ he added.

Simpson and The Dude have accumulated an array of top finishes in the major classes hosted at CHP so far this season and the pair seem in top form heading into the remaining portion of the Summer In The Rockies circuit.

„I really love him. I have a lot of confidence when I go in the ring on him. It feels like he can jump anything on the course,“ said Simpson. „Now he feels like he’s really seasoned and steady. He comes out everyday and is very programmable. It feels like he’s about three months from being able to jump any track anywhere. He’s good on grass. He’s good on sand. He’s good over the water, the triples. Everything is good now. He just feels really solid.“

Competition at CHP continues with the start of SIR VI on Wednesday, July 13, which will feature the $75,000 Nutrena® Grand Prix featuring the presentation of the inaugural Mayor’s Cup on Saturday, July 16. For more information The Colorado Horse Park and to see a full list of results please visit www.coloradohorsepark.com.

Final Results $60,000 Summer In The Rockies Grand Prix

1. STAN, 2006 Hanoverian gelding by Stakkato x Silvara
JUAN MANUEL LUZARDO, Mauricio Guerra: 0/0/38.716

2. THE DUDE, 2006 Oldenburg Springpferd gelding by Carry Gold x Honey Moon
WILL SIMPSON, Nicole Walker: 0/0/38.879

3. AJE CLUNY, 2004 Oldenburg gelding by Cash & Carry x Doina
CHRISTIAN HEINEKING, AJE Equitation: 0/0/40.671

4. SOUTHERN PRIDE, 1998 Holsteiner stallion by South Pacific x Blanka
KAREN CUDMORE, Blair Cudmore: 0/0/43.43

5. ESCARLATA LS, 2006 La Silla mare by Ephebe For Ever x Cincinatti La Silla
FABIAN SEJANES, Patricia Valdez Luna: 0/0/41.527

6. E-UNANIME DE LA HAIE, 2004 Belgian Warmblood mare by Corland x Midnight
WILL SIMPSON, Monarch International: 0/4/37.857

7. VDL BRAVO S, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ephepe For Ever x Urbine S
HUNTER HOLLOWAY, Hays Investment Corp.: 0/4/38.919

8. PLAYBOY, 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Toulon x Lysca
CHARLIE JAYNE, Charlie Jayne: 0/4/39.724

9. INDOKTRO K VAN’T KATTENHEYE, 2008 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Indoctro x Eloubet van de Doorndonkhoeve
SUSAN GRIFFIS, Palmer Divide Ranch: 0/4/44.15

10. DIAMOND, 2003 Warmblood mare by Parco x Vienna vd Middelstede
NICOLE PETERSON, Nicole Peterson: 0/4/47.696

11. ARMANI 224, 2003 Oldenburg gelding by Acorado x Ribana H
ADRIAN BERGANZA, Mr. & Mrs. Jorge Berganza: 0/7/58.449

12. S&L ZEPPELIN, 2004 Dutch Warmblood gelding by No Limit x Sterre H
ARMANDO HASSEY, Caroline Beecherl: 0/8/43.74

Final Results $20,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Open Welcome Stake

1. THE DUDE, 2006 Oldenburg Springpferd gelding by Carry Gold x Honey Moon
WILL SIMPSON, Nicole Walker: 0/0/33.03

2. E-UNANIME DE LA HAIE, 2004 Belgian Warmblood mare by Corland x Midnight
WILL SIMPSON, Monarch International: 0/0/34.27

3. CAFINO Z, 2004 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Carthago x Laranka
LINA ROJAS, Mauricio Restrepo: 0/0/35.43

4. CALANGO, 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Calvados Z X Kobyrette
CHRISTIAN HEINEKING, NKH LLC: 0/0/35.6

5. LUCKY STRIKE, 2006 Holsteiner gelding by Lasino x Imandra I
BRANDIE HOLLOWAY, Hays Investment Corp.: 0/4/33.45

6. NKH SELENA, 2005 Oldenburg mare by Stakkato Gold x California Dream
CHRISTIAN HEINEKING, NKH LLC:  0/4/33.76

7. VDL BRAVO S, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ephepe For Ever x Urbine S
HUNTER HOLLOWAY, Hays Investment Corp.: 0/0/34.75

8. RAMDAM DE DRY, 2005 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Kannan x Dryade Du Defey
LINA ROJAS, Mauricio Restrepo: 0/4/ 34. 84

9. GANGNAM STYLE, 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Indorado x U Two
ANDRES BERGANZA, Jorge Berganza & Christian Glanemann: 0/4/35.37

10. HANDEL’S CLASSIC, 2006 British Warmblood gelding by Handel II x Sasja
CHARLIE JAYNE, Charlie Jayne: 0/8/37.38

11. INDOKTRO K VAN ‚T KATTENHEYE, 2008 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Indoctro x Eloubet Van De Doorndonkhoeve
SUSAN GRIFFIS, Palmer Divide Ranch: 1/79.59

12. OHLALA Z, 2008 Zangersheide mare by Oklund x Zita Z
HANNAH HEIDEGGER, Monarch International: 4/76.41

Source: Press release CHP