BY REGINA ANTONIOLI
Over $10,000 was pledged for this year’s CDS Futurity program and the quality of young horses competing proved well worth these purses. In the 4-Year-Old division, Rachel Wade, who has a barn in Wilton, CA, rode Elizabeth Banga’s Dutch Warmblood Mare, Reminiscence to a combined score of 77.79%. In an interesting twist, Rachel also rode Reminiscence’s mother, Top Hit, in previous Championships. Her vet, Dr Sara Bartholomew, bred the mare to L Primo DG, and the new owner gave the ride to Rachel. “Mother and daughter are so similar – same temperament -- it is so fun,” said Rachel. She also placed second with a combined score of 78.766% in the 5-Year-Old division, on the Dutch Warmblood gelding, Paradigm, by Koenig DG out of Cambria, whom she bred and owns. Willy Arts took the top honors in that division earning an impressive 79.236 on DG Bar’s big Chestnut KWPN Stallion, Pharaoh DG, also by Koenig DG. First place in the 6-Year- Old division also went to Willy on the black Danish stallion Serupgaards Cezanne (72.409%), owned by Linda Nickerson.
Willy Arts on Serupgaards Cezanne - black Danish stallion - 6-YEAR OLD DIVISION
TERRI MILLER PHOTO
Music filled the GGT Footing Arena all morning with both Great American/USDF and CDS Musical Freestyles. Tracey Hill (Concord, CA) won the Great American/USDF Open Intermediaire Freestyle on Susan McConnell’s Oldenburg mare, Lunavella (71.663%). Susan Walker (Dublin, CA) took the A/A honors on her Don Amour N (69.950%) Ari Lopez (Vacaville, CA) earned the top prize in the Great American/USDF Grand Prix Freestyle with an exciting 71.100% on her own Oldenburg mare, Ravenna. The A/A Grand Prix Freestyle was won by Tina Lovazzano on Dancing Kings Farm impressive PRE ANCCE stallion, Arcoiris AG. CDS Lower-Level Freestyle winners included Fourth Level - Anne Warner on Zara (69.675%); Third Level - Christian Hartung on Velantis N (76.313); and First Level – Bea Freels on Figgy Pudding (67.833%). Christian also won the CDS overall Lower-Level Freestyle Championship.
The CDS Dressage Seat Equitation Challenge took the afternoon spot. Dominique Scarpete rode Evans Pretty Baby to a 77.000% in the 13 & Under, while Emma Schneider wowed in the 14-17 with an 85.000% on Oscar, and Nathaniel Madathil took home the blue ribbon in the 18-21on Windsor (77.000%). Fifteen riders contested the CDS AA Equitation Challenge with Lynn McGourty riding Protégé AK taking the top spot with a 87.000%.
