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Mexican Riders Dominate $60,000 Grand Prix of Denver

July 25, 2004

Parker, Colorado --- Despite unseasonable cold rain and low temperatures, a large crowd gathered to watch twenty-three horses and riders vie for the $60,000 Grand Prix of Denver, an American Grand Prix Association event the afternoon of July 24. This was the final grand prix of the four week Colorado Summer Circuit and competition was fierce. Bjorn Ikast was well positioned to be the first rider to take home the $25,000 rider bonus. He won the previous two grands prix on I.Z.’s Lifetime and Monte Carlo respectively.

When Ikast piloted I.Z.’s Lifetime to a clear round, his chances at the rider bonus increased dramatically. However, a total of six horses went clean over Guilherme Jorge’s course. “I didn’t build as big and difficult a course as the past years because we had young riders and young horses, and combined with the weather conditions. Still it was a course worth the offer of $60,000. The footing looked worse than it rode. The horses went confident. In the jump off they could go fast with no problems,” explained Jorge. And fast they went.

The first three had jumping faults, but they showed you could go fast. Ikast returned and rode a cautious round. Although he was clean, he almost had time faults and he left the door open for the two remaining riders. Antonio Maurer followed on Odamildo. “Bjorn went really slow so I knew I could go a little faster, and I knew John was behind me.” Much to the delight of the crowd, Maurer left all the rails up and shaved two seconds off Ikast’s time. Once again the rider bonus, much like the Triple Crown, will have to wait another year.

Maurer’s lead was short lived as John Perez, riding last in the jump off order, had nothing to lose. He sped around the course on Comanche and took another three seconds off the leading time. “I didn’t see Antonio or really any of the others. I didn’t really watch,” said Perez. “I just played my game. Going to the last fence I thought I could make one more stride, but then I knew I would probably lose.” He kept on galloping to the big triple bar and Comanche left room to spare. The crowd erupted and Perez posted his first ever grand prix win. “This is my second time in Colorado,” said Perez after his victory. “The people are really nice and friendly. It is a great place here.” He wasn’t too put off by the rain. “I spoke with Guilherme and said the footing is perfect. The last few days we’ve had lots of rain and lots of beer,” laughed Perez.

Ikast’s third place finish clinched the Colorado Summer Circuit Leading Jumper Rider Award. “I like coming to Colorado,” said Ikast. “It feel like home because everyone is friendly and the facility is tip-top. This is my eighth year coming here.” The riders from Mexico enjoy coming to Colorado as part of their summer tour. “Our shows stop in the summer,” explained Maurer. “We organize a tour to come here. There is good prize money and the people are so nice.”

Hunters got their share of the limelight in the $25,000 Working Hunter Classic and Peter Pletcher and Ocean Park continued their dominance. The eight year old gelding made a clean sweep in the Second Year Green and the Circuit Championship, as well as an undefeated string of wins in the Amateur Owner Hunters 36 and Over with Lynn Walsh. With scores in the 90's throughout, Ocean Park led the victory gallop. Pletcher rode Joy Johnson’s Fuelin to second. “This circuit has been great,” said Pletcher. “The weather has been nice, a bit cool,” he said wryly in reference to the rain, “but it beats the heat of Texas. The footing has stayed good.” 

The 12th Annual Colorado Summer Circuit concluded with circuit champions: 
      
Amateur Owner Jumpers   Ch    Acordian      Krista Blew, owner
                        Res   Cosmopolitan  Caroline Dayton, owner

Junior Jumpers          Ch    Happy Hour    Kathryn Garvie, owner
                        Res   Zenith        Christy Somerville, owner
  
1st Year Green Hunters  Ch    Niklas        Kim Dixon, owner
                        Res   Bling Bling   Heather Christie, owner
 
2nd Year Green Hunters  Ch    Ocean Park    Lynn Walsh, owner
                        Res   Illusion      Chris Guthrie, owner
 
Regular Working Hunters Ch    Rivoli        Alex Dillard, owner
                        Res   Calvin K      George Dixon, owner
 
Pony Equitation         Ch    Lindsey Sceats 
                        Res   Hillary Wolff

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