Over Manuel Esparza’s (MEX) first-round course, 46 entries tried their hand but only eight navigated to clear rounds within the time allowed. Among those eight were top athletes at the international level including 2019 Pan-American Games team bronze medalist Alex Granato (USA) and U.S. Olympian Margie Engle.

Age proved to just be a number for Rizvi, who shaved nearly two seconds off the leading time as she came in aboard the Peacock Ridge, LLC-owned Excellent. She and the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Ahorn) saved precious seconds on the clock by leaving out strides and cutting tightly between fences.

Setting the pace prior to Rizvi and ultimately taking second place was David Oberkircher (USA) and Vulkato, owned by Southfields Farm LLC, in 37.05 seconds. Just behind in third by two one-hundredths of a second in 37.07 was Granato and Helios vd Nosahoeve, owned by Kisma Equestrian, LLC


Final Results: $37,000 North Face Farm CSI2* Welcome Stake

1 EXCELLENT: 2009 KWPN gelding by Cicero Z Van Paemel x Ahorn

ZAYNA RIZVI (USA), Peacock Ridge LLC: 0/0/35.15

2 VULKATO: 2011 BRAND stallion by Vulkano x Charismo

DAVID OBERKIRCHER (USA), Southfields Farm LLC: 0/0/37.05

3 HELIOS VD NOSAHOEVE: 2012 KWPN stallion by Numero Uno x London

ALEX GRANATO (USA), Kisma Equestrian, LLC: 0/0/37.07

4 FRASIER: 2010 KWPN gelding by Carambole x Padinus

SAMANTHA SCHAEFER (USA), Bonne Vie LLC: 0/0/37.44

5 SONIC BOOM: 2012 SWB gelding by Seacoast Wonderful 

HAILEY ROYCE (USA), Double Clear LLC: 0/0/37.70

6 MORRIS HORTA: 2012 BWP stallion by Eldorado VD Zeshoek x Vigo D Arsouilles STX

MARTIEN VAN DER HOEVEN (USA), Luccirelli International, LLC: 0/0/38.50

7 ASTON DES ETISSES: 2010 SF gelding by Mylord Carthago x Quidam De Revel

MARGIE ENGLE (USA): Gladewinds Partners, LLC: 0/0/38.40

8 CLIFF Z: 2008 ZANG gelding by Canturano x Quasimodo Z

MATTHEW BODDY (GBR), Gotham Enterprizes, LLC: 0/4/36.02

9 MAESTRO VAN HET BINNENVELD: 2012 BWP stallion by Hunter’s Scendix x Conan Z

WESLEY NEWLANDS (CAN), Weslands Farm: 1/76.10

10 SEMPA FIDELIS: 2009 HANN mare by Stakkato Gold x Concetto Famos

GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes, LLC: 4/71.22

11 CHADINA: 2009 OLDBG mare by Conthargos x Narew

MCKAYLA LANGMEIER (USA), Rafferty Farm LLC: 4/72.28

12 CONTHARGOS: 2011 OS stallion by Conthargos x Quidam’s Rubin

NICK DELLO JOIO (USA), The Berry Group: 4/72.28