Olivia Chowdry (USA) chased down the victory Thursday afternoon to kick off the fourth week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, in the $37,000 CSI3* Speed Classic aboard her longtime partner Chuck Berry 8, owned by Atlas Equine Holdings, LLC.
From a field of 46 international entries, Chowdry, of Denver, CO, came in just before the midway point to test the speed track built by Marina Azevedo (BRA). First to go, Columbia’s Mark Bluman and his first of three rides, Noortje VD Windheuvel, owned by Over The Top Stables LLC, captured the first clear-round time of 64.05 seconds, and it took until Chowdry, 19th in the order, before his lead was disrupted. Chowdry sped to a time of 61.40 seconds, which would hold until the class closed. The only pair close to catching her was Cathleen Driscoll (USA) with her on-form mount Magnolia in a time of 62.94 seconds. Their effort placed them second while Bluman settled for third.
“Today I went with what my horse's strengths are,” Chowdry said of her strategy. “There were a lot of tight left turns and he likes to go left so that was definitely to my advantage. His scope and his speed are his best qualities. He was perfect. He loves to run, that’s the best thing for him. He’s a hot horse.”
“It started pretty rocky,” Chowdry said of the 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Chacco Blue x Watzmann). “He’s a quirky horse but his characteristics are what make him the best. He really taught me everything I know to this point in my career. He continues to teach me; Everyday I'm learning something new with him. He gives me 100% every time but the speed classes are definitely where he shines.”
FINAL RESULTS
1. CHUCK BERRY 8: 2007 HANN gelding by Chacco Blue x Watzmann
OLIVIA CHOWDRY (USA), Atlas Equine Holdings LLC: 0/61.40
2. MAGNOLIA: 2012 KWPN mare by Mylord Carthago x Van Gogh
CATHLEEN DRISCOLL (USA), Plain Bay Sales: 0/62.94
3. NOORTJE VD WINDHEUVEL: 2013 BWP mare by Farfelu De Muze x Kannan
MARK BLUMAN (COL), Over The Top Stables LLC: 0/64.05
4. SEMPA FIDELIS: 2009 HANN mare by Stakkato Gold x Concetto Famos
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/64.95
5. COCOLINA: 2011 OS mare by Conthargos x Papillon Rouge
NATALIE DEAN (USA), Marigold Sporthorses LLC: 65.51
6. CASALL: 2005 HOLST gelding by Casall x Capitol I
ALI WOLFF (USA), Blacklick Bend Farm: 0/65.99
7. CENTANA: 2011 OS mare by Centadel x Contender
ELENA HAAS (USA), Elena Haas: 0/67.58
8. KIRSCHWASSER SCF: 2010 BWP gelding by Amaretto D’Arco x Nabab De Reve
FREDDIE VAZQUEZ (PUR), Freddie Vazquez: 0/68.54
9. GAZELLE ES: 2011 KWPN mare by Diarado x Ukato
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Windsor Show Stables: 0/68.80
10. CLIFF Z: 2008 ZANG gelding by Canturano x Quasimodo Z
MATTHEW BODDY (GBR), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/68.95
11. FOREVER ALVE: 2010 KWPN mare by Numero Uno x Berlin
EMMA CATHERINE REICHOW, Emma Catherine Reichow: 0/68.99
12. CARISSIMO 25: 2013 HOLST gelding by Cascadello x Clinton
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 0/69.54
From a field of 46 international entries, Chowdry, of Denver, CO, came in just before the midway point to test the speed track built by Marina Azevedo (BRA). First to go, Columbia’s Mark Bluman and his first of three rides, Noortje VD Windheuvel, owned by Over The Top Stables LLC, captured the first clear-round time of 64.05 seconds, and it took until Chowdry, 19th in the order, before his lead was disrupted. Chowdry sped to a time of 61.40 seconds, which would hold until the class closed. The only pair close to catching her was Cathleen Driscoll (USA) with her on-form mount Magnolia in a time of 62.94 seconds. Their effort placed them second while Bluman settled for third.
“Today I went with what my horse's strengths are,” Chowdry said of her strategy. “There were a lot of tight left turns and he likes to go left so that was definitely to my advantage. His scope and his speed are his best qualities. He was perfect. He loves to run, that’s the best thing for him. He’s a hot horse.”
“It started pretty rocky,” Chowdry said of the 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Chacco Blue x Watzmann). “He’s a quirky horse but his characteristics are what make him the best. He really taught me everything I know to this point in my career. He continues to teach me; Everyday I'm learning something new with him. He gives me 100% every time but the speed classes are definitely where he shines.”
FINAL RESULTS
1. CHUCK BERRY 8: 2007 HANN gelding by Chacco Blue x Watzmann
OLIVIA CHOWDRY (USA), Atlas Equine Holdings LLC: 0/61.40
2. MAGNOLIA: 2012 KWPN mare by Mylord Carthago x Van Gogh
CATHLEEN DRISCOLL (USA), Plain Bay Sales: 0/62.94
3. NOORTJE VD WINDHEUVEL: 2013 BWP mare by Farfelu De Muze x Kannan
MARK BLUMAN (COL), Over The Top Stables LLC: 0/64.05
4. SEMPA FIDELIS: 2009 HANN mare by Stakkato Gold x Concetto Famos
GEORGINA BLOOMBERG (USA), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/64.95
5. COCOLINA: 2011 OS mare by Conthargos x Papillon Rouge
NATALIE DEAN (USA), Marigold Sporthorses LLC: 65.51
6. CASALL: 2005 HOLST gelding by Casall x Capitol I
ALI WOLFF (USA), Blacklick Bend Farm: 0/65.99
7. CENTANA: 2011 OS mare by Centadel x Contender
ELENA HAAS (USA), Elena Haas: 0/67.58
8. KIRSCHWASSER SCF: 2010 BWP gelding by Amaretto D’Arco x Nabab De Reve
FREDDIE VAZQUEZ (PUR), Freddie Vazquez: 0/68.54
9. GAZELLE ES: 2011 KWPN mare by Diarado x Ukato
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Windsor Show Stables: 0/68.80
10. CLIFF Z: 2008 ZANG gelding by Canturano x Quasimodo Z
MATTHEW BODDY (GBR), Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0/68.95
11. FOREVER ALVE: 2010 KWPN mare by Numero Uno x Berlin
EMMA CATHERINE REICHOW, Emma Catherine Reichow: 0/68.99
12. CARISSIMO 25: 2013 HOLST gelding by Cascadello x Clinton
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 0/69.54