Hutchison and SIG Excel Take the Blue in the CashCall Mortgage Futurity

Del Mar, CA - May 10, 2014 - Another Saturday of show jumping with a storybook ending for California native and grand prix veteran Susan Hutchison. To begin, the decorated rider and her mount SIG Excel added another notch to their extensive victory belt by winning the $7,500 CashCall Mortgage Futurity. Then Hutchison set her eyes on the big jumps and the big prize, and once again led the victory gallop aboard St. Bride's Farm's Ziedento in the $60,000 Grand Prix of California, presented by Equ Lifestyle.

Susan Hutchison and Ziedento

Hutchison's victory was well earned, as she topped a field of forty-five entries, many with international success, over a difficult track. She and Ziedento were one of four to master Oscar Soberón's course.

"The level of horses and riders here this week is very good, so they are getting a course that reflects that," explained Soberón. "We have more scope questions today. It isn't as technical as Thursday's class but it is bigger and wider. The jumps will come up more quickly; they won't have much time to breathe."

Aptly stated, the time allowed was a factor for almost half of the class, including those placing fifth through eighth whose only faults were not rails down but on the clock.

Twenty-third in the order, John Pearce and Forest View Farms' Chianto, were the first to jump the course clean. Only three more entrants followed suit, Vinton Karrasch on Coral Reef Baloufino, Hutchison on Ziedento and Richard Spooner aboard Chivas Z (SN Partners, owners).

Pearce set the pace in the jump-off, going double clean in 38.44. Hutchison, with a winning time of 38.28, chose to leave out a stride in one line, which was the deciding factor in the win. Both Karrasch and Spooner had one rail down, finishing fourth and third overall.

After the class, Hutchison spoke highly of both the course design and her mount Ziedento. "I thought the course was big but it rode really well. I don't think I've had him as a course designer before but he's done a phenomenal job all week. He's had the right numbers in the jump-off, nobody getting in big trouble, the horses just improve class after class after class, which to me is the sign of a really good course designer," she commented.

That said, even a veteran like Hutchison was a bit hesitant before she attempted the track. "Not knowing the course designer, I was a little skeptical. I was thinking about those tall skinny jumps and feeling uncertain. The course was big..." However, as any mentally prepared rider would, Hutchison considered the talent she had underneath her, not to mention her own solid skills. "Joe Fargis has had a lot to do with this horse as well. So I remembered that Joe said this horse can jump as big a jump as they can make, so I told myself it should be just a cakewalk."

In a recent interview with Kenny Kraus of Phelps Sports, Hutchison admitted she didn't know the number of grand prix classes she had won, but that Kraus had counted 78 to date.

Humble and grateful, Hutchison said, "So this would be win number 79. Really, Ramiro, Joe Fargis and St. Bride's Farm have made him the horse that he is. I jump into the combinations and they feel like little gymnastics, they've really done their homework with him and I'm lucky to have him."

Susan Hutchison and Ziedento with Lauren Davis of EquiFit, inc., Annie Tame and Monica Ward from Equ Lifestyle, Robert Ridland and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports

SIG Excel and Susan Hutchison are Par Excellence in the $7,500 CashCall Mortgage Futurity

Hutchison and SIG Excel are quite a pair. Once again they took the top prize for SIG International, this time in the $7,500 CashCall Mortgage Futurity. The mare continues to win whenever she steps into the show ring.

Susan Hutchison and SIG Excel with the DeLong family and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports

In a class of thirty-one, sixteen were clean. Of the ten who jumped double clear, it was Hutchison and SIG Excel who edged out Eric Navet on Farrari, followed closely by Michelle Parker riding Cupilor.

Photos courtesy of Captured Moment Photography

Excerpts reprinted from Blenheim Equisports press release dated May 10, 2014

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Blenheim EquiSports, an equestrian event management company based in San Juan Capistrano, CA, produces over thirty events per year in three locations: San Juan Capistrano, Del Mar and Las Vegas, NV. The events include 18 USEF "A" or "AA" rated hunter-jumper shows featuring several World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix events, USHJA International Hunter Derbies, Pony Finals, Medal Finals and more.