Ali Ramsay and Lutz Soar to First Place Title in $100,000 Horseflight Grand Prix
For Immediate Release:
Photo © ESI Photography
THERMAL, Calif.-January 20, 2020- Ali Ramsay (Victoria, BC) and Lutz flew to the top of the leaderboard in the $100,000 Horseflight Grand Prix at The Desert International Horse Park, halting the jump-off timers at 36.649 seconds. Keri Potter (Del Mar, CA) and Jiminy Cricket, owned by Melanie Brooks, took second place for their performance of 37.353 seconds, while Rich Fellers (Oregon City, OR) and his own Lux Lady, claimed third-place honors with a time of 37.507 seconds.
First to go in the jump-off, Keri Potter set a difficult Aon Time to Beat. Ramsay, who was second to last in the jump-off, had a plan, “ I just knew I had to go for it and I knew he was with me so I could take a bit of a risk and it paid off.”
Photo © ESI Photography
Lutz has been a part of Ramsay’s string of horses since last April. “We’ve actually had a really solid partnership together since then and we have just been building on it,” Ramsay also shared that Lutz does have a personality of his own, “He is quite sassy and he’s got a lot of attitude, especially at the beginning of the tour here [Desert International Horse Park]. He’s nice and fresh and is letting me know it.”
Ramsay shared she plans to stay for the duration of the circuit and is enjoying the improvements around the facility, “It’s really exciting to see the new horse park, it feels different, and it’s really nice to be here.“
This Grand Prix win will put Lutz at the top of the Great American Insurance Group Leading Jumper Rider Board and in standings to qualify for the Week VIII Grand Prix Invitational that Ramsay aspires to qualify for, “That’s the goal!”
Week I Jumper Champion Spotlight
$10,000 Open Classic 1.35m Open Classic, sponsored by Stal Hendrix
Emily Esau Williams & Dandy
$2,500 JR/A-O/AM Jumper Classic, sponsored by Vitaflex
Hannah Loly & Ayma de la Demi Lune
$1,000 JR/AMA-O Jumper Classic, sponsored by Desert Flight
Masissa Maas & Lord Loriend
1.30m Jumper Division, sponsored by ALU Jumps
Kyle King & Gavanta
1.10m Jumper Division, sponsored by Equestrian Connect
Stephany Powers & Chicago
Week I Hunter Champion Spotlight
$1,000 Junior Hunter Classic, sponsored by Parlanti
Juliette Joseph & Philadelphia Story
$500 NAL Adult Hunter Classic, sponsored by Outdoor Outfitters
Cathy Morris-Schmitt & Andover
A-O Hunter 3’6” Division, sponsored by Aleron Training Stables
Didi Mackenzie & MTM Do Right
Green Hunter 3’3”, sponsored by Equithrive
John Bragg & Macarthur
Adult Amateur Hunter 36-50, sponsored by Run Amok Horse Transportation
Katie Cook & Doheny
About the Desert International Horse Park
With about 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering 10 weeks of world-class competition, eight during the Desert Circuit from January – March and two during the Sunshine Series in November, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.
.