Thermal, Calif. – Heading into Desert Circuit 3, Mariano Alario and Cassamoon already led the way in the 2025-2026 Speed League standings at Desert International Horse Park, and on Wednesday, January 21, they only furthered that lead with a win in the $10,000 Cherokee Show Horses 1.35m Welcome Speed.
Mariano Alario and Cassamoon. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Alario and Cassamoon had previously earned two Welcome Speed wins at National Sunshine Series, and this time, they made it a third by a margin of more than two seconds. They stopped the clock in 55.408 seconds to take the top honor in the 53-horse class.
Second place went to Karrie Rufer who rode Morning Star Sporthorses LLC’s Mr. Europe to a time of 56.415 seconds, and Jeffrey Fields finished in third with a time of 57.268 seconds aboard Ortolaan van het Ruytinxbos, owned by Sahana Ganesan.
“I walked the course, and I thought it was a good track for her,” said Alario. “She’s a very fast horse. It’s very easy for her to leave a stride out. When I win classes, I always can do one less stride than the rest of the people because her stride is big and she moves off the ground very fast!”
Mariano Alario and Cassamoon. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Alario and the 16-year-old Holsteiner mare, owned by Everhart LLC, have had quite the string of successes over the past year – but those successes were not without previous tribulations.
After Cassamoon experienced both colic surgery and a hock injury, Alario was ready to breed the mare and set her competitive career aside. However, Cassamoon’s owner, Chelsea Cain, encouraged Alario to give it one more try in the show ring.
“I have to thank very much, Chelsea Cain because she asked me for another chance,” explained Alario. “She said, ‘One more time, Mariano!’ I tried one more time, and it’s great! The heart of that mare is unbelievable. I never had a horse like that.”
To view full results from the $10,000 Cherokee Show Horses 1.35m Welcome Speed, click here.
With 10 weeks of top-caliber competition, Desert Circuit at Desert International Horse Park continues through March 15, 2026. To learn more, visit deserthorsepark.com.