Thermal, Calif. – Brazil’s Cassio Rivetti cashed out a winner in the $117,000 Spotlight 29 Casino CSI3* Grand Prix held on Saturday afternoon, February 21, at Desert International Horse Park. He and AGS Casallida topped a 32-horse field to take victory in the Desert Circuit 7 featured class, held on DIHP’s Grass Field.
Rivetti and the 10-year-old Holsteiner mare, owned by HF Farms LLC, were one of eight entries to navigate the first-round, Alan Wade-designed course without fault before taking a gamble on the jump-off.
The USA’s Kaitlin Campbell and Cosm Castlefield Cornelious were the third to return to the grass for the short course and the first to produce a double clear effort, setting the time to beat at 45.22 seconds. Shortly after, Rivetti and AGS Casallida followed that up with another clear effort, this time taking over the top spot in 43.08 seconds.
With jump-off rails falling for five out of the eight returners, Ali Ramsay and Conrado 12, owned by Ramsay Equestrian Inc., were the only other pair to produce a double clear, and they took home second place with a time of 44.65 seconds. Campbell and Cosm Castlefield Cornelious ultimately finished in third place.
“The first round for [AGS Casallida] was very technical,” said Rivetti. “The time was tight, so I had to rush a little bit in the beginning, but she was jumping amazing. In the end, it was very comfortable for me to ride. In the jump-off, I was kind of in the middle of the jump-off. The one before me was very fast, so my plan, because she has a big stride, was to get one less in the outside line. She did it very easily, and then in the end it was just managing her and letting her do her job.”
AGS Casallida was purchased a little over a year ago by HF Farms LLC for Laura Hite to ride, and Rivetti just began also competing the mare this winter. Prior to that, the mare was produced in Europe by one of Rivetti’s good friends, Arthur Gustavo da Silva.
“She jumped [on grass already] in CSI4* grand prix when she was 8 years old in Europe,” explained Rivetti. “[Arthur Gustavo da Silva] was producing her from 4 years old until 8. Then, we bought her from him, so he did a great job!
“This week she is jumping clear rounds and making my life very easy!” concluded Rivetti.
For complete results from the $117,000 Spotlight 29 Casino CSI3* Grand Prix, click here.