Thermal, Calif. – Following 16 weeks of top-notch “derby Fridays,” the final hunter derby win of the 2025-2026 Desert International Horse Park season went to Lise Quintero and Songbird on March 27, at Desert Spring Fling 2.
Quintero and the 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding topped a field of 27 entries to take home victory in the $10,000 Valencia Sport Saddlery USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open.
Lise Quintero and Songbird. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Maja Lindemann designed the course for the two-phase class in the Main Hunter Ring, and Quintero took advantage of the track’s various options and inside turns to really show off Songbird’s strengths. The pair’s scores reflected that, with a 90 and 88 giving them a 178 winning total.
“It was a fluid course,” said Quintero. “It showed lengthening of stride; it showed options, which is nice. I like when the winner can do a little pizazz or show a little spark.”
Lise Quintero and Songbird. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Second place with an overall score of 175 (89+86) went to Paige Dendiu and Vatikan, owned by Karin Binz. Cassie Frost and Casino, owned by Summit Farm, rounded out the top three on a score of 174.75 (88+86.75).
“[Songbird] was super, so it was a lot of fun,” said Quintero, who just began riding the gelding for owner Rose Hill Farm LA earlier this DIHP season. “The first couple of weeks, it was a little bit of figuring him out in the smaller rings, and then I was like, ‘Let’s keep going!’”
Lise Quintero and Songbird. Photo by High Desert Sport Photo
Quintero and Songbird did indeed keep going, advancing to the derby ring and now having successfully contested two USHJA national hunter derby classes.
“[Songbird] is very shy of other horses, but as a competitor, he concentrates,” said Quintero. “He’s always learning. He’s very confident to me; his jump is confident.”
In addition to Songbird, Quintero has taken on the ride on a number of horses for Rose Hill Farm LA and trainers Shari Rose and Rainie Rose, and while their current working relationship is relatively new, it is not the first time that Quintero has ridden with Shari Rose.
“[Shari Rose] is my childhood trainer from when I was 8 years old!” said Quintero. “I rode with [Shari] for I think almost five years as a kid…It’s fun that it is all one big family, and Songbird is a family horse. He’s trained by the grandmother, [Shari Rose], and he’s also ridden by the granddaughter, [Bailey Rose].”
For complete results from the $10,000 Valencia Sport Saddlery USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, click here, and to learn more about all competition at Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.