LAS VEGAS – The first major win of the 2025 Marshall+Sterling/USHJA National Championships is going home to the East Coast with John French. On Tuesday, November 11, at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, French rode Valentino BF to victory in the $25,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open—marking French’s first return to the championships since 2018.
Judges Jessica Lohman, Alan Lohman and Irving Evans saw a field of 37 competitors take to Skip Bailey’s two-part course in the championship’s second year utilizing the Hunt and Go format. French piloted the 5-year-old Oldenburg stallion, owned and bred by Branscomb Farms, LLC, to an 89.5 in the classic phase, followed by a 90.5 in the handy phase, to rise to the top of the leaderboard with a total score of 180.
“The course tonight was a little twisty-turny, and you had to go through a lot of jumps,” said French. “There was only one lead change, I think, that I had to do. He landed on all his leads, and he didn’t seem to be bothered at all about making those turns. I didn’t go crazy tight. I just wanted to make it smooth because he is a baby. I think the judges rewarded that because he jumped so well and had a great round.”
Despite having only ridden Valentino BF once before, French was willing to bet that the young stallion would rise to the atmosphere of South Point Arena. In true Vegas style, French’s gamble paid off.
“This is the most chill 5-year-old,” French said. “When I was first told to come and see if I could ride this horse, I thought, ‘5-year-old? And then go in the Derby?’ I wasn’t sure, but I know KC [Branscomb] well. I don’t think she would steer me wrong, so I rode him for the first time yesterday, and he felt good. I thought, ‘You know, he might be able to do this!’ It turned out great.”
For their win, the pair also earned the Leading Professional National Hunter Derby Rider honor. This will not be the last spectators will see of the pair this week in Vegas— French will have the chance to further develop his partnership with Valentino BF, as they continue to compete in the 3’3” Green Hunters.
“I thought this would be fun to come to this horse show, to come to Vegas,” said French. “It’s a great show…I think a lot more East Coast people should come out here and try this. I think they’d have a great time.”
Karli Postel, of Westlake Village, Calif., and Azucar, owned by Erin Boatwright, followed close behind French, taking reserve with a 179.25. Sarah Moberg, of Menlo Park, Calif., and Cowtown Barn, LLC’s Caramba rounded out the top three on a 179. Complete results from the $25,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open are available here.
The week continues with $132,000 in rated hunter prize money, featuring championships across 20 sections and another USHJA National Hunter Derby for junior and amateur riders. The USEF/USHJA National Jumper Championships will showcase 10 sections ranging from 1.00m to a new 1.40m height, offering $168,000 in prize money to junior, amateur and open competitors.
Live streaming coverage of all 2025 Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championship classes is available on USEF Network, and complete results and schedules are available on ShowGroundsLive.
For more information about the Marshall+Sterling Insurance/USHJA National Championships, visit ushja.org/NationalChampionships, and to learn more about all competitions hosted by Desert International Horse Park, visit deserthorsepark.com.