Thermal, Calif. – Karl Cook and Home-Run hit the ball out of the park on Saturday, January 31, to take home the win in the $63,000 Visit Greater Palm Springs CSI2* Grand Prix at Desert International Horse Park.
The duo was one of seven combinations from the 30-horse starting field to advance to jump-off over the course designed by Alan Wade and Colm Quinn, and with a leave out down the final line, they crossed the timers just fast enough to clinch the win in 35.58 seconds.
“I was hoping to get seven [strides] down the last because I saw everyone do eight, and it just wasn’t that long,” explained Cook (USA). “I knew if I could get the second to last right, then the seven was there with our stride. That was more or less our best shot. Although we were turning tighter than I expected, she’s still a bit slow in those turns and the way she jumps, so it had to be in the straight lines. That’s why we pushed it for the seven down the last.”
Taking home a very close second place on 35.72 seconds were the Netherlands’ Mathijs van Asten and Orlando van de Afspanning, owned by Vani Khosla. Third place went to Canada’s Tiffany Foster who rode Steadfast to a time of 37.91 seconds for owner Artisan Farms LLC.
“She’s very small; she’s like 16 [hands],” said Cook of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Signe Ostby. “I’m not exactly a small rider, so that’s a bit of a challenge. She has a huge stride, and she has a lot of scope, so it’s just making sure that you don’t get down the lines too quickly. Honestly that was probably one of our first times trying to go fast so we were figuring it out as we went.”
While Cook has had Home-Run for more than two years, he and the mare have not yet seen extensive time together in the show ring.
“Two years in a row, flying back from Florida, she’s gotten the same injury on two different legs,” said Cook. “Each time, it’s taken months to bring her back. That’s happened twice now. Hopefully this third time around is a better one. She’s going to stay in Thermal this time!”
For all results from the $63,000 Visit Greater Palm Springs CSI2* Grand Prix, 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.