Michelle Parker Gets the Blue in $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix

Thermal, Calif. – Less than two-tenths of a second separated the top three in the $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix, but at the end of the night on Friday, March 27, it was Michelle Parker and Vivalunaika Blue who rode away with the final grand prix victory of the 2025-2026 Desert International Horse Park season.

Course designer Steffen Bühling set a challenging track for the Desert Spring Fling 2 featured class, with five out of 45 entries ultimately producing clear rounds to advance to the jump-off. From there, speed was the name of the game.

Kyle King and his highly accomplished mount, Kayenne Z, were the first to return for the short course, and they threw down the gauntlet with a time of 38.413 seconds. Two trips later, Camilo Rueda and Indus van het Keysereyck looked like they may overtake King’s time, but they crossed the final oxer just 0.042 seconds off the leading mark with a time of 38.455 seconds.

Parker and her veteran partner, Vivalunaika Blue, were the final pair to jump, and they cruised over the final U.S. Equestrian fence in 38.304 seconds to narrowly clinch the win. King and Kayenne Z held on to second place, and Rueda and Indus van het Keysereyck rounded out the top three. Finishing in fourth with a double-clear jump-off effort were Mariano Maggi and Quantico 23, and Ian McFarlane and Madagaskar took home fifth place with just one fence down over the short course.

“We took probably two or three more steps than Kyle and still managed to catch him so that was unexpected!” said Parker. “When I finished, I was super happy; I felt really fast, but I didn’t think I had it honestly.”

Parker continued, “[Vivalunaika Blue] really goes quick over the jumps. So, fortunately, I guess we were able to make up the difference because she’s more of a skimmer. [Kayenne Z] has all that scope and jump, and Vivalunaika Blue’s a little quicker in the air.”

Parker has had the ride on the 12-year-old Oldenburg mare, owned by Cross Creek Farms, Inc., for the past three years, and in that time, Vivalunaika Blue has repeatedly proven to be a top grand prix contender for Parker.

“I got her on a strange horse deal, a trade right after I had broken my leg,” explained Parker. “If I’d gone out shopping for a horse for myself, I wouldn’t have chosen her, but she has actually been one of my most consistent horses that I’ve had, so it worked out for the best!”

To view complete results from the $75,000 Platinum Performance Grand Prix, click here.

Sunday, March 29, marks the conclusion of competition at Desert International Horse Park for the 2025-2026 season, with the 2026-2027 season returning in October 2026. To learn more, visit deserthorsepark.com.