Temecula, California, USA – May 23, 2019 – Day two of the Temecula Valley National Horse Show, now in the third week of riding for the series, continued Thursday with two exciting prize money classes at the end of the day. A talent-heavy field of horse-and-rider partnerships came out to compete in the $20,000 Oakmont Ranch 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby, the highlight class of the day in the Audi Grand Prix Arena, presented by Evergate Stables, during which Will Simpson (USA) piloted to the top of the scoreboard.

Attracting some of the most seasoned exhibitors on the showgrounds, the $20,000 Oakmont Ranch 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby featured the quick footspeed of competitors hungry for a stake in the largest prize money class of the week thus far. Course designer Anderson Lima (BRA) offered a 14-effort pattern for the one-round class, which only saw four teams complete without any penalties.

The ninth in the order, Carly Anthony (USA) and Genesis proved their prowess as the first combination to leave all the fences intact, turning in a conservative ride in 72.029 seconds to emerge as the early frontrunners. Following Anthony’s lead in the latter half of the pack with another careful performance, Chenoa Mcelvain (USA) jockeyed Wallstreet RC, owned by Guy Mcelvain, to a fault-free effort in 73.865 seconds to sit in second position with only a few challengers left to tackle the track.

Craig Starr (USA) & Deluxento

As the third-to-last to ride, it appeared that Anthony may hang on to the title spot, but Craig Starr (USA) in the irons aboard Deluxento, the horse he co-owns with Mandy Porter, ensured that the lead changed hands with their textbook trip in 70.307 seconds, crossing the timers almost two seconds ahead of the pace to usurp the longstanding leaders.

Not to be outdone and saving the best for last, Will Simpson (USA) once again demonstrated why he is consistently a champion in Temecula, displaying yet another blazing fast round to capture the victory in the $20,000 Oakmont Ranch 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby with a successful ride in 67.404 seconds aboard Chicharito, the second win in as many days for the horse. Starr would end up second, while Anthony took the third place ribbon.

Will Simpson (USA) & Chicharito during the awards ceremony

Will Simpson – $20,000 Oakmont Ranch 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby winner

On Chicharito’s recent success:
“Chicharito, I’ve been trying to get him fit and even after tonight he played a little bit so his fitness is coming. I’m very happy with that. Coming in, the class was a little bit late at night and the sun was in my eyes for the first two horses and we had some shadows. Then the sun went down a little bit so I thought it would be a nice, cool ride. I’m just learning this new horse and I’m really impressed with his fight and his rideability. Really impressed with him right off the bat here.”

On Anderson Lima’s course:
“So far Anderson has been a little tougher on us with the colors, like the black and white striped rails going right into the sun. I don’t know where he found that little piece of balsa wood for the plank, but it must weigh about ten ounces. It was super small and super thin, then there’s a lot of white standards and the white tent. I think a lot of horses didn’t even see that plank and had it down.”

Craig Starr – $20,000 Oakmont Ranch 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby second place

On his ride:
“What I wanted to do was be fast without being in a hurry. I wanted to be efficient and on the forward step, never gassing it. With that horse if you gas it and go for it, you’re going to have trouble down the road. You just have to have rhythm and have everything come up from that, flow through the turns and let him back up at the jumps and just ride your course. I had the luxury of going late, and a lot of people had problems with the plank and the last double. I was able to change my plan just a little bit to make sure I left that plank up and I actually did an extra stride from what some of the people did to the double, just to make sure I curled around the vertical nicely.”

On Deluxento:
“He’s 11 years old, by Cardento. I started riding him a little over a year and a half ago, and Mandy Porter and I own him. He’s been to a few other addresses, and to be fair he had so much horsepower and jumped so high as a young horse, I think he ended up doing bigger classes than he was ready for with other riders, so when we got him he was pretty fragile and a little nervous about everything. I’ve just been slowly bringing him along and he’s just better and better. I think he’s really turning a corner. He loves this place, the footing and the ambiance, and I think that really helps. If he’s happy, he can jump anything. He’s actually not a speed horse, he’s a little bit slow across the ground with a high jump that takes some time so I wouldn’t say the speed classes are his forte, but the things he does have going for him are his scope and his big stride. I can be really efficient and trust him over the higher jumps without so much foot speed.”

Results – $20,000 Oakmont Ranch 1.40m – 1.45m Speed Derby

Place / Rider / Horse /  Faults / Time

1. Will Simpson (USA) & Chicharito – 0 / 67.404

2. Craig Starr (USA) & Deluxento – 0 / 70.307

3. Carly Anthony (USA) & Genisi – 0 / 72.029

4. Chenoa McElvain (USA) & Wallstreet RC – 0 / 73.865

5. John Pearce (CAN) & Firestone S – 4 / 73.865

6. Tiffany Sullivan (USA) & The Gladiator – 4 / 67.430

7. Lindsey Archer (USA) & Eta Beta Di San Patrignano – 4 / 69.299

8. Harley Brown (AUS) & Valiant – 4 / 70.487

9. Trudi Fletcher (USA) & Gee Whiz – 4 / 72.492

10. Will Simpson (USA) & Chacco P – 8 / 64.870

11. Mandy Porter (USA) & WT Ca Pow – 8 / 66.917

12. Will Simpson (USA) & Whoop De Doo – 8 / 66.989

Source: Press release from Riley Ingram / Phelps Media Group for Nilforushan EquiSports

Photos: © Phelps Sports / Riley Ingram