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Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W Conquer $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake

Kaitlin Campbell and Rocky W.

Every rider hopes to have that special horse that carries them through the ranks, and for Saturday night’s $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake winner Kaitlin Campbell, that horse is Rocky W. Now 17 years old, the Royal Dutch Warmblood carried Campbell to both a Junior Jumper Championship and an Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, and this year the impressive duo rode away with the Open Jumper Championship.

“I think that’s pretty rare to be junior jumper, amateur jumper and open jumper all on the same horse,” smiled Campbell, who is now a professional working for Marigot Bay Farm. “I’ve had him since he was 8. We know each other so well now.”

Twenty-five combinations entered the Dixon Oval to compete during Saturday’s highlight event. The first rider to complete Michel Vaillancourt’s opening round without error was Olympian McLain Ward and Sagamore Farms’ Rothchild. The duo went on to be the pathfinders in the tiebreaker, setting the pace to beat at 40.236 seconds.

Their time would not hold up for long when 2013 Idle Dice Stake winners Campbell and Rocky W entered the arena. The pair picked up a quick gallop to the first obstacle and, taking the inside track, they overtook Ward’s time by a full second when they broke the beam at 39.007 seconds.

“Going after Rothchild you pretty much have to go for broke and hope that you get lucky,” admitted Campbell. “That’s really all you can do. Rocky’s really fast across the jumps. He’s a little bit of a skimmer, but he knows where his legs are. That’s where I really think we saved time, across the jump.”

Daniel Damen and Bahrain 8, owned by Seth Vallhornrat, also qualified for the jump-off, but a refusal trying to slice a vertical across the middle meant they would settle for fourth place. Hometown hero Callan Solem of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, took home the third place award with B Amelusina for Horseshow Trail Partners, choosing to keep a conservative pace with her young mount.

After leading the victory gallop for the $50,000 Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake, Campbell and Rocky W returned to the center of the Dixon Oval to accept the Open Jumper Championship, tying with Kelli Cruciotti and Chamonix H, winners of the $100,000 Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon. The Leading Lady Rider Challenge Trophy also went to Campbell for her performance during this year’s Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, an event that has always been special for her.

“It’s the crowd,” noted Campbell. “It’s the only horse show all year that has a crowd this enthusiastic that is six rows deep, standing room only, and they come to watch the jumping. There’s no other entertainment that they’re coming for. They’re here to watch the jumping, and they get so into it. For sure it pumps Rocky up. It pumps the riders up, and it makes all the difference. ”

The crowd also made a difference for Ward who, in addition to placing second and sixth on Saturday night, won three events earlier in the week to capture the Leading Open Jumper Rider award for the third time in four years.

“Leading rider is always great,” expressed Ward. “It shows consistency throughout a show, which is something to always be proud of. This is such a special venue with as good of crowds as anywhere in the world. They’ve really done great things here with the facility and with the footing. It’s nice to be able to support it and be part of it and hopefully have some success.”

Earlier in the day, the Amateur-Owner Jumpers competed in their highlight event, the $20,000 Show Jumping Hall of Fame Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. After winning a class on Friday, Adrienne Sternlicht came back for a second victory with Quidam MB.

Five combinations advanced to the jump-off, with Haley Gassel setting the pace to beat aboard Werner. They turned in a clear effort in 34.891 seconds. Their lead would not hold for long though, and Sternlicht galloped over the track with veteran mount. The duo left out a stride in the first two lines, and with a tight turn to the double combination they finished in a clear and faster time of 33.59 seconds.

Kelsey Thatcher’s attempt to catch Sternlicht with Athena was thwarted when the pair had two refusals and was eliminated. Gassel returned with her second mount Quite Dark 2, but a rail at the third fence would mean third place with four faults in 33.387 seconds. Melissa Rudershausen tried to slice one of the verticals too hard aboard Charmeur Ask, resulting in a refusal and a rail for fourth place and sealing Sternlicht’s win.

“We have a real relationship,” said Sternlicht of Quidam MB. “I’ve had him for three years. We’ve developed together, and he’s such a winner. I feel so lucky to have him because he’s really, really special to me.”

Sternlicht and Quidam MB not only led the lap of victory for Saturday night’s event, but they also returned to the center of the Dixon Oval to accept the Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship and Amateur-Owner Jumper Leading Rider Award.

“This is my first leading rider,” smiled Sternlicht. “It’s nice that they have that. I think it holds a show in a certain sort of esteem, and the environment here is just amazing. The amount of spectators we get and people are so excited – I think it adds a little bit of pressure and a little intensity.”

Sternlicht concluded, “I want to say thank you to the sponsors. Their generosity and continued support of this show is amazing. It’s a really neat show. I hadn’t been back in a while, and it has certain esteem and significance that I haven’t experienced elsewhere in the states, so for that I say thank you.”

For more information about the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair and complete results, visit www.DevonHorseShow.org.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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