California’s Vinton Karrasch took top spot aboard his new mount, Coral Reef Follow Me II at the $100k CSI***-W Facet Advisors World Cup qualifier.
It was held on Sunday at Thunderbird Show Park.
“I don’t do well when I over-strategize,” explained Karrasch.
“My plan is to always focus on doing the best that I can do, making every part of the course the best that I can and hopefully my best is good enough.”
Karrasch was one of 30 competitors in the field, which included Olympians, Nation’s Cup contenders and some of the fastest riders on the continent.
The competitors faced a challenging course from international designer Alan Wade.
The course tested the riders with a tricky triple combination and tall verticals to narrow the field.
Seven of the 30 advanced to the jump off with Karrasch winning in a time of 45.62.
Second place went to another American rider, Susan Hutchinson, aboard Ziedento, in a time of 47.01, while Canadian Brenda Riddell — aboard Dutch Amouretta — took third place in 51.71.
Neither of the three had any faults during their rides.