Juan Manuel Luzardo and Stan are Superb in the Markel Insurance Grand Prix

Juan Manuel Luzardo and Stan (Photo: CapturedMomentPhoto.com)

Del Mar, CA - After sixty-eight entries galloped on course in the $25,000 Markel Insurance 1.40m Grand Prix, Uruguay's Juan Manuel Luzardo and Mauricio Guerra's Stan were double clean and fast for an exciting win.

International course designer Manuel Esparza (MEX) commented on the challenge of designing a 1.40m track for a group of competitors that ranged from up-and-coming U25 riders to veteran show jumpers. "I wanted to make a competitive yet safe course. I used a lot of technical elements, like a triple bar to a skinny (fences 4 and 5), a plank on the top cups (fence 6) plus the liverpool pushed to the back of the vertical at fence 10," he noted.

Combined with a few distances that required a choice of adding or leaving out a stride and a tight time allowed, he was looking to have about a dozen clear as well as a couple clear from the U25 class.

Eric Navet and The Flying Ham (Photo: CapturedMomentPhoto.com)

After all of the competitors took the track, Esparza's prediction was quite close, with fourteen clean in the Markel Insurance Grand Prix and two in the Interactive Mortgage U25 qualifier, who returned to jump off with a score of one time fault each. Another fifteen entries barely missed the mark by having only time faults added to their otherwise clear round.

When asked about the track, Luzardo commented, "The course was very tough, with so many entries and only fourteen clear. The time was extremely tight, which made the lines and combinations a little challenging throughout."

Six entries went double clean. Michelle Parker riding Cross Creek Farm, Inc.'s Cupilor set the pace early on with a clean ride in 39.36. Fourth to go, Frenchman Eric Navet aboard The Flying Ham (owned by Signe Ostby) raised the bar, leaving out a stride and taking inside turns, to stop the clock in a seemingly unbeatable 37.47.

Luzardo and Stan galloped in the eighth spot in the order. He had not watched Navet's round, but knew the track he had taken. Although 'Hammy' has a large stride and covered the ground well, Stan matched that effort. Shaving .58 seconds off the leading time, Luzardo clocked in at 36.89. None of those who followed could come close to catching him.

Juan Manuel Luzardo and Stan celebrate the win with groom Jesus Eduardo Aceves and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports (Photo: CapturedMomentPhoto.com)

Not new to the winner's circle, Luzardo and Stan, a 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, started off the year with a CSI4* win in the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Valle de Bravo. Luzardo said, "Stan is absolutely amazing. I bought him in Germany when he was seven. Last year, I was able to take him to the Pan American Games and recently won both the grand prix classes in Coronado."

Even with Mexico's strong FEI calendar, a large group of talented riders come to southern California for several weeks in the summer. "I love Showpark here in Del Mar. The main ring is amazing and the city is wonderful. Being able to combine the sport and vacation, we always have a great time," Luzardo remarked.

With the $30,000 Summer Festival Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, and two more weeks of grand prix classes scheduled at Showpark, Luzardo will potentially lead the victory gallop once again.

RESULTS
$25,000 Markel Insurance 1.40M Grand Prix

1. 894 - Stan - Juan Manuel Luzardo - Mauricio Guerra - 0/0/36.896
2. 223 - The Flying Ham - Eric Navet - Signe Ostby - 0/0/37.472
3. 819 - No Limit - Jose A. Martinez - Jose A. Martinez - 0/0/38.127
4. 230 - Cupilor - Michelle Parker - Cross Creek Farms, Inc. - 0/0/39.364
5. 917 - Amalia - John Perez - John Perez - 0/0/39.403
6. 797 - ZZ Top - Pablo Viscaino - Pablo Viscaino - 0/0/39.472
7. 918 - Chianti Classico - John Perez - John Perez - 0/4/38.518
8. 818 - Nelson - Jose A. Martinez - Jose A. Martinez - 0/4/40.031
9. 468 - Parkmore Lux - Hanna Mauritzson - Ritz Fuente, LLC - 0/4/39.463
10. 833 - Rafale - Juan Carlos Del Campo - Juan Carlos Del Campo - 0/4/39.777
11. 882 - Chapilot - Rodrigo Lambre - Mario Onate - 0/4/40.031
12. 194 - Ziedento - Susan Hutchison - St. Bride's Farm - 0/8/39.242
13. 975 - Ballerino - Arturo Vallejo - Luciano Segovia - 0/8/40.962
14. 481 - Chello Z - Josephina Nor Lantzman - Josephina Nor Stables, LLC - 0/DNS
15. 963 - Discento - Felipo Godinho - Sergio Nieto - 1/78.211
16. 919 - Detroit - John Perez - John Perez - 1/78.328
17. 584 - Milano - Mandy Porter - Abigail Weese - 1/78.441