Rusty Stewart Makes it a Night to Remember
in the $30,000 ProEquest Grand Prix
The win holds special significance for Stewart
and his homebred star

October 23, 2011 – Del Mar, California – Saturday's win in the $30,000 ProEquest Grand Prix had special meaning for Rusty Stewart, who clinched the top placing with a double clear effort from the 9-year-old Selle Francis gelding Bristol in front of young Bretton Chad under the lights at Del Mar, October 22, 2011.

All year Stewart, 63, and Bristol have been chasing that elusive first place; the gelding has been a consistent finisher in the top ten 10 spots of grand prix classes and World Cup Qualifiers on the California circuit. Bristol is the first horse that Stewart and his wife, Kandi, have produced all the way from birth to the grand prix level through their breeding program in Camarillo, California, so piloting Bristol to his first grand prix win at Del Mar was especially significant.

"It was just one of those nights that all the pieces came together and he jumped great," commented Stewart. "It was a nice class, a great course, and all the distances were right there looking for us. It was just his night. And my God it was great to have a baby that we've raised and brought along from the Level Ones to get to this level and finally win one!"

The 1.45m track was set by course designer Peter Holmes, who presented 15 jumping efforts including a triple combination and double combination. Thirty-four riders, the majority of whom are based in Southern California, brought their best horses out of the barn to compete for the win.

The technical course asked challenging but straightforward questions, including a rollback turn to a brightly colored Lego wall early on in the course, from Fence 4 to 5, and a triple bar late in the course that rode towards the ingate in five strides to an airy vertical. Jumping under the lights at Del Mar often presents its own set of challenges, and last night the combination of bright lights and a foggy evening contributed to rails that were pulled throughout the course.

Five riders advanced to the jumpoff and a shortened course of eight fences. The first rider on course, Bretton Chad and Stone Ridge's Lasall D, set the time to beat with what would be one of just two clear jumpoff rides. Chad, a native of Canada, began riding at the grand prix level this year. At just 17 years old, she is certainly a rider to watch for the future.

Next to jump off was Michelle Parker and Socrates du Midos, but 8 faults kept her out of the top three. Stewart then followed and laid down the fastest trip of the night, which would hold through the next two rides. Riders Michelle Spadone with Coco and Ali Nilforushan with Warco Van De Halhoeve racked up an unlucky 8 and 4 faults, respectively. Nilforushan finished in 3rd place, while Parker was 4th and Spadone 5th.

Showing at Del Mar continues through October 30th. The Del Mar Fall Festival II will feature the $25,000 PCHA Equine Insurance Child/Adult Jumper Championship on October 29th, ahead of the $30,000 California Horsetrader Grand Prix. As it's just around the corner from the Halloween holiday, riders in the Child/Adult Championship are encouraged to compete in costume for a chance to win extra prize money, and a costume contest will also be held for spectators. $1,000 in prize money will be up for grabs for the best spectator costume, and the night will end with a Thriller dance off. Del Mar's famous Sceam Zone haunted attraction will be in full operation on the Del Mar Fairgrounds during the Fall Festival II, giving the whole family options for fun Halloween entertainment at the show.

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