Jumpers Cooking at Del Mar!

By Paula Parisi October 1, 2011

Karl Cook soared to the winner’s circle at the Del Mar International Horse Show Welcome Stake on Sept. 29, clocking 58.63 on Uno de Laubry. Richard Spooner and Billy Bianca were hot on his heels, trailing by 13 seconds.  “It was really exciting because the first horse in the ring won the class. Kark Cook came in and blazed the trail and nobody could catch him,” Del Mar International event producer Dale Harvey said. The 18-year-old Cook, who is based in Northern California’s Menlo Park, currently leads the West Coast League in World Cup points. “He’s definitely given some of these professionals a run for their money,” Harvey said of Cook, who is currently enrolled in college and rides as an amateur.

“The horse he won on is the one he won Young Riders on five years ago,” his mother, Signe Ostby said. “Uno is a phenomenal stallion. Karl’s known him for a long time and they get along really great. He’s a super horse. We’re breeding him now and we’re very excited about the babies.” Among the lucky owners of Uno offspring are Paris Sellon, Alec Lawler and Barbara Phillips, as well as Cook’s trainers Butch and Lu Thomas. The Cook family owns four, and Ostby says the babies are scoring off the charts at the Belgian Warmblood Breeding Association keurings.

Cook also placed fifth on a newer horse, JonKheer Z. In all, there were 12 clean over Olaf Petersen Jr.’s speed course, which had 11 obstacles. Third-placed Helen McNaught and Lauricello were the only other pair to zip around in under 60 seconds. “I built it with a lot of options for inside turns, and I was very satisfied with the results, said Petersen, noting that the welcome speed class was really as much an exercise for him as it was for the exhibitors. “I don’t really care if we have 12-15 clears in that class. I just want to see what kind of horse and riders we have so I can design the grand prix course appropriately for the field.”

Tonight’s $50,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar will host 30 riders, and Petersen predicts “it will be really difficult. I don’t expect too many clear rounds.” Because it is a World Cup Qualifier (CSI-W), the course is required to have a minimum of two 1.60M jumps and the rest will be 1.50M (4’11” to 5’3”). “It will be a tough course, requiring a lot of scope, and more technical than the speed class. But since it is to qualify for the World Cup, we want to make sure that they are at a good level. We don’t want them to get there and be surprised.”

$31,000 Showbiz Magazine Welcome Stake
(35 entries, 78 seconds time allowed)

1. Uno de Laubry     Karl Cook  (58.63)
2. Billy Bianca          Richard Spooner   (58.80)
3. Lariccello              Helen Mcnaught  (59.31)
4. Chianto                  John Pearce  (60.20)
5. JonKheer Z           Karl Cook  (61.61)
6. Chello Z                 Josephina Nor Lantzman
7. Taunus                  Francie Steinwedell-carvin
8. Coco                       Michelle Spadone
9. Cassiato                Harley Brown
10. Ace                       Abigail Weese
11. Bristol                  Rusty Stewart
12. Woodpecker De Villars         Candida Anthony

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