Edited Press Release
Margie Engle (USA) is an avid poker player, but her luck lately has been better in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring than in the poker room. After winning the $37,000 Limitless Performance CSI3* Speed Thursday during Traverse City Horse Shows (TCHS) Spring I, Engle and the Gladwinds Partners, LLC, entry Dicas brought their A game back to top the $138,600 Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel CSI3* Grand Prix Sunday afternoon.
The inaugural grand prix of the 2022 season was built for the occasion, but riders rose to the challenge, with seven entries jumping clear over the first-round track, set by 2016 Olympic course designer Guilherme Jorge (BRA), including Engle on both her mounts.
Of the field of seven jump-off contenders, the pace just kept getting quicker as Gabriela Reutter (CHI), Freddie Vazquez (PUR), and Engle shaved precious seconds off the clock to claim the lead. Engle’s pressure got the best of most of the remaining pairs, and she was not able to catch her own leading time aboard her second mount, Jackofhearts, who placed fourth. Vazquez and Kircshwasser SCF claimed second place in a jump-off time of 42.38 seconds, while Reutter and Maharees Rock, owned by Lumiere Horses Inc., placed third in a time of 43.09 seconds.
“[Dicas] is just a good horse,” Engle said of the 2009 Rhinelander gelding (Diarado x Cassini I). “He has a wonderful heart. He’s a big horse but he’s like a puppy dog. He wants to crawl in your lap. He knows he’s big and when I go to put his bridle on he puts his head so low I don’t know if he’s making fun of me or trying to help. He doesn’t ride like a big horse; he’s very handy for as tall as he is. And he’s got a wonderful attitude.”
Final Results: $138,600 Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel CSI3* Grand Prix
1. DICAS: 2009 Rhinelander gelding by Diarado x Cassini I
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Gladewinds Partners, LLC: 0/0/41.98
2. KIRSCHWASSER SCF: 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Amaretto D’Arco x Nabab De Reve
FREDDIE VAZQUEZ (PUR), Freddie Vazquez: 0/0/42.38
3. MAHAREES ROCK: 2010 Irish Sport Horse mare by OBOS Quality x Ballysimon
GABRIELA RUETTER (CHI), Lumiere Horses Inc: 0/0/43.09
4. JACKOFHEARTS: 2012 Danish Warmblood gelding by Toulon x Baloubet Du Rouet
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Gladewinds Partners, LLC: 0/0/43.54
5. HOLLERNO: 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Baltic VDL x Ahorn
PETER LUTZ (USA), Lutz/Manfredi Show Jumping LLC: 0/0/43.76
6. PRIMO TROY: 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Clinton x VDL Arkansas
GIAVANNA RINALDI (USA), Itasca Group LLC: 0/4/41.71
7. IDOL H&H: 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Action-Breaker x Glennridge
ANDREW WELLES (USA), Evergreen Stables, LLC: 0/4/44.15
8. FANTASY BB: 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare by Cardento x Labor’s VDL Indorado
JONATHAN MCCREA (USA), Windsor Show Stables: 4/80.77
9. DIOR P Z: 2011 Zangersheide gelding by Diarado x Havidoff
MICHAEL MORRISSEY (USA), Stephen Macken: 4/82.60
10. JULIETA: 2010 Holsteiner mare by Canstakko x Casall
CHRISTINE MCCREA (USA), Windsor Show Stables:
11. HAITIE: 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cayado 3 x Cassini II
SANDRA DALMAN (USA), Dalman Show Jumping: 4/85.08
12. MASSIMO: 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Otangelo x Electro
MICHAEL MORRISSEY (USA), Imperial Show Stables: 8/83.81
