By Connelly Grant for TIEC
July 6, 2022 – Molly Ashe Cawley (USA) rode Louisburg Farm’s Berdien to the blue in Wednesday’s $37,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*. Berdien and Cawley stopped the speed phase timers at 27.7 seconds. Claiming second in 27.72 seconds was Samuel Parot (CHI) and Buga Z, Samuel Parot Jr. ‘s 2010 Zangersheide gelding (Chester Z x Quality Touch Z). Cawley also cinched a third place ribbon at 29.13 seconds atop Dior P Z, a 2011 Zangersheide gelding (Diarado x Havidoff) owned by Sagamore Farms.
Berdien, a 2011 Zangersheide mare (Bustique x Querlybet Hero), has been under Cawley’s care for a while. “I’ve had Berdien since she was six, turning seven, so I know her really well,” said Cawley about her winning mount. “She’s always a winner and a tryer, and gives it her all. She’s quick, obviously! She’s careful, so I took a big risk coming into the in-and-out and it paid off!”
Eighteen of the 24 entries advanced to the speed phase over the Alan Wade (IRL) track, with Cawley explaining that her strategy was to turn tightly, as that is what Berdien does best. “I often times end up second or third with her because she spends time in the air, and then I get trying to go so fast that I get down the lines early. So, my strategy this time was to do the loop-de-loop as tight as I could.”
Cawley took a big risk in the speed phase, which paid off in the end, she shared. “When I went to run over to the in-and-out, which was the first part of the speed, it was right in between: I was either going to really have to re-arrange her to do one more [stride] or take the risky one, and we went with risky! She turned so well, and she was quick today. I’m grateful for Louisburg and my owners for standing by me and letting me have days like this!
“[Tryon] has been great! I really enjoy coming here. It’s a great show, and fun, and my kids are with me so we have lots of things to do. We just discovered pickleball in the [Crossfit Wide Open] gym, so we were playing pickleball yesterday, which was fun! So, it’s been great and really nice!”
For full results from the $37,000 Power and Speed Stake, click here.
