Mark Bluman and Cartouche Capture $35,700 CWD Welcome Stake CSI3* Win

Traverse City, Mich. – Aug. 9, 2019 – Although the six-week circuit of the 2019 Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, LLC, is coming to an end, international show jumping action continues to showcase top competition at the Flintfields Horse Park with the final week getting underway Wednesday. In its second consecutive week of FEI CSI3* competition, Thursday saw Mark Bluman (COL) and Over The Top Stables LLC’s Cartouche best a tough field of horses and athletes to earn the $35,700 CWD Welcome Stake CSI3* win.

Mark Bluman and Cartouche Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography
Mark Bluman and Cartouche
Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Michel Vaillancourt’s (CAN) 16-effort track challenged athletes with three combinations, ending in an oxer-to-vertical combination before heading to the final fence on course. The careful vertical proved problematic for many, with the course whittling down the starting list of 45 horse-and-rider combinations to just seven entries returning for the abridged jump-off track.

Two-time grand prix winner of the GLEF 2019 circuit, Wilhelm Genn (GER) produced the first double-clear effort in a comfortable time of 38.300 seconds aboard his own Van Gogh. Bluman and the 11-year-old Silla Argentina stallion, Cartouche, immediately met the challenge, mirroring Genn’s clear finish with a faster time of 35.300 seconds to overtake the lead.

Jim Ifko (CAN) followed to chase the leading time with the 11-year-old Selle Français stallion Un Diamant Des Forets, owned by Eventyre Farms Ltd, flying to finish in 35.840 seconds and moving into second place. Last to go, Lauren Tisbo (USA) and Tequestrian Farms LLC’s Casco 11 produced a clear round just behind Ifko’s pace in a time of 35.930 seconds to finish in third, while Genn ultimately earned the fourth place award.

Mark Bluman and Cartouche Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography
Mark Bluman and Cartouche
Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Bluman’s victory on Thursday builds on his success during GLEF Week V where he topped the $1,000 1.40m Jumper CSI3* with Jenni’s Chance and finished sixth in the $133,700 Staller Grand Traverse Grand Prix CSI3* with Cartouche.

Show jumping competition will continue throughout the final weekend of GLEF, culminating the six-week series with the $133,700 CaptiveOne Advisors Great Lakes Grand Prix CSI3* on Sunday, August 11, at 2 p.m.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Mark Bluman – $35,700 CWD Welcome Stake CSI3*

On Cartouche:
“Cartouche is an 11-year-old horse that belongs to Over The Top Stables, which is a big sponsor of my cousin Daniel [Bluman]. I took over the ride just recently when he went to Europe. He had another group of horses going there and he decided to leave him here for me to show during the summer and it’s been paying off pretty good. He’s been winning – every show he goes to, he wins a class and he’s been bringing money home every show, so he’s been very good so far.”

On the jump-off:
“There were not that many in the jump-off. I know my horse is just naturally very fast. I saw Wilhelm [Genn] go and I think I tried to do exactly the same as he did – he looked pretty fast to me, although he was on a bit of a slower horse. I think I did exactly the same plan as he did, my horse just moves faster and is faster over the jumps. I just tried to kick as hard as I can and go as fast as I can.”

On the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival:
“My brother (Ilan Bluman) has been talking about the show for many years to me. I actually just moved back from Europe in January and we talked about it and I don’t regret coming here at all. It’s been a great show for us. When you have a good show, you have to love the place. My brother won the same class last week, I was sixth in the grand prix and won another class – it’s just been great. It’s been a great show for all of us. I’m loving it and really enjoying my time here. I went on the lake and water-skied, which is another hobby I have that I love, so I’ve been having a blast.”

RESULTS

$35,700 CWD Welcome Stake CSI3*
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / Owner / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Cartouche / Mark Bluman / COL / Over The Top Stables LLC / 0 | 70.210 / 0 | 35.300
2. Un Diamant Des Forets / Jim Ifko / CAN / Eventyre Farms Ltd / 0 | 69.960 / 0 | 35.840
3. Casco 11 / Lauren Tisbo / USA / Tequestrian Farms LLC / 0 | 73.050 / 0 | 35.930
4. Van Gogh / Wilhelm Genn / GER / Wilhelm Genn / 0 | 72.330 / 0 | 38.300
5. Koko Katinka / Rachel Cornacchia / CAN / Eventyre Farms Ltd / 0 | 70.860 / 0 | 38.830
6. Robin De Ponthual / Schuyler Riley / USA / Katherine Gallagher / 0 | 70.750 / 4 | 37.180
7. Chicago Hof Eversem Z / Peter Lutz / USA / Swede Ventures LLC / 0 | 71.210 / 12 | 39.200
8. Valkyrie De Talma / Rachel Cornacchia / CAN / Eventyre Farms Ltd / 1 | 75.560
9. Pembroke / Adrienne Sternlicht / USA / Starlight Farms 1 LLC / 1 | 75.940
10. Balous Day Date / Molly Ashe Cawley / USA / Louisburg Farm / 4 | 70.430
11. Jenni’s Chance / Mark Bluman / COL / Melissa Wight / 4 | 70.640
12. F. Brightwood Lynz / Ilan Bluman / COL / Joseph Bluman / 4 | 70.740

For more information, please visit greatlakesequestrianfestival.com.

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