After walking the course for the $100,000 Wachovia Securities American Gold Cup CSI-W, on Sept. 23 in Moreland Hills, Ohio, the riders knew they had their work cut out for them.  “I thought it was very imposing.  It was big, technical, and I only thought there’d be one or two clean,” said Anne Kursinski.

And in the end, there was only one.  Mario Deslauriers and Paradigm—going 24th out of 25 starters–were the only faultless pair over the course.  Deslauriers got to add this World Cup-qualifying win to his victory in the $50,000 Grey Goose Vodka CSI-W at the Hampton Classic (N.Y.) three weeks before. 

Twenty horses went over Steve Stephen’s course, and none had gone clean, before Kursinski paved the way with a clean round and just 1 time fault aboard Lorenzo as the 21st to go.  “I’m sorry I had the time fault, but I was delighted he jumped clean,” Kursinski said.  “I was just trying to clear the fences!”

Deslauriers and the elegant chestnut gelding Paradigm make the course look easy, jumping around in style three horses later.  “There was nobody clear when I went, and I think that makes you a little more intense in the schooling area,” said Deslauriers. 

But after Deslaueriers, there was one more to go.  And McLain Ward meant business.  He looks to have another extremely talented chestnut mare under his saddle, as Phillipa impressed the crowed with her stunning jumping efforts.  Ward and Phillipa were foot-perfect through the tough course, but Phillipa began celebrating a little too early. 

She jumped through the tough triple combination easily, and began playing upon landing.  Unfortunately, the last fence was just six or seven strides away.  The unexpected antics interfered slightly with their approach to the American Gold Cup oxer, and Phillipa kicked out in mid-air over it, just ticking the front rail and tumbling it to the ground.  Hopes of a jump-off disappeared, and the American Gold Cup would go home to Bromont, Que., Canada, with Deslauriers.

Hot on Deslauriers and Kursinski’s heels was the young Charlie Jayne, 21, who claimed third as the fastest four-faulter today.  The top rail of a vertical fell for him and Urbanus.  “I watched the first three go, and decided to do six [strides to that vertical, which followed a large square oxer].  But I didn’t quite get the six done, so that was my mistake,” Jayne said.  “But this is by far my biggest placing yet.  My horse jumped awesome.  He’s jumped seven clean first rounds in the last nine grand prix classes we’ve done.”

Stephens built a lot of fences off tight rollbacks today, requiring riders to keep a forward pace to clear the enormous oxers he built and to make appropriate striding decisions.  A large triple-bar was set off a tight turn away from the in-gate, and was followed by a tight right-hand turn to a plank vertical, with three strides to another vertical.  And the last line—an oxer-oxer-vertical triple combination—was followed in six or seven strides with the American Gold Cup oxer. 

Eliza Shuford, who scored a thrilling victory under the lights on Friday night in the $25,000 Welcome Stake on B.C.O. Olymp, pulled just the back rail of a huge triple bar for 4 faults today and sixth in the CSI-W.  She and B.C.O. Olymp had put in the only double-clear performance in the Welcome Stake to top a four-horse jump-off that included Olympic veterans Margie Engle and Peter Wylde. 

Stephens didn’t hold back this week at the Gold Cup, building courses that tested scope, adjustability and rideability.  The high junior/amateur-owner classic was testament to that fact, as only Melissa Rudershausen and Prins conquered the course, claiming the win.  Rudershausen, 20, graduated through the ranks from the pony jumpers up to the junior and amateur-owners, and also competes Prins at the grand prix level.  She takes care of her own horses at the shows and trains herself when trainer Sergio Campos is elsewhere.

The low junior/amateur-owner classic winner—Jeanne Hobbes on Montrachet—knew she had a reliable partner.  The 21-year-old Montrachet is a veteran of the grand prix ring for many years.  “I know him like the back of my hand,” she said of the big bay gelding she’s ridden for four years.  “He wasn’t as careful today as I would have liked him to be, so I didn’t go as fast in the jump-off as I usually do.  I felt like I left the door open a bit, but it all worked out.”

Adult amateur jumper classic winner Allison Stawartz has waited a long time for her moment of glory.  She rode growing up, but didn’t really show.  And she groomed for 10 years as she was working her way to undergraduate and graduate degrees.  Three years ago, settled in her career as a mechanical engineer, she was finally able to buy her own horse and begin showing.  At the Gold Cup, she topped the adult amateur classic on her Irish gelding Up To Code.

The children’s jumper classic winner made a bold move, leaving out a stride in the last oxer-to-oxer line of the jump-off.  “I saw someone in the adult class leave the stride out, but they had it down.  I’m pretty confident about leaving strides out on her, and when I landed after the first oxer, I saw it was possible and went for it.  I knew she could do it,” said Sasha Bar-Tur, who won the class on her High Society.  Combined with her win in the first class of the division, the blue also made her the champion.