Charlise Casas and Keminko Make Three-Star Debut in Winning Fashion
When world no. 1 Kent Farrington tells you he’s found you the perfect horse, you listen. That’s how Charlise Casas—a former student and now professional rider for KPF—partnered with 10-year-old Grand Slam-sired gelding, Keminko N. After coming together a month ago, they made quick work of scoring their first international victory in the $32,000 CSI3* Welcome Stake on Friday during the Traverse City Spring Series, presented by Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel, at Flintfields Horse Park.
“He called me one day and said he had the horse for me,” said Casas who has shown minimally at the international level throughout the last year. “I was looking for a horse to bring me back into the FEI sport. I didn’t even try him—just bought him.”
Farrington spotted the mount while watching it compete with success in Florida under the direction of U.S. team gold medalist Will Simpson. The horse’s last outing before coming under the ownership of Casas’ Always Faithful Equine was a three-star grand prix win in Ocala.
“This was my third jump-off with him,” said Casas, 24. “It was the first time I felt like I could go for it; he’s such a competitive horse and naturally fast. He wants it almost as much as I do, if not more, and he was right there with me every step of the way.”
Friday’s win came over a testing track designed by Anderson Lima (BRA) that only produced five clear rounds. Keminko N’s foot speed edged out Spain’s Francisco Goyoaga Mollet riding Stakato Cornet for owner Ashland Farms by less than three-tenths of a second. Casas broke the timers in 35.43 seconds to Goyoaga’s 35.70 seconds. Jonathan Corrigan (IRL) rounded out the top three riding Darius de Kerglenn, owned by Twin Oaks Ventures, in 37.02 seconds.
Of their hair-splitting jump-off, Casas said, “He turns fast and is really careful at the jump. I can dare him, let go at the base and put my leg on so I’m already continuing on the backside. Even if I put him in a spot that isn’t perfect, he’ll go the extra yard.”
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Charlise Casas and Keminko Make Three-Star Debut in Winning Fashion – Traverse City Horse Shows
