Mariano Maggi Makes it Happen Again in $20,000 Markel Insurance Jumper Classic at Blenheim EquiSports
For the third week in a row, Mariano Maggi claimed victory in the Markel 1.35m Jumper Series at Blenheim EquiSports, this time taking the win in the $20,000 Markel Insurance Jumper Classic on Saturday, July 1, aboard Gogolinus.
On their way to the top of the podium, Maggi and Gogolinus were one of 24 entries in the featured jumper event of the Blenheim June Classic III. The first-round track, designed by Mauricio Garcia, cut that starting field roughly in half, with 11 horse and rider combinations qualifying for the jump off.
Maggi had three entries in the class and quickly moved into the lead aboard Tule, a Selle Français gelding, owned by Florencio Ramirez, that stopped the clock in 36.143 seconds. That time proved uncatchable by anyone but Maggi himself who returned with Gogolinus as the final entry in the Grand Looke Arena.
As Maggi and Gogolinus flew over the last Buchalter Equine Law oxer, the scoreboard flashed 35.057 seconds, clinching their win.
With Maggi taking both first and second – aboard Gogolinus and Tule, respectively – third place with a time of 36.402 seconds went to McKenna Skelton and Daytona Du Sud, owned by Double S Farm LLC. For the win, Maggi received a gift certificate to Riderzon, in addition to the lion’s share of the prize money.
“I’ve been using Gogolinus quite a bit in these types of classes,” said Maggi of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Brylee Dickey. “He’s super easy; he’s like a car. You put him wherever you want. I was happy he was the last to go in the jump-off. Tule worked really well, and then I had another chance with [Gogolinus], so I used it!”
Maggi was named the Leading Gentleman in the 2022 Markel 1.35m Jumper Series, earning him an extra $5,625 bonus check and making him an even bigger fan of the Markel-sponsored series.
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Press Releases – Blenheim EquiSports (theplacetojump.com)
