DEVON, Pa.--Daniel Bluman of Israel on Gemma W won the Welcome Stake, beating his cousin Mark Bluman of Colombia on Ubiluc on Tuesday, May 27 at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
Daniel Bluman on Gemma W (Photo by Kind Media)Daniel went 16th of 43 in the Time First Round competition, finishing in 56.21, with Mark, going three hoses later, finishing in 57.07, with Emily Dehoff on Manou de Muze third in 57.56.
As it was the first class at Devon, a number of riders were on horses that they plan to use in the Grand Prix Thursday, and they just wanted to get their horses accustomed to the ring, so didn't go for time.
"We have multiple horses here, so when I went in this class on the horse I'm going to ride in the Grand Prix, I went smooth and easy," said Bluman. "With Gemma, she's going to jump this class and then wait until Saturday's class."
"With Gemma, we've been together for many years. so for me to go at that speed with her doesn't take that much out of her," he said."She's a fantastic horse. She's won so much. So I thought we could win without making much effort for her. I always love it when Gemma wins, and it's always fun to beat Markie"
"With Markie, we grew up together, we're like brothers, but we're competitive," said Bluman, whose cousin Ilan was also in the class and placed 37th. "We're all in business together." '
Even though they are cousins and in business together, Daniel competes for Israel while Mark and Ilan compete for Colombia.
Jessie Springsteen on Galaxy Girll was fourth, clean in 58.12, Lillie Keenan on Opium JW V de Moerhoeve was fifth in 58.28, and Mark Bluman on Ireland was sixth in 59.53.
McLain Ward on La Serra was fastest of all, finishing in 54.92, but he had the in of a double combination down, three fences from the end, a fence that caught out a number of horses.
Ward on Callas chose a slow clean round in preparation for the Grand Prix Thursday.
NICK HANESS of Temecula, Calif., was Leading Hunter Rider for the third year a row, finishing with 100 points to Scott Stewart's 85 points on Wednesday.
The majority of Haness' points came on Odette, who was Green Conformation Hunter, an award presented Tuesday, and she was Devon's Leading Mare.
"Odette is an amazing mare," said Haness. "She's one of the smartest horses I've every ridden. We had a great year last year, so I was so excited and blessed to be riding her again. I'm based in California, so I didn't ride her in Wellington. Emily Williams rode her at the Winter Equestrian Festival."
"She won every class over fences," said Haness. "It's been a great journey with this mare. It shows that when you have a great mare they can do anything."
Stewart of Flemington, N.J., on California Love was High Performance Conformation Champion and California Love was Devon Grand Hunter Champion.
Haness on Jenkins was Reserve.
"California Love is a beautiful, scopey, athletic horse," said Stewart. "This is his third time here, and he just gets better and better."
"He's very laid back," said Stewart. "Sometimes he's too laid back. so this atmosphere is good for hm. I bought him as a 3-year-old. He very capable of jumping bigger jumps."
"It's still special to win at Devon," said Stewart, who has been showing at Devon for about 3o years."
Amanda Prescott Steege om Lafitte de Muze was High Performance Working Hunter Champion with Joie Gatlin on Oslo Reserve.
