Source:  News Release

Agustin Aguayo and Pro Star de la Nutrin Win at Blenheim EquiSport's June Classic II
Ten of the Top Twelve Awards Go to International Riders

San Juan Capistrano, CA – June 20, 2011 – A field of forty horse and rider combinations came to play in the $30,000 June Classic II Grand Prix, made possible by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. Several countries were represented in both the first round and the jump off - Puerto Rico, Australia, the United States and predominantly Mexico. With half the class hailing from south of the border, several of them with multiple rides and fabulous horses, it's no wonder they took home half of the top prizes.

Agustin Aguayo and Pro Star de la Nutrin. Photo: Flying Horse Photography/Todd Sutherland

Course Designer Scott Starnes set a track to suit the range of experience in the class, which was a mix of young horses and riders to Olympic level riders. With two combinations, a few scope tests and a tight time allowed, the collective group rose to the occasion and seventeen of the forty who galloped on the field qualified for the jump-off.

"Ideally I want ten to go clean," commented Starnes before the class commenced. "I didn't want to over face the young ones yet still challenge the field. I'd rather more go clean than to have the course be too difficult."

With a large and aggressive group competing in the jump-off, the top ten finishers were all double clean. First to return in the second round was Jaime Azcarraga of Mexico aboard his own Celsius. He set the pace, going double clear in 43.98 and held the lead until hometown heroes Susan Hutchison and El Dorado 29's Cantano galloped in eight entries later with a blazingly fast clean ride over the shortened track in 41.91. Azcarraga returned on his second mount, Gangster, trying to catch Cantano and steal back the leading spot. With a time of 42.41, he beat his first time but not Hutchison's ending the day third and fifth. American Rusty Stewart rode Grey Fox Farm's Bristol efficiently in 43.75 and picked up fourth for their efforts. Then along came Agustin Aguayo aboard his own Pro Star de la Nutrin who delivered a clean performance in 41.33 for the win, bumping Hutchison to second.

Via an interpreter, Aguayo explained that he bought Pro Star de la Nutrin when he was a three-year-old. Now competing as an eight-year-old, this was only their second grand prix; the first was in Jalapa (Mexico). Competing here at Blenheim for the next two weeks, the team will return to Mexico for the Pan Am Trials later this summer.

A fabulous way to spend Father's Day, the weather was beautiful and the setting superb. The thrills and spills kept spectators engaged from beginning to end. In the first round, six couples rode without lowering the height of a jump, but incurred time faults, including American Molly Talla who stopped the clock a mere .008 over the time allowed aboard Camaron Hills Quick Dollar. Salvador Onate lost both his stirrups halfway through the course and impressively still managed to ride without fault, qualifying for the jump-off on Paldatus. While Francois Esteves was almost jumped off by ET 14 Mercedes Benz in round one, Luis Alejandro Plasencia did part ways with Dante at the final fence of the jump-off. The final placings included two Mexican riders and two American riders in the top four, with Australians Harley Brown and Lane Clarke as well as Puerto Rico representative Mark Watring, who all compete actively in California, in the top twelve.

Blenheim EquiSports begins the third week of the June series on June 22nd in San Juan Capistrano and features the $30,000 June Classic III Grand Prix presented by St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort on Sunday, June 26th. Closing the series, Blenheim EquiSports presents a $5,000 1.25M Team Competition and the $30,000 Red, White & Blue Grand Prix on Saturday, July 2nd.

RESULTS
$30,000 June Classic Grand Prix made possible by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
      1. Pro Star de la Nutrin – Agustin Aguayo (Agustin Aguayo) 0/0/41.33
      2. Cantano – Susan Hutchison (El Dorado 29) 0/0/41.91
      3. Gangster – Jaime Azcarraga (Jaime Azcarraga) 0/0/42.41
      4. Bristol – Rusty Stewart (Grey Fox Farms) 0/0/43.75
      5. Celcius – Jaime Azcarraga (Jaime Azcarraga) 0/0/43.98
      6. Callao – Antonio Maurer (Francisco Del Rio) 0/0/44.88
      7. Spirit Magic – Manuel Alvarez (Manuel Alvarez) 0/0/45.05
      8. Cassiato – Harley Brown (Oak Park Group LLC) 0/0/46.03
      9. Paldatus – Salvador Onate (Salvador Onate) 0/0/46.81
    10. Caraat – Antonio Chedraui (Antonio Chedraui) 0/0/47.19
    11. McLord's First John – Lane Clarke (Mickey Hayden) 0/4/41.40
    12. Green Sleepes Vioco – Mark Watring (Horseworks Etc. Inc.) 0/4/42.96