Edited Press Release
After several podium finishes here in the desert, Nicky Galligan got his win Sunday morning in the $30,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.40m Open Classic at Desert Circuit 3. Of his two mounts qualified for the second course, it was Eames MZ, owned by Santa Rosa Group, who topped the competitive 13-horse jump-off.
Manuel Esparza’s jump-off track was primarily unrelated distances, with swooping rollback turns and long gallops between fences, which contrasted with a few of the recent tracks that have involved bending lines and allowed for leaving out strides.
When asked about his jump-off plan, Galligan responded, “My plan? Go as fast as I can go! It was a bit of an unusual jump-off, in the sense that we are so numerical in the sport at the moment. It’s nice to do something a little different in the jump-off.”
“[It was a] really, really competitive class this morning,” Galligan commented. “I’m delighted to finally get a win. I’ve been jumping these classes since the [National] Sunshine Series.” Just weeks ago, Galligan and long-time partner, Javas Miss Jordan, finished second in National grand prix action, among other podium finishes just short of victory.
