Traverse City, Michigan, USA – July 31, 2022 – Ali Wolff (USA) has always known her partner Casall is dependable, and their partnership proved picture-perfect yet again as the pair flew to a win in the $138,600 Grand Prix of Traverse City CSI 3* to close the fourth week of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), presented by CaptiveOne Advisors.
Brazil’s Marina Azevedo (BRA) built a tough track for round one, leading to only four clear rounds from 29 entries. Several finished just on time faults and managed to take a top-10 result, but the four on clear rounds went head-to-head for the top prize.
Jim Ifko (CAN), as the first to go, took down two rails with a quick time of 48.63 seconds, ultimately taking third.
Wolff, aboard the 17-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Capitol I) took down one rail in her effort but came home in 47.09 seconds, leaving the door open for a double-clear round to take the lead.
Last to go, Georgina Bloomberg (USA) kept the pace steadier while hoping for a double-clear round, but a rail midway through the track put her and Tulara Colmine on the same score as Wolff, ultimately coming up just short in 53.53 seconds, awarding Wolff the win and putting Bloomberg in second place.
“It was nice to only have four in the jump-off, so we knew we could all take a bit of a risk and still get a decent paycheck,” Wolff said of her plan with Casall. “He just keeps learning and getting better and better. At 17, he’s still learning and he’s also so smart. He knows me so well and what I try to ask of him. He’ll do everything I ask of him and more.”
Wolff’s partnership with Casall is 10 years in the making, having purchased him as a 7-year-old to be a sales horse. “He is obviously the barn favorite,” she continued. “He can do no wrong and he’s spoiled beyond belief but we all laugh and think that it’s funny. He can get away with murder and its still okay because it’s him. He is the ultimate great guy and a favorite among a lot of our friends because he just has such a great personality.”
The accolades they’ve racked up were not expected when the partnership initially came together. “Our partnership developed quickly,” Wolff elaborated. “I needed him to step up and fill the place of one of my horses that had gotten hurt at the moment and he stepped into the role as my second-string horse. From there he just kept blossoming. We were taken aback a bit. He trusts me beyond belief so I’m always a little bit cautious of what I ask of him.
“We love it up here,” the New Albany, OH, native said of Traverse City. “Where else can you get this beautiful weather in July? And the competition is great; we have a lot of top riders, like Margie [Engle] and Kent [Farrington], so you get to compete against the best. It’s also a great place to take clients because there’s so many classes offered and luckily for us it’s pretty close by. We love coming here, we always have a great time, and we’ve always been lucky so we’ll keep coming back.”
With a fourth-place finish, Margie Engle (USA) earned more points on the CaptiveOne Advisors Open Jumper Rider Bonus standings heading into the fifth week of GLEF, but still sits in second below Cathleen Driscoll (USA) by one point.
Final Results: $138,600 Grand Prix of Traverse City CSI 3*
1) Ali Wolff (USA) & Casall: 2005 HOLST gelding by Casall x Capitol I, Blacklick Bend Farm: 0 / 4 – 47.09
2) Georgina Bloomberg (USA) & Tulara Colmine: 2010 AUSWB stallion by Colman x Quinar Z, Gotham Enterprizes LLC: 0 / 4 – 53.53
3) Jim Ifko & Un Diamant des Forets: 2008 SF stallion by Diamant De Semilly x Papillion Rouge, Eventyre Farms Ltd.: – 0 / 8 – 48.63
4) Margie Engle (USA) & Dicas: 2009 RHEIN gelding by Diarado x Cassini I, Gladewinds Partners, LLC – 0 / 18 – 70.39
5) Kent Farrington (USA) & Landon: 2013 ZANG gelding by Comilfo Plus Z x Quadrillo, Haity McNerney – 1 – 79.10
6) Cathleen Driscoll (USA) & Arome: 2010 SF gelding by Norway De La Lande x Attila III, Plain Bay Farm – 2 – 80.25
7) Sarah Scheiring (USA) & Anibale de Hus: 2010 SF stallion by Conrad x Argentinus, Bellwyn Farm LLC – 2 – 80.38
8) Alex Granato (USA) & Helios vd Nosahoeve: 2012 KWPN stallion by Numero Uno x London, Kisma Equestrian, LLC – 4 – 75.96
9) Karl Cook (USA) & Caillou 24: 2007 HOLST gelding by Casall x San Patrignano Corrado, Signe Otsby: 4/76.55
10) Natalie Dean (USA) & Kamilla D: 2011 SCSL mare by Kashimir Van Schuttershof x Canturo Bois Margot, Marigold Sporthorses LLC: 4/76.77
11) Nicolette Hirt (USA) & Oak Grove’s Desperado: 2013 SF gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Lux Z, Iron Horse Equestrian: 5/79.86
12) Mavis Spencer (USA) & Carissimo 25: 2013 HOLST gelding by Cascadello x Clinton, Georgy Maskrey-Segesman: 5/79.97
Source: Press Release from Traverse City Horse Shows
Photos: © Andrew Ryback Photography
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