Thermal, California, USA – January 20, 2024 – Allison La Joie (USA) saved the best for last in the jump-off of the $50,000 Adequan® Grand Prix. Aboard Santa Rosa Apolo, owned by David Bustillos, she scored the fastest time and rose to the top of the field in the pair’s first grand prix victory together.

La Joie just began jumping at the grand prix level last year, so as she’s gotten to know Santa Rosa Apolo she’s also gotten to know what it’s like to compete at the highest level.

Allison La Joie (USA) and Santa Rosa Apolo were one of seven to jump Colm Quinn’s course fault free, and they had the pole position of jumping last.

“We’ve been working with him for about a year,” she said of her partnership with the coming 10-year-old Mexican-bred gelding. “He’s owned by David Bustillos and he’s been working with us all year. [The horse] is very forward thinking so a lot of it is just controlling his enthusiasm and leaving him alone at the jump to do his job. He’s very small but he has a huge heart and a funny personality. Even the way he jumps, he has short legs but just flies over the jumps.”

When they came in, Mitch Endicott (USA) led the way with NKH Cento Blue, owned by October Hill Sales Limited, and no one had been able to catch his time of 38.256 seconds. La Joie put her speed to the test, and clocked in just a fraction of a second faster, in 38.113 seconds, claiming the win as her own.

Endicott claimed second, and Nick Gegen (USA) took third with One Question, owned by Neaulani Farms.

The speed got quite fast in the jump-off portion of the evening, and Bustillos had very specific instructions as La Joie prepared to give it a go.

“David told me before I went in just to run. To trust my horse and run,” she laughed. “He’s already forward thinking so I just let him go and I held on.”

At just 9 years old this year, the horse is clearly a superstar in the making, and La Joie recognizes the talent she is sitting on.

“He’s super scopey; I think he could do whatever he wants,” she shared about Santa Rosa Apolo’s future. “He did his first 1.50m as an 8-year-old. He’s a little different from some of the others I ride. I have to pull him together a little and then let him go to the jump. I have others that want me to ride them all the way to the base of the jump.”

The night at DIHP was electric, as fans cheered on their favorite pairs, and La Joie’s cheering section was undoubtedly one of the best.

“I’m very lucky,” she said of having a team behind her to support her on evenings like this. “I work with Durango Farms and everyone there is super supportive. David Bustillos, the head trainer, has been so kind to let me ride the horse. My family is here – my mom, my brother, my little niece, and my sister in law. And then just tons of friends I’ve made along the way who are great and supportive.”

Atmosphere and all, La Joie is grateful to have a venue like DIHP to ride to major milestones like the one Saturday night.

“It’s a great venue. They’ve got the grass field and big Grand Prix Arena under the lights. I love the lighting here at night. Some night venues it’s a little deceptive where the jumps are but I don’t find that here,” she said.

Final Results – $50,000 Adequan® Grand Prix

1) Allison La Joie (USA) & Santa Rosa Apolo – 0 – 38.113

2) Mitch Endicott (USA) & NKH Cento Blue – 0 – 38.256

3) Nick Gegen (USA) & One Question – 0 – 38.695

Source: Press Release from Desert International Horse Park

Photos: © DIHP / TB Photography / MG Photography / High Desert Photo

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