Thermal, California, USA – December 13, 2024 – Consistency, one word that summarizes Laura Kraut‘s (USA) career. In what came down to an exciting challenge, Kraut rose to the occasion again, claiming second place in the $200,000 MLSJ BrainJava Classic CSI 5* on Friday during the final leg of the 2024 Major League Show Jumping (MLSJ) season at Desert International Horse Park (DIHP).

Course designer Alan Wade (IRL), along with Colm Quinn, set a challenging first-round track for the Friday-night featured class at Desert Holiday 2, with 38 entries taking it on. As the ninth to jump, U.S. Olympian Laura Kraut (USA) and Tres Bien Z made the course look easy, producing the first clear round of the evening.

From there however, the class continued to progress without any further fault-free efforts, and much of the audience waited on the edge of their seats to see if there would be a jump-off. Then, as the 36th to jump, Bluman and Concare PS were met with much applause as they guaranteed that there would be a second round.

While Kraut and Bluman were the only fault-free riders, six others were clear over the fences, accumulating just time penalties.

With those placings determined, it was on to the showdown between Bluman and Kraut. Kraut returned first to lay down what appeared to be an extremely quick double clear effort, crossing the timers in 37.93 seconds with Tres Bien Z, owned by St. Bride’s Farm.

Bluman, though, found a way to shave 0.45 seconds off to take home the win in 37.48 seconds.

Final Results – $200,000 MLSJ BrainJava Classic CSI 5*

1) Mark Bluman (COL) & Concare PS – 0 / 0 – 37.48

2) Laura Kraut (USA) & Tres Bien Z – 0 / 0 – 37.93

3) Emilie Conter (BEL) & Portobella van de Fruitkorf – 1 – 74.17

Source: Press Release from Desert International Horse Park

Photos: © DIHP / High Desert Photo / MG Photography

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