Thermal, Calif.—Nov. 6

If you’re going to fly across the country for a horse show, you may as well win.

And that’s exactly what McLain Ward and Rothchild did in today’s $100,000 Coachella Valley Classic, besting the other 28 riders to take the top check for Sagamore Farms.

Ward opted to bring his individual gold medal mount from this year’s Toronto Pan American Games to California for the HITS Sunshine Series II CSI*****, while he’s left two other top horses back east. He’ll ride them next week during the Royal Winter Fair CSI-W (Ontario).

“We’re getting to the end of the year and the horses are just a little bit tired,” said Ward, Brewster, N.Y. “I thought this would be a nice change for him after doing indoors. He’s had a long year. I wanted to give [HH Azur] a little bit more experience inside and it worked well.” 

Eight horses qualified for the jump-off, but Lucy Davis opted to save Barron’s legs for Sunday’s $350,000 Sunshine Grand Prix CSI*****.

“I was lucky with the draw,” said Ward, who went fourth out of seven. “Kent had to go fast I knew Laura, myself and Will were all really fast riders. Had to take a  chance. Lauren’s horse got a little green at the last fence, hard to see into the sun, that’s always a  factor. I was in a position to take a little bit off the pace and it worked out well.”

He edged out Luebbo and Jamie Barge, and Eric Navet scored a clear round on Jonkheer Z to take third.

All photos by Mollie Bailey.

Rothchild had his game face on as he sped to the top of the $100,000 Coachella Valley Classic with McLain Ward.

Jamie Barge has been on a roll with Luebbo, and the pair just added another good ribbon to their growing collection with second today.

Jonkheer Z kept all the rails in the cups in the jump off with Eric Navet to take third.

In the first round Kent Farrington turned the wrong way midcourse, and the crowd gathered near the in gate hollered for him to turn left. He made the turn, stayed clear on course, and slipped through the timers just under the time allowed. He thanked his many coaches on the way out, a little sheepishly.

Gazelle jumped to fourth with Kent Farrington up.

Paris Sellon piloted Adare to overall fifth in today’s $100,000 Coachella Valley Classic.

Lauren Hough’s striking partner Cornet 39 jumped to sixth.

The Dude and Will Simpson finished in overall seventh.

Lucy Davis and Barron scored a clear first round then opted not to return in round 2.

Rothchild can get very over excited in the victory gallop, so McLain Ward borrowed the coolest-looking horse he could find to sub in: Lauren Hough’s Cornet 39.

Margie Engle has been on a roll since she arrived in Thermal. She and Abunola won yesterday’s $50,000 HITS Welcome Stake.

Want more HITS Sunshine Series? Check out the Nov. 23 & 30 issue of the Chronicle for full analysis of the competition.