Mark Bluman Wins Head-to-Head Duel

Published

14 DEC 2024

Est. reading time

2 min

Mark Bluman was celebrating with his helmet in the air moments after he and Concare PS cleared the final fence in Friday night’s $200,000 BrainJava 5* Jumper Classic at MLSJ – The Final in La Quinta, CA. The time on the clock beamed proof that he had won a head-to-head duel against U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Laura Kraut in a two-horse jump-off.

“It's my first major five-star grand prix win, so I'm quite happy to have it on a horse that I just recently acquired,” beamed Bluman, who got the ride on Concare PS in May and put a group together to purchase the mare last month. “It still hasn’t sunk in all the way. She's a super horse with all the scope. Classes like this with not that many clear suit her because she's not the fastest.”

Concare PS—now a permanent member of Bluman’s string—is the former ride of Great Britain’s Matthew Sampson and Mexican Olympian Nicolas Pizarro.

Speed was not a problem on this night, however, as Bluman handily piloted the 10-year- old Oldenburg mare (Conthargos x Cornet Obolensky) now owned by Norma Leticia Coello Garrido to a time of 37.48 seconds to pip Kraut’s pace of 37.93 seconds. Kraut settled for second riding Tres Bien Z for owner St. Bride’s Farm.

“In fairness, when I walked the course, I thought there was going to be plenty clear, but as the class went on it was riding more difficult than it walked.” admitted Bluman. “That's the beauty of having Alan Wade (IRL) building here. He's an unbelievable course designer; he got faults everywhere. I was happy when I jumped the clear round, and I knew there wasn't many behind me; it was a good day to jump a clear round.”

When asked where exactly he edged out Kraut, Bluman said, “She did nine strides down the middle from jump three to the new fence. I did eight, so I think that's where I shaved those literal milliseconds off her time.”

Emilie Conter (BEL) and Portobella van de Fruitkorf finished the first round on one time fault to take home a podium finish in third. A tight time allowed from Wade settled six athletes with faults against the clock in the opening round.

The 2024 season of Major League Show Jumping comes to a celebrated conclusion on Saturday evening when the next MLSJ champion is crowned in the $1M Cabana Coast Team Final. Tune in live on MLSJ TV.