Shawn Casady Opens MLSJ – The Final

Published

13 DEC 2024

Est. reading time

2 min

Speed was the name of the game to open MLSJ – The Final in the BrainJava 5* Qualifier on Thursday. Shawn Casady mastered the one-round track riding Cool Quarz for owner Morning Star Sporthorses to open the final week of the 2024 Major League Show Jumping season.

Casady piloted his 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Quarz x San Patrignano Cassini) to an uncatchable time of 67.62 seconds for the win.

“This horse as a huge heart, big scope and he wants to win,” said Casady of Cool Quarz. “He fights for it and these Alan Wade courses really suit him; you can subtract strides throughout the entire course. When I walked, I knew where I could do all the leave outs and take some shots. I went for it, and he left them all up.

“Being on the west coast, these are the biggest shows of the year and we’ve been building up for them,” continued Casady. “Every class, we got a little bit better, more efficient and faster.”

Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar was runner-up in 68.39 seconds riding Ivory TCS for owner Evergate Stables, while Mexico’s Patricio Pasquel rode Alicia Santa Rosa to third in 69.82 seconds.

Action continues at MLSJ - The Final on Friday in the $200,000 BrainJava 5* Classic before teams go head-to-head for season glory in the $425,000 Cabana Coast Team Final on Saturday night. Tune in live on MLSJ TV.