Thermal, CA – January 17, 2025 – In the first two weeks of Desert Circuit at the Desert International Horse Park, Nick Haness and Navarino are now two-for-two on USHJA National Hunter Derby victories. After taking home a win during Week 1, Haness and Navarino returned on Friday, January 17, to capture the top spot in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, sponsored by Risk Strategies and held on the Grass Field.
Course designer Michael Roy Curtis set the track for Friday morning’s two-phase class, and Haness and Navarino maneuvered it with ease, earning a score of 92 for the classic hunter portion and an 87.25 for the handy section.
With Haness’ total score of 179.25 securing him the win, second place with scores of 89 and 88.25 for a 177.25 total went to Dustin Goodwin and Reputation, owned by Kalli Heffner Gay. Third place with a score of 177 was awarded to Jenny Karazissis on Big Shot, owned by Dulcie Lou Morris, and Karazissis also took home fifth with a score of 175.25 aboard Lisa Hankin’s Cat’s Meow. Finishing in fourth was Halie Robinson who rode Tangled Up In Blue, owned by 3P Equine Partners LLC, to a score of 176.25.
“I’m so thrilled to have this horse, Navarino, in my life,” said Haness of the 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, owned by Brianne Tsakopoulos. “He’s a really special and exciting horse. We ride lots of horses of course, but when they’re special ones like him that come along, it just makes it all that much more worth it. This horse is extremely talented and just has the best brain. For him to walk out here today in a hunt & go and perform as well as he did, as relaxed as he was and jumping as brilliant as he can jump – we’re really happy.”
While the class marked Navarino’s first time competing on the large Grass Field at DIHP, it felt like a very familiar experience for Haness who has previously competed Navarino’s sire, Jenkins, in the same setting.
“I rode Jenkins in international derbies in this very arena several years ago,” said Haness. “So, for him to have produced this amazing son and for that horse to come out here and win is really, really exciting and fun. I just wanted to give a special shout out and thank you to trainer Kelly Van Vleck who put [Navarino] in touch with my life and with his owner Brianne Tsakopoulos who both were the trainer and owner of Jenkins previously as well.”
Haness continued, “These national derbies are so great for young horses to get a chance to do a derby. Cat’s Meow and Navarino were actually one and two in the [$20,000 DIHP Young Hunter Classic] here in December. This is a great experience for them to be out here with an inviting course – but also the challenging aspect of a huge grass arena; that’s a testament to two pretty well trained and nice-brained young horses.”
With two derby wins in two weeks under his belt, Navarino will now enjoy some well-deserved time off.
“He gets to have a nice little break now and take a few weeks to chillax,” said Haness. “We’re here in the desert for 10 weeks, so we’ll turn out and trail ride around this beautiful facility and bring him back for action in just a few more weeks.”
To view full results of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, sponsored by Risk Strategies, click here, and to view additional upcoming hunter highlight events, click here.
