November 9, 2022 
“Fast, competitive and just wants to win” is how Mark Kinsella described his mount Coupenote Belmaniere. “It makes my job a lot easier.”
Kinsella took the top two spots in the $10,000 Run Amok 1.35m Welcome Speed class to kick off the National Sunshine Series II at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA.
With Coupenote Belmaniere, he topped the class in a time of 57.026 while Quality H stopped the timers in 59.994. In a field of 55 starters, Kinsella’s top two mounts were the only horses to break the timers in under 60 seconds.
Going first on Quality H, Kinsella used this 1.35m speed class to “train against the clock on a smaller level” in preparation for Saturday’s $100,000 Grand Prix. Coupenote Belmaniere, a 10-year-old gelding, is a naturally quick horse so Kinsella knew he could just follow a slightly tighter track for the quicker time.
Owned by David Huffstutler, Coupenote Belmaniere is shown by Kinsella early in the week in a professional class and then by amateur Kate Huffstutler on the weekend. The Huffstutlers only just bought Coupenote in August so Kinsella is very happy with how their partnership has grown in a short time. “He’s a pleasure to have and so easy to ride.”
Kinsella bases his MK Equestrian out of the Desert International Horse Park and considers it home.
“I love Desert Horse Park! […] It’s just so rewarding actually for riders and trainers and people who have businesses out here to see the effort that the guys put into the [horse park], […] constantly building, improving and adding money for the place.”
Rounding out the top placings was 3rd place finisher Lauren Whitlock riding Lente while the 4th place honors went to Savannah Jenkins on Classic Fly MJ.
For full results of Wednesday’s $10,000 1.35m Welcome Speed, visit here.
Catch all the action from the desert live on DIHP TV.
