Canadian Star Wins Grandprix Title At Marymoor

REDMOND

Mark Laskin, a four-time Canadian equestrian of the year and frequent member of the Canadian Equestrian team, is more accustomed to performing in front of 40,000 people.

While yesterday's expected victory aboard Voila T in the $25,000 Cadillac Grandprix of Seattle at Marymoor Park in front of an estimated crowd of 2,000 might have lacked glamour, it seemed to satisfy Laskin in other areas.

"Hey, it's a nice day in the park," Laskin said. "Voila picks up a paycheck ($7,500), and we can prepare our horses for better competitions later on."

Laskin trains and rides six other horses for his employers, Pinon Farm of Santa Fe, N.M. Four were entered yesterday. He finished fourth with Katja, a 4-year-old he believes has a promising future.

"Katja, with a couple of years seasoning, is an Olympic horse," said Laskin, who said the going rate for a gold-medal candidate is in the $1 million range. He doesn't anticipate having Katja that long.

"Katja might be worth a lot by then," he said.

Along with Katja and Voila T, the others in the 19-horse field to make it to the second-round jump by flawlessly clearing all 16 hurdles were Fly Canadian, Pacifico, and Lavendel 48, who finished second yesterday in the feature event of the Evergreen Classic.

Voila T finished the course in 41.952 seconds to Lavendel 48's 44.540.

Laura Balisky, who rode Lavendel 48 in the 1988 Olympic Games for the fourth-place Canadian team and in the 1987 Pan-American Games where the Canadian team finished first, was making a comeback of sorts with her star performer.

Balisky underwent back surgery May 1. The Seattle Grandprix was her first competition and Lavendel 48 her first mount since the surgery.

Balisky won the Seattle Grandprix with Quartz in 1987 and 1988. Yesterday, Quartz, ridden by Laura's husband Brent, withdrew after knocking over several hurdles.

The hurdle that proved to be the most nettlesome for the equine contestants yesterday was the middle barrier amid a series of three at the end of the course.

Jack Hammond, of Maple Valley, and his mount, Absolut, had trouble with that hurdle. After crashing through it, Absolut decided he lacked the energy to attempt the final barrier and Hammond tipped his cap to the judges to signify his withdrawal.

As for Laskin, he'll be spending the next two weeks at competitions in Vancouver, B.C. The object of his preparations follows that event. It is the $200,000 Grandprix Classic in Calgary.

"Calgary is the mecca of show jumping in North America," he said. "We perform in front of 40,000 people and they have the best facility in the orld."

Laskin sees similar-size crowds when he visits Europe on buying trips. Pinon farm keeps a small stable in England for its development program. Only horses bent on fulfilling their potential are brought across the Atlantic. One that Laskin found in Europe was Sullivan, who had some problems yesterday. Sullivan was supposed to become an Irish police horse but took a liking to show jumping.

There are 33 races in the United States Grandprix Series. The American Grandprix Championships will take place in East Rutherford, N.J., Nov. 3.

Yesterday's competition was also a benefit for Team Little Bit, an equestrian club for the disabled based in Woodinville. It recently sent three riders, Karol Flynn, Alena Sorm, and Margo O'Callaghan, to the National Victory Games on Long Island, N.Y. July 11. Flynn and Sorm won gold medals, while O'Callaghan won a silver and a bronze.

RESULTS - 1. Voila T, Mark Laskin, $7,500. 2. Lavendel 48, Laura Balisky, $5,500. 3. Pacifico, Sarah Baldwin, $3,250. 4. Katja, Mark Laskin, $2,000. 5. Fly Canadian, Linda Southern-Heathcott, $1,500. 6. Quivient, Francie Steinwedell, $1,250. 7. Never Better, Kevin Freeman, $1,000. 8. (Tie) Picknick, Linda Southern-Heathcott, $750. Tarzan, Kelly Kennedy, $750. 10.(Tie) Attache, Jonathan Asselin, $500. Mercedes, Brent Balisky, $500. Olympic De La Coeur, Katherine Hall, $500.