Ocala, FL – World Equestrian Center – Ocala hosted yet another successful Hunter Derby Friday as more than 90 horse-and-rider combinations took to Hunter 1 to compete in the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $15,000 WEC – Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Keith Bollotte laid the stunning tracks for today’s courses featuring jumps that mimicked the hunt field with fences enveloped in rich green natural hedge, birch rails and stone walls.
Matt Martin of Ocala, Florida piloted Debbie Smith’s Diamant’s Legacy (Diamant de Semilly x Courtney Love II) to the horse’s very first hunter derby win at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Diamant’s Legacy is a familiar name, as the horse has been commonly seen taking a victory gallop in the grand prix on Saturday nights.
Martin spoke about the 14-year-old Oldenburg stallion’s transition to the hunter ring, “Originally, he was purchased by his owner Debbie Smith to be her jumper. We did one show in Aiken, and week two we decided to play around in the hunters. He seemed to like it a great deal. I think he has tremendous style. This is his first circuit showing in the hunters. Each week he gets softer and smarter, trying to figure it out. The first handy we ever did was certainly a lot like a jump-off,” laughed Martin.
Martin and Diamant’s Legacy received a score of 82 in the first round to secure a spot in the returning 12.
The pair returned to attempt Bollotte’s handy track, “I am fortunate that I have a grand prix horse on my side. I knew it was his forte and he seemed to be in the right state of mind. I wasn’t sure until two trips out if we were going to be conservative or go for it. After jump two, he felt soft and relaxed, so I went ahead and did all the turns. He’s very good at them and ambidextrous which makes it a lot of fun.”
After laying down a brilliant handy track, Marin and Diamant’s Legacy received the high score of 91 for a two-round total of 173.
$20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Diamant’s Legacy, Matt Martin, Debbie Smith: 82 | 91 | 173
2 Easy Money, Daniel Geitner, Laura CramerL 89 | 83.5 | 172.5
3 The Full Monty, Matt Martin, Debbie Smith: 85 | 87 | 172
4 Ulysses, Maddie Tosh, Betsee Parker: 86 | 85.5 | 171.5
5 Candid Traveler, Timothy Maddrix, Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach: 83 | 88 | 171
6 MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 84 | 84 | 168
7 Anthemis Z, Jordan Lubow, Jordan Lubow: 79 | 74 | 153
8 Hollywood, Erika Moore, Erika Moore: 77 | 70 | 147
9 Bugatti, Austin Cumming, Lindy Strickland: 80 | 54 | 134
10 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC: 81 | 49 | 130
Timothy Maddrix & Cypress Go Two-for-Two in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Hunter Derby Friday kicked-off early this morning as 27 beautifully turned-out hunters competed for the top prize in the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby. Timothy Maddrix secured the victory going two-for-two aboard Cypress owned by Missy Nolen.
“The first course rode nice. There were a lot of bending lines with related distances which works out well for Cypress because it keeps him paying attention,” laughed Maddrix. “I think you needed a seasoned horse that looks for the jumps in this type of class which was great because Cypress always has his eye on the next fence.”
Maddrix and the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding were sitting second returning for the handy, “I ended up changing my plan while I was on course. I knew I had to step it up because I was coming back second. I did the inside turn to the two stride after the first line which was a little hairy and long, but he was a good horse and covered it up well. After the trot jump to the oxer, I was planning on going around the in of the two, but he landed so well I decided to take the inside turn. The angle to the last was a bit ugly, but I went inside anyways because I knew he would jump it great, and he did.”
The judges were impressed by the pair’s windy track giving Maddrix and Cypress a score of 93 for a two-round total of 182.
$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Cypress, Timothy Maddrix, Missy Nolen: 89 | 93 | 182
2 Lomanske, Molly McAdow, Canterbury Farm: 90 | 90 | 180
3 Candy Crush, Jake Evans, Sally Reichert: 88.5 | 91 | 179.5
4 MTM Idolized, Kyle Muckler, Lynn Parker: 88 | 88 | 176
5 MTM Post Script, Megan Ghere, Cecilia Halsey: 81.25 | 87 | 168.25
6 My Autograf, Kevin Kirk, Deborah Shepherd: 82 | 85 | 167
7 Garsten S, Jennifer Tate, Barbara Kravetz: 83 | 83 | 166
8 H&M Uit De Melle, Morgan Hoke, Virginia Edwards: 82.5 | 81 | 163.5
9 Cadoretto, Daniel Geitner, Mia Bakotic: 87 | 74 | 161
10 Blaze, Ehrin Rittmueller, Kimberly Blasko: 81 | 79 | 160
Isabelle Ehman & JagerBomb Secure Third Consecutive $15,000 WEC Ocala Jr/Am Hunter Derby Victory
Fifty strong-willed junior and amateurs came out to Hunter 1 to put forth their best efforts in hopes of taking home the blue ribbon in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Isabelle Ehman that secured her third consecutive victory aboard Donald Stewart’s Jagerbomb (Diarado x Chaccalou).
Ehman and the ten-year-old Oldenburg gelding received a first-round score of 83.5.
“The first round didn’t go exactly how I planned. It wasn’t as smooth as I wanted, so when I was coming back for the handy, I knew I had some points to make up,” said Ehman.
Ehman and Jagerbomb were returning to the handy sitting in tenth place, “I wanted to ride my best and lay down a smoother round. I did eight strides in the first line and went inside to the double because I had wanted to try and make up some points. Luckily, the handy went to plan and we had a great round.”
The pair received a high score of 90 for an overall 173.5 to ultimately take home the lion’s share of the prize money.
Ehman was surprised with the results, “I didn’t expect to win. We ended up sending my horse back to the barn because we didn’t think it would hold, but I am so proud of him. He’s been incredible and I can’t believe this is our third derby win. I think derbies are his thing,” laughed Ehman.
$15,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Jagerbomb, Isabelle Ehman, Donald Stewart: 83.5 | 90 | 173.5
2 Harbor Walk, Payton Blackwell, Valerie Michael: 87 | 86 | 173
3 Buckingham, Cawthra Burns, Cawthra Burns: 90 | 79 | 169
4 Golden Ticket, Addison McQuaker, Addison McQuaker: 86 | 81 | 167
5 Diro O.H Z, Schuyler Dayner, Ashland Farms: 87.5 | 77 | 164.5
6 Consanto, Lily Toensing, Lily Toensing: 88 | 76.25 | 164.25
7 Ever So Clever, Susannah Morrell, Fat Chance Farm: 84 | 80 | 164
8 Any Given Sunday, Isabelle Ehman, Donald Stewart: 83 | 80.5 | 163.5
9 C-Star, Mary Beth McGee, Mary Beth McGee: 85 | 78 | 163
10 Doner, Molly Zygmont, Canterbury Farm: 80.5 | 82 | 162.5
‘THE STYLE OF RIDING AWARD’
Before the start of the handy round in the $15,000 WEC Ocala 3′ Jr/Am Hunter Derby the prestigious Style of Riding Award was presented to Isabelle Song for her classic style and her sportsmanship. The Style of Riding Award is generously presented by Bill Rube to be awarded to the rider who best displays the American Style of riding in the ring and sportsmanship outside of the competition arena. The recipient serves as a role model for preserving the integrity and tradition of equestrian sport. “This award is very special to me because the recipient of this award pays it forward both in and out of the show ring,” says Rube. Song received an elegant duffel bag and wore a white rose corsage on her lapel throughout the handy round to signify her achievement.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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