Ocala, FL – The $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix saw a change of scenery on Friday evening during week IX of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series as 40 up-and-coming combinations took the the WEC Grand Arena under the lights to compete in an atmosphere similar the grand prix. Alberto Michan (ISR) and Maeve O’Connor’s Kabuki (VDL Harley x Evita) emerged victorious after the pair posted a jump-off time two seconds faster than second place.
FEI Level II course designer Doug Russell (USA) set the challenging tracks where nine competitors returned for the jump-off.
Michan and Kabuki were the third duo to attempt Russell’s short track, “She’s naturally fast over the jumps, and I think that was the difference. I was in the beginning, and I knew there were a bunch of fast riders behind me, so I gave it my all. She stayed focused and was trying to be very careful. I did eight in the middle to the combination, most were doing nine. Then I was the first one to try the seven from the vertical to the liverpool, it was quite far, but she reached well.”
The pair raced around the remainder of the track in just 34.037 seconds to ultimately gallop away with the blue ribbon.
Michan spoke about the talented eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, “She’s a very nice young horse. She’s been doing great. She’s already had a second-place finish in a $25,000 National Grand Prix. I have been going up and down the heights because she is still young and needs miles to get more experience. She is always so brave, you feel like you’re riding such an experienced horse.”
“Today was her first night class. WEC – Ocala did a great job of putting this class at night. It’s amazing for young horses to start to gain that experience with a crowd and under the lights. It’s very different. Kabuki felt like she’s done it 100 times. I am very proud of her,” shared Michan.
Megan Wexler (USA) and Golden Oaks Farm, LLC’s Doo-Wop (Camaro M x Hilda) secured second place honors in Friday evening’s $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Wexler and the 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding delivered an efficient performance, stopping the clock at 36.345 seconds.
Savannah Unger (USA) and Fabio (Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve x Ullah), a 13-year-old KPWN gelding owned by Savannah Show Stables, LLC, rounded out the top three with a quick and clean time of 37.539 seconds.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Result:
1 Kabuki, Alberto Michan, Maeve O’Connor: 0 | 0 | 34.037
2 Doo-Wop, Megan Wexler, Golden Oaks Farm, LLC: 0 | 0 | 36.345
3 Fabio, Savannah Unger, Savannah Show Stables, LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.539
4 Noble De la Chapelle, Scott Keach, Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.098
5 CHE Spectre, Gustavo Prato, Gustavo Prato: 0 | 0 | 40.483
6 Inspirado, Tom Foley, Anne Bingler: 0 | 0 | 43.373
7 Zechariah, Derek Petersen, Derek Petersen: 0 | 4 | 35.304
8 Thomascourt Legaland, Kevin Mealiff, Seamus McKeever: 0 | 4 | 42.517
9 Cadans Z, Paige Jones, Amberfax Farm, Inc: 0 | 24 | 65.818
10 Cencorinue PS, Scott Keach, Kandor Farm LLC: 1 | 74.085
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.