Ocala, FL – The third Hunter Derby Friday of the 2024 Summer Series showcased an impressive lineup of horse-and-rider combinations. Dean Rheinheimer designed the winding tracks for the three derbies: the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, and the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby.
In the $12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the competition was fierce, with scores reaching into the 90s. Maria Rasmussen emerged victorious riding Sunset View Farm LLC’s Worthy.
Rasmussen and the 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Cannavaros delivered a stunning first round, earning a score of 89.
Heading into the handy round, Rasmussen was sitting in second. “In the first round, he felt comfortable, like he knew the place. So, coming back, I knew we had to be a bit more brilliant. We did a few exercises in the schooling ring, like figure eights, to get him jumping higher and sharper,” she explained.
“I wanted to take advantage of the fact that my horse is so handy and the more I turned, the higher he would start jumping. So if I am able to really aim for the track, he knows exactly where we’re going and he just gets higher and higher.”
The duo flawlessly navigated the handy track, executing every inside turn and clearing all three high options. They earned a high score of 93, bringing their total to 182 over two rounds.
$12,500 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Worthy, Maris Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 89 | 93 | 182
2 Something Blue, Josh Dolan, Meg Robinson: 90 | 90 | 180
3 Malito, Megan Young, Jane Baysore: 86 | 85 | 171
4 Pop Muzic, Ki-Juan Minors, Marilla Van Beuren: 84 | 86 | 170
5 Hollywood, Erika Moore, Moore Acres, LLC: 81 | 81 | 162
6 Caligua, Clair Kellner, Suzanne Cayatte: 88 | 66 | 154
7 Balouberry London, Sara Sprague, Judith Sprague: 71 | 67 | 138
8 Karrera 21, Amy Stanley, Highgate Ventures LLC: 45 | 70 | 115
Michael Murphy and Viloubet Emerge Victorious in the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Michael Murphy took home top honors early this morning in the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby aboard Wellington Equestrian Center LLC’s Viloubet (Vivant Van Der Heffinck x Widouet), achieving two impressive scores.
In the first round, Murphy wowed the judges on the talented eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding, earning the highest score of the day, a remarkable 94.
“He’s kind of new to the hunters. This is my third show with him. He showed here last week, and he’s been incredible,” Murphy shared. “This is his first time ever doing a derby. It felt really natural for him. I think he’s going to be a star in the big derbies and equitation in the future.”
Returning for the handy round on top, Murphy kept his plan simple, “I wanted another smooth round. I wasn’t going to go inside to the trot jump, but then everyone was doing it, so I gave it a go, and he handled it super.”
With a handy score of 92, and a two-round total of 186, Murphy and Viloubet secured the victory.
Murphy is also competing in FEI competition this week, adding, “I try to ride every horse how they are comfortable going. They all have their own way of going, so I just let them do what they do best and ride them to the best of their ability.”
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Viloubet, Michael Murphy, Wellington Equestrian Center LLC: 94 | 92 | 186
2 SVF Richie, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 92 | 93 | 185
3 Finn’s Pride, Jenny Miller, Nelle Dressler: 89 | 90 | 179
4 Ratino Kn Ter Beuken, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen, Remington Farms: 87 | 88 | 175
5 Aladdin, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 84 | 85 | 169
6 Cupido Zg Z, Megan Wexler, Catherine Merrill: 83 | 83 | 166
7 Murdoxx, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen, Serenity Farm: 79 | 78 | 157
8 Carsten S, Jennifer Tate, Barbara Kravetz: 77 | 79 | 156
9 Narrative, Stone McCormick, Catherine Garrett: 76 | 78 | 154
10 Portobello Road, Megan Young, Jennifer Jones: 80 | 72 | 152
Mary Beth McGee and Cellestino Conquer the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
In the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, 19 horse-and-rider combinations competed for the top spot. Mary Beth McGee emerged victorious aboard her own Cellestino and also secured third place with her horse, Sergant Drew Wu Jof.
Riding the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding, Cellestino, McGee scored a 90 in the first round, establishing a six-point lead heading into the handy round. With a solid lead, she aimed for a smooth second round, earning a score of 80. This brought their total to 170, clinching the win.
McGee also rode her eight-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding, Sergant Drew Wu Jof (Diarado x Carabiena Jof), to two consistent performances. They scored 82 in the first round and 85 in the handy, for an overall score of 167, securing third place.
$10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Cellestino, Mary Beth McGee, Mary Beth McGee: 90 | 80 | 170
2 Cantero, Gabriella Curry, Ga Stables LLC: 83 | 86 | 169
3 Sergant Dre Wu Jof, Mary Beth McGee, Mary Beth McGee: 82 | 85 | 167
4 Congham Club, Kendall Dean, KD Equestrian LLC: 84 | 82.5 | 166.5
5 Shakiro, Sophia Bruny, Sophia Bruny: 78 | 84 | 162
6 Coltrane, Erica Prockow, Avery Lambert: 79 | 82.5 | 161.5
7 KT Quinn, Katharine Hoerle, Michael Teto: 80 | 81 | 161
8 Bull Run’s Valentino, Hayley Waters Wear, Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 82.5 | 78 | 160.5
9 Tom Sawyer, Sadie Remington, Sadie Remington: 77.5 | 82 | 159.5
Visit HorseShowing.com for final results.
Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live. Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
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