Ocala, FL – Twenty-nine competitive entries took to the WEC Grand Arena on this gorgeous Ocala day to vie for the top prize in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Casty Cruz of Mexico built the intricate tracks that saw nine horse-and-rider combinations produce faultless first rounds. Three pairs ultimately jumped to double clear finishes, but it was Rowan Willis (AUS) and Copain that were simply unbeatable.
Willis and Copain were early in the order of go in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. The pair jumped a tidy first round, going clean in a time of 76.187 seconds, just under the time allowed of 77 seconds.
“It wasn’t the easiest course, but Copain has been in good form the last few weeks. We’ve been knocking at the door and today he jumped better than ever,” said Willis.
Willis and the careful Copain advanced straight to the jump-off, “I always like to take the shortest route, so we did every inside turn that was available. It felt easy for him, he covers the ground nicely and he really tries,” expressed Willis.
Willis and the 11-year-old gelding flew through the timers with all rails up in 37.062 seconds, a time that held them atop the leaderboard for the remainder of the class.
“We have only had Copain for a month now. His owner, Peter Moore actually just flew from Switzerland to come see him, so it’s nice having a win. He’s a super competitive horse and that really showed today. I think we will start jumping a bit bigger and hopefully soon he will be in the grands prix,” stated Willis.
Second place was secured by Justine Dutton (GBR) and The Superman Syndicate LLC’s Hickory HBC. Dutton and the 11-year-old KWPN gelding produced a fast first round in 72.739 seconds. The pair went straight to the jump-off, rolling around the turns while flying over each fence to stop the jump-off clock at 39.081 seconds.
Kali Jerman (USA) and Pam Talbot’s Livius (Lord Contendro x Dipolis) rounded out the top three in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix, delivering a lovely first round in 73.237 seconds. Jerman and the nine-year-old Westphalian gelding advanced to the jump-off dashing through the course, leaving all rails up in 39.422 seconds.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1.Copain, Rowan Willis, Peter Moore: 0 | 0 | 37.062
2. Hickory HBC, Justine Dutton, The Superman Syndicate LLC: 0 | 0 | 39.081
3. Livius, Kali Jerman, Pam Talbot: 0 | 0 | 39.422
4. Chatinus, Richard Spooner, Show Jumping Syndications International: 0 | 4 | 35.482
5. Gerry’s Jewels, Damian Guthrie, Florence Hessen-Scher: 0 | 4 | 36.328
6. Geronimo SCF, Harold Chopping, Diane Halpin: 0 | 4 | 39.093
7. Deauville Van Overis Z, Elizabeth Phillips, Elizabeth Phillips: 0 | 4 | 43.168
8. Harmonie L, Sam Berry, Annette Bishop: 0 | 8 | 39.795
9. Con Spirit, Nathalie Petschenig, Nathalie Petschenig: 0 | 12 | 37.010
10. Gerderieka II VI, Harold Chopping, Rein Family LLC: 4 | 68.698
Derek Petersen & Zechariah 3:9 Land the $12,500 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic Victory
On Friday afternoon, twenty-one entries competed for the blue ribbon in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic. FEI Level III course designer Catsy Cruz (MEX) designed the open tracks where ten combinations managed clean first rounds and six jumped double clear, but it was Derek Petersen and his own Zechariah 3:9 (Zirocco Blue x Katrina) that landed the win.
Petersen (USA) and the eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding were one of the last entries down the ramp, navigating a fast first round in 68.575 seconds, well within the time allowed of 80 seconds.
“Zechariah 3:9 just keeps getting better. He felt amazing today. I changed his bridle, and he does very well in it. I don’t have as strong of brakes but I think that was helpful today,” laughed Petersen.
Petersen and Zechariah 3:9 went right to the jump-off, “It was a great course for him because it was a long way between the jumps, so he could just open up. I did nine in the first line, which I don’t think many others attempted. It was easy for him.”
The pair flew through the jump-off, dashing through the lines, while leaving out strides in 38.915 seconds for the win.
Richie Moloney (USA) and Equinimity LLC’s Merqusio (P. Cicero x M. Viola) captured second place in Friday’s $12,500 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic. Moloney and the 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding delivered a gorgeous first round in 71.302 seconds. The pair went right to the jump-off, walking down the lines to stop the clock at 39.491 seconds.
Quentin Judge (USA) and Double H Farm’s HH Qualido (Quicksilber x Concordia) earned third place on Friday. Judge and the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding produced a seamless first round in 73.104 seconds. The pair advanced to the jump-off, soaring through the course in 41.840 seconds to ultimately earn third place.
$12,500 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic Results:
1.Zechariah 3:9, Derek Petersen, Derek Petersen: 0 | 0 | 38.915
2. Merqusio, Richie Moloney, Equinimity LLC: 0 | 0 | 39.491
3. HH Qualido, Quentin Judge, Double H Farm: 0 | 0 | 41.840
4. Colourful S, Morgan Ward, Morlynn Farm: 0 | 0 | 42.336
5. Centolino Clasico, Jared Petersen, Luella Gruenthal: 0 | 0 | 42.516
6. Cherry Blue 2, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Horse Show Leases LLC: 0 | 0 | 44.895
7. Dinamika, Lauren Crooks, Dinamika Group: 0 | 4 | 42.286
8. Noble De La Chapelle, Scott Keach, Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC: 0 | 4 | 46.056
9. Fundamente E, Savannah Nicole Unger, Savannah Show Stables, LLC: 0 | 8 | 41.135
10. DSH Lord Mydas, Will Baker, Dachis Sporthorses LLC: 0 | 8 | 44.686
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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