Ocala, FL – On Friday night, the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix took over the WEC Grand Arena to allow developing horses and riders the chance to compete under the lights to one day prepare for the Saturday night grand prix. Forty-four up-and-coming combinations representing ten different countries competed over FEI Level III course designer Kenny Krome’s (USA) first round track, but it was Jelmer Hoekstra (NED) that snagged the fastest time in the jump-off aboard his own Origi Van’t Roosaker (Echo Van’t Spieveld x Locosta Van’t Roosakker), earning Hoekstra his second consecutive win.
Of the 44 starters, only nine managed to yield a clean first round effort to return for the jump-off and all nine managed to keep all rails up during the short track, so it was a race to find the fastest time.
Olympian Scott Keach (AUS) and Kandor Farm LLC’s Cencorinue PS (Centadel x Chacarina) were the first pair to attempt Krome’s shortened track. The pair produced an efficient effort in 36.500 seconds to set the pace for the remainder of the class.
Next in was Chase Boggio (USA) and his own VDL Mewando. Boggio and VDL Mewando found a smooth track, just shy of Keach’s time in 37.235 seconds.
Jelmer Hoekstra (NED) entered down the ramp next aboard his first mount in the jump-off, Origi Van’t Roosaker. “Origi Van’t Roosaker is a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood. His mentality is unbelievable, and the quality is great. Every time we go into the ring, he’s such a fighter and makes my job easy because he takes you to every jump,” said Hoekstra.
Hoekstra and the talented young gelding blasted off at the sound of the tone. The pair swiftly navigated the track, galloping down to the Buckeye Nutrition oxer in a mere ten strides to stop the clock at a blistering fast time of 31.778 seconds, a time which proved uncatchable.
“This was the first time showing under the lights for all three of my horses. It’s so great that World Equestrian Center offers classes like this through the circuit. It’s such an amazing experience for the developing horses to help prepare for the grands prix,” stated Hoekstra. “I was very proud of all three of my horses. They jumped so well tonight, and I can’t wait to hopefully soon step them up to the Saturday night Grand Prix. I am very grateful to be able to work with Daniel Geitner and have such a great group of horses.”
Dorothy Douglas (USA) and Brittney Elliot’s En Fuego ES attempted to snag the time, but fell short stopping the clock at 35.067 seconds. Beth Goodwin Franco (USA) came a bit closer aboard 158 North St LLC’s Havanna with a time of 34.239 seconds.
Carly Campbell Cooper (CAN) and John Jamieson’s 11-year-old gelding Halifax KDW Z (Horion Delibersart x Whisper VD Spanjaardshoek) were the closest pair to Hoekstra’s time in 32.390 seconds to secure the second-place spot on the leaderboard.
Dorothy Douglas returned again aboard her other mount MTM Through The Looking Glass owned by Davenport Farms. The pair yielded a quick effort in 33.662 seconds, which ultimately was good for fourth.
Thomas Rebotton (FRA) and Signe Ostby’s 15-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Ircos IV (Nabab De Reve x Kadrille) were the second-to-last pair to attempt the short track. The pair soared around the course taking tidy turns to stop the jump-off clock at 32.914 seconds for third place.
Jelmer Hoekstra returned as the final athlete aboard his second mount Harold owned by Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC. The pair won last week’s $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix and found another quick time last night in 34.227 seconds for fifth.
$15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Origi Van’t Roosaker, Jelmer Hoekstra (NED), Jelmer Hoekstra: 0 | 0 | 31.778
2 Halifax KDW Z, Carly Campbell Cooper (CAN), John Jamieson: 0 | 0 | 32.390
3 Ircos IV, Thomas Rebotton (FRA), Signe Ostby: 0 | 0 | 32.914
4 MTM Through The Looking Glass, Dorothy Douglas (USA), Davenport Farms: 0 | 0 | 33.662
5 Harold, Jelmer Hoekstra (NED), Eyckenhoeve Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.227
6 Havanna, Beth Goodwin Franco (USA), 158 North St LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.239
7 En Fuego ES, Dorothy Douglas (USA), Brittney Elliot: 0 | 0 | 35.067
8 Cencorinue PS, Scott Keach (AUS), Kandor Farm LLC: 0 | 0 | 36.500
9 VDL Mewando, Chasen Boggio (USA), Chasen Boggio: 0 | 0 | 37.235
10 Eton, Jared Petersen (USA), Mary Meghann Huitt: 4 | 76.219
Sharn Wordley & Valentine Car Cruise to the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic Victory
On Friday afternoon, a field of competitive athletes competed over Kenny Krome’s (USA) elaborate tracks in the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic. At the end of the class, Sharn Wordley (NZL) emerged victorious securing first and third place.
Wordley secured top honors aboard Fernando Cardenas Jr.’s Valentine Car (Son of Juan Car x Sofia Car). Worldey and the 14-year-old Warmblood gelding were the final pair to attempt Krome’s jump-off track. The pair flew around the course not pumping the brakes once to stop the clock at 34.775 seconds.
Luis Sabino Goncalves (POR) and Sigma Stables LLC’s ten-year-old Selle Francias gelding Sigma (Numero Uno x Obi De La Louviere) found the second fastest time of 35.224 seconds to secure the red ribbon.
Wordley rounded out the top three aboard HF Farms LLC’s Chattanooga (Cornet’s Prinz x Abraxa). Worldey and the 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding navigated a speedy effort early in the order in 36.830 seconds.
$15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic Results:
1 Valentine Car, Sharn Wordley, Fernando Cardenas Jr.: 0 | 0 | 34.775
2 Sigma, Luis Sabino Goncalves, Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 0 | 35.224
3 Chattanooga, Sharn Wordley, HF Farms LLC: 0 | 0 | 36.830
4 Camiro Blue PS, Megan Wexler, April Miller: 0 | 0 | 37.235
5 Calderron, Gustavo Prato, Gustavo Prato: 0 | 0 | 37.784
6 Foolproof, Kelley Robinson, Kelley Robinson: 0 | 0 | 39.859
7 Sovereign, Lisa Goldman-Smolen: 0 | 8 | 37.719
8 DSH Lord Mydas, Will Baker, Dachis Sporthorses LLC: 4 | 70.172
9 Comtess 202, Santiago Lambre, Santiago Lambre: 4 | 78.627
10 Marius, Fernando Lozinsky, Fernando Lozinsky: 8 | 73.771
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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