Ocala, FL – Hunter Derby Friday took center stage as Hunter 1 witnessed an impressive field of over 80 exceptional hunters competing for top honors across three derbies: the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, and the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Course designer Patrick Rhodes crafted intricate tracks that challenged riders to highlight their horse’s rideability and brilliance.
In the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, a group of talented combinations tackled Rhodes’ derby tracks. However, it was Daniel Geitner and Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC’s Coltrane (Casall x Carano), who delivered effortless performances across both rounds to clinch the victory.
Reflecting on the challenging course, Geitner remarked, “It was pretty tricky today. Even the first round, it had some rollbacks and some bending lines. It rode careful and you really had to ride to keep all the rails up.”
Coltrane was up for the challenge and the pair delivered a seamless first round, earning an impressive score of 88.
Heading into the handy round, Geitner and the 10-year-old KWPN gelding were sitting in second place, “One, two and three were pretty tidy. The inside turn to the new gate at the end that we didn’t jump in the first round, ended up being pretty tricky too. But I knew Coltrane was up for it. He is game for anything.”
Executing with finesse, the pair navigated the handy track flawlessly, securing a score of 90 and an overall total of 178 to take home the blue ribbon.
“I am so glad he won. He’s been a bridesmaid almost every week. This is the first week his owners are here, so he picked an awesome time to win one. It couldn’t have been a better day. Now, we will take a little bit of a break next week and gear up for the $75,000 derbies during week XII.”
$20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC: 88 | 90 | 178
2 Viscolano, Robert Stucky, Falcon Ridge Stables: 89 | 86 | 175
3 Shameless, Josh Dolan, Kim Domenicone: 85.5 | 87 | 172.5
4 MTM Coco, Sarah Barge, Steven Saumell: 87 | 83 | 170
5 Billy Abraham, Rowan Willis, Seven Oak Sporthorses: 81 | 85 | 166
6 Lex Lano, Daniel Geitner, Donald Stewart: 86.5 | 79 | 165.5
7 Chacco Ricco, Erika Moore, Noble Steeds LLC: 83 | 81 | 164
8 Waymaker, Camryn Halley, Halley Barrett Sporthorses: 82 | 75 | 157
9 Square Won, Madison Stewart, Balmoral: 84 | 72.5 | 156.5
10 Easy Money, Daniel Geitner, Laura Cramer: 86 | 48 | 134
Jennifer Jones and Soundcheck Score the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Win
The $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby marked the exciting start of Hunter Derby Friday during Week X of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series. Jennifer Jones once again demonstrated her skills in the open derby, capturing victory aboard Brick City Equestrian LLC’s Soundcheck (Stakkato Gold x P-Cigalle).
Jones guided all three of her mounts through stellar first rounds, scoring a remarkable 92 on Copper Canyon, 90 on Soundcheck, and 88 on Lincoln.
Navigating the handy course was quite the challenge. “The handy was pretty hard. The first oxer was a bit wider, and the horses don’t exactly know where they are going when you canter right in,” she shared. “On Lincoln, I just turned too much in the air, and he jumped the oxer like a vertical. Soundcheck, he’s pretty adjustable and cat like. The handy was the easiest on him. On my last, I was just too deep to the first jump, but he tried so hard, then when I needed him to try hard again to the other oxer, he just got a little careful and didn’t cover the width of it.”
Despite unfortunate rails for Copper Canyon and Lincoln in the handy, Jones delivered a stunning performance aboard eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding Soundcheck, securing an impressive 89 in the handy round for a two-round total of 179.
“Soundcheck is like a little dirt bike. He just goes around the ring. This is my third year riding him, so I know him pretty well. You just have to think about what you want to do, and he’s just right there every step of the way.”
$15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Soundcheck, Jennifer Jones, Brick City Equestrian LLC: 90 | 89 | 179
2 Soho, Ashleen Lee, Daphne Meadows: 86 | 87 | 173
3 My Autograf, Kevin Kirk, Deborah Shepherd: 83.5 | 86 | 169.5
4 No Doubt, Matt Martin, Roaring Brook LLC: 86 | 80 | 166
5 Suede, Hillary Johnson, Copper Fox LLC: 80 | 85 | 165
6 Centerstage, Jordan Melfi, Bill Rube: 84 | 78 | 162
7 Blue Monday, Hillary Johnson, Stephanie Battershall: 81 | 79 | 160
8 Aladdin, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 81.5 | 76 | 157.5
9 Copper Canyon, Jennifer Jones, Elle Gibbs: 88 | 48 | 136
10 Cupido ZG Z, Megan Wexler, Catherine Merrill: 91 | 46 | 137
Madison Stewart and Radio City Rock the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Forty horse-and-rider combinations took to Hunter 1 to vie for top honors in the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Madison Stewart, in a newly formed partnership with Roaring Fork Farms LLC’s Radio City, emerged victorious.
Radio City is a brand-new partner for Stewart. “This is my first time ever riding ‘Radio’.” Although the partnership is new, Stewart and the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding navigated the first round effortlessly for score of 76.
Returning for the handy round with some ground to cover, Stewart executed a solid plan. “The walk part of the handy was pretty interesting, but my horse was perfect. I just tried to be smooth everywhere and hug a few jumps to make it has handy as I could. But, overall I thought it was pretty fun!”
The pair maneuvered through the handy track, earning an impressive score of 88 and a total of 164 for the win.
Stewart, a consistent competitor at WEC throughout the circuit, revealed her favorite moment, “I showed in the Premier Equitation Cup Championship and that was a lot of fun. But, my favorite part of that week was showing in the junior hunters in that ring. The jumps were gorgeous, and it was such a cool experience.”
$15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Radio City, Madison Stewart, Roaring Fork Farms LLC: 76 | 88 | 164
2 HH Eagle Scout, Ana Lisa Carr, Free Solo LLC: 81.5 | 78 | 159.5
3 Quicken 2 PR, Catherine Moorhead, Plc Farm: 78.5 | 74.5 | 153
4 Aca Ever In Your Favor, Sara Sprague, Ava Sweeney: 74.5 | 78 | 152.5
5 Easy B, Gabriella Rivera, Gabriella Rivera: 72 | 79 | 151
6 HH Himself, Ana Lisa Carr, Free Solo LLC: 73.5 | 77 | 150.5
7 Watermark, Kiley Prime, Kiley Prime: 81 | 66.5 | 147.5
8 Captain Jack, Ava Maria Guindi, Ava Maria Guindi: 78 | 69 | 147
9 Carmacho, Jordyn Mirgoli, Jordyn Mirgoli: 73 | 66 | 139
10 Catwalk Z, Jay Potterfield-Zara, Sara Potterfield: 75.5 | 60 | 135.5
‘THE STYLE OF RIDING AWARD’
Before the start of the handy round in the $15,000 USHJA National 3′ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, Bill Rube presented the prestigious Style of Riding Award to Kiley Prime for her classic style and sportsmanship. 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. Prime received a duffel bag and wore a white rose corsage on her lapel throughout the handy round to signify her achievement.
Visit HorseShowing.com for final results.
Spectators are welcome! From now until March 24, 2024, experience the thrill of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
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