Ocala, FL – Twenty-four developing horse-and-rider combinations took center stage this afternoon to compete in the $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. Catsy Cruz (MEX) set the tracks for the future stars of show jumping where an even eight jumped their way to the short course. Ultimately, Dominique Damico and Amberfax Farm, Inc’s Jamaica (Plot Blue x Utah SZ) galloped away with the win and a bright future ahead.
Damico spoke about the challenging first round, “The time was quite tight. I think I was just under the time with Jamaica. It was a long course, it takes you all over the ring, but it’s so much fun to ride in a ring like that. The track itself rode nicely; the time was the hardest thing about it.”
Damico and the nine-year-old KPWN gelding made light work of the first round stoping the clock just five tenths of a second short from the tight time allowed to advance to the immediate jump-off. At the sound of the tone, the pair were off, “I had a simple plan – to run,” laughed Damico.
“From one to two to three, I just wanted to fly. I actually thought about doing an eight from jump 10 to 14 in the jump-off, but it didn’t show up. I was able to really gallop over to the outside line which is where I think I made up most the time,” shared Damico about her jump-off strategy.
The pair flew through the timers in 36.933 seconds to secure the top place spot on the leaderboard.
Damico spoke about her speedy partner Jamaica, “He just turned nine years old. He’s owned by my customers Amberfax Farm, Inc. We bought him as a seven-year-old from Ilan Ferder. I’ve been riding him ever since and he’s been nothing but incredible. He’s super-fast and careful, much like a dirt bike out there.”
Jamaica has a promising career ahead according to Damico, “He’s for sale and I’d hate to let him go, but I know he’s going to go and do some amazing things.”
Alberto Michan (ISR) clocked in less than a second behind Damico in 37.478 seconds aboard Maeve O’Conoor’s eight-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Kabuki (VDL Harley x Evita) to secure second place honors.
Thursday’s Welcome Prix winner Tracy Fenney (USA) piloted yet another horse from her talented string to a podium finish. Fenney and MTM Peanut (Capistrano x Radunar), nine-year-old Warmblood gelding owned by MTM Farm stopped the clock just three tenths of a second short from second place in 37.776 seconds to round out the top three.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Jamaica, Dominque Damico, Amberfax Farm, Inc.: 0 | 0 | 36.933
2 Kabuki, Alberto Michan, Maeve O’Connor: 0 | 0 | 37.478
3 MTM Peanut, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 0 | 0 | 37.776
4 ES Keminko N, William Simpson, Will Simpson Stables, Inc.: 0 | 0 | 38.247
5 Fabio, Savannah Unger, Savannah Show Stables, LLC: 0 | 0 | 39.704
6 Cezarro, Bryn Sadler, Showcase 81, LLC: 0 | 4 | 36.300
7 Scoppe De Septon Z, Luis Sabino Goncalves, Sigma Stables LLC: 0 | 4 | 37.542
8 One Direction, Tom Foley, Sher Al Farm: 0 | 4 | 41.987
9 Bayra, Brooke Kemper, Bayra LLC: 1 | 75.050
10 Calicia, Glenn Hartigan, Franziska Klause: 1 | 75.270
Lillian Geitner & Dale Car Cruise to the Top in the $2,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.30m-1.35m
On Friday night, the $2,000 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper 1.30m-1.35m returned to the WEC Grand Arena under the lights to give aspiring athletes a chance to compete in a new unique atmosphere. Friday’s $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby winner, Lillian Geitner switched out her shadbelly for a jumper coat and dominated the class with Dale Car (Quincy Car x Kaline De Moens) owned by Fernando Cardenas.
Geitner and the speedy 10-year-old Oldenburg mare were well under the time allowed in the first round with a quick and clear effort in 64.699 seconds.
Geitner spoke Dale Car, “We call her Dolly because she needs a girly name. She’s an incredible horse. She’s spicy for sure and is always ready to go super-fast. I have been riding her since May and when I first started, I thought she was a lot of horse, because I’ve never really ridden a hot horse before, but with each ride, I fall in love with her more.”
The pair returned for the jump with a simple plan, “I just wanted to be really fast. It wasn’t a jump-off where you could do many tight turns, so I just tried to be as quick as I could everywhere.”
The pair flew through the timers in 39.540 seconds for the win.
Geitner loved showing in the WEC Grand Arena on Friday night, “It was amazing showing under the lights. I felt like I was doing the grand prix. It’s a great experience because one day I want to do the Saturday night grands prix. It’s helping me work my way up there.”
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.