Ocala, FL – Feature competition resumed this afternoon during week III of the 2023 Winter Spectacular Show Series as 28 starters contested FEI Level III course designer Anderson Lima’s (BRA) first round track in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix with the hopes of qualifying for the immediate jump-off. Jelmer Hoekstra (NED) and Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC’s Harold (Dallas VDL x Wajomien) started early in the order and laid down an impressive performance that proved uncatchable.
A welcoming first round track allowed 14 entries to jump clear. Of the 14, ten yielded a double-clean effort.
Jelmer Hoekstra was the second athlete to qualify for Lima’s short track, with the jump-off time set by pathfinder Bryn Salder and Showcase 81, LLC’s Cezarro in 37.390 seconds.
Hoekstra piloted the scopey 11-year-old KWPN gelding to his first clean round. “Harold just arrived after Christmas. He is owned by Niels Haesen and Andrew Vaziri. He’s such a fighter and is such a naturally fast horse,” Hoekstra shared.
“He won the 1.20m and then the 1.30m, then I showed him once in a 1.35m. Now he’s just won this class. He’s a true athlete and such a nice horse. Throughout the entire ride today, he felt safe, confident and so strong. I am very thankful to be able to ride him,” said Hoekstra.
The speedy pair advanced straight to the short course, “I knew I could go fast with Harold. He is very experienced in the jump-offs and is fast off the ground. So I just tried to stay tidy in the turns and find everything forward.”
Hoekstra and Harold flew around the track to find a blistering fast time of 34.782 seconds, which proved uncatchable for the rest of the field.
“I think I had the time, when I did nine up the first line. Most riders were doing the ten, but both of my horses have a big step, so I think that’s what set us apart,” explained Hoekstra.
Hoekstra put in another clean effort later in the order aboard his own eight-year-old KWPN mare K-One PGO (F-One USA x Odessa) ultimately securing fourth place. “I have owned her since she was a foal, and developed her up through the ranks. She just came over from Europe, so she is still getting back into top form. She felt amazing in the first round and I am excited to get her into the bigger classes soon.”
Hoekstra is enthusiastic about competing at the WEC Ocala venue, “I am so thrilled to be here. We are unbelievably lucky to have such an incredible facility like this. I am looking forward to the rest of the circuit here.”
Second place finisher William Simpson (USA) and Two Socks Farm LLC’s ten-year-old Holsteiner stallion Quentin VA (Quarz x Trixie) came close to Hoekstra’s time, but was just seven tenths behind with a 35.547 second jump-off time.
Jared Petersen and Mary Meghann Huitt’s 14-year-old KWPN gelding Eton (Clinton x Nircolanda) also came close to the winning time after a very efficient jump-off finishing in 35.641 seconds to ultimately take home the yellow ribbon.
$15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Harold, Jelmer Hoekstra, Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC: 0 | 0 | 34.782
2 Quentin VA, William Simpson, Two Socks Farm LLC: 0 | 0 | 35.547
3 Eton, Jared Petersen, Mary Meghann Huitt: 0 | 0 | 35.641
4 K-One PGO, Jelmer Hoekstra, Jelmer Hoekstra: 0 | 0 | 35.664
5 Ambre De La Cense, Hunter Holloway, Hays Investment Corp.: 0 | 0 | 36.230
6 Karlotta CL, Manuel Torres, Alejandra Ortiz Orozco: 0 | 0 | 36.693
7 Cezarro, Bryn Sadler, Showcase 81, LLC: 0 | 0 | 37.390
8 Geronimo SCF, Harold Chopping, Diane Halpin: 0 | 0 | 37.605
9 Gin Tonic 158, Sam Pegg, Sam Pegg: 0 | 0 | 37.733
10 Rubens D’Ysieux, Sara Kozumplik, Rubens D’Ysieux Syndicate, LLC: 0 | 0 | 41.510
Lisa Goldman-Smolen & Sovereign Claim $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic Victory
On Friday afternoon, the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic was the feature event in the WEC Grand Arena as 19 horse-and-rider combinations vied for the top prize over a challenging track built by Anderson Lima (BRA). Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Barbara Disko’s Sovereign (Frontal x Galledent) snagged the victory and galloped away with the champion title.
Eleven of the 19 entries delivered a clean first round and went straight to the jump-off. Competition was fierce over the short course with the top three spots beings being separated by less than a second.
Goldman-Smolen and the 14-year-old Selle Francais stallion found a textbook first round well under the time allowed in 70.856 seconds to qualify for the jump-off.
The pair jumped-off immediately finding each fence on a forward gallop and yielding tight turns to stop the jump-off clock at 39.625 seconds for the win.
Stefanie Collier and Fernando Comune’s Caretoo (Catoo x Felina IV) were just behind Goldman-Smolen. Collier and the 11-year-old gelding put forth a stellar effort in the jump-off stopping the clock just seven hundredths of a second behind the winning pair in 39.696 seconds.
Alexanne Thibault and her own Cidanos Z secured the third fastest time in the $15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic. Just last week, Thibault and Cidanos Z galloped away with the victory in the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix. The pair continued their success on Friday, after finding a very quick track in the jump-off in 39.952 seconds to round out the top three.
$15,000 1.40m Jumper Classic Results:
1 Sovereign, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Barbara Disko: 0 | 0 | 39.625
2 Caretoo, Stefanie Collier, Fernando Comune: 0 | 0 | 39.969
3 Cidanos Z, Alexanne Thibault, Alexanne Thibault: 0 | 0 | 39.952
4 Nike, Lisa Goldman-Smolen, Lisa Goldman-Smolen: 0 | 0 | 40.543
5 Vienna, Tiffany Foster, Artisan Farms, LLC: 0 | 0 | 41.072
6 Blue’s Yer Daddy, Kelley Robinson, Kelley Robinson: 0 | 0 | 42.328
7 Cinven CR, Bryn Sadler, Showcase 81, LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.358
8 FuFu Z, Taylor A Flury, Aliboo Farm Inc.: 0 | 0 | 47.126
9 Sigma, Luis Sabino Goncalves, Sigma StablesLLC: 0 | 4 | 40.729
10 Salut CA-VA, Alicia Wilkinson, Horse Show Leases LLC: 0 | 4 | 44.431
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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