Ocala, FL – The $10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix took place on Saturday afternoon with thirty-seven pairings vying for the win over a track built by FEI Level III course designer Catsy Cruz (MEX). It was pathfinder, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen and Serenity Farm’s Isabella Van De Zuuthoeve (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Gamilla De Ninive) that posted a time that was simply unbeatable.
Cruciotti Vanderveen and the eight-year-old Belgian Sporthorse mare were the first pair down the ramp, creating a seamless first round in 71.995 seconds, well within the time allowed of 80 seconds.
“Isabella Van De Zuuthoeve is a horse that I have since the end of her six-year-old year. She’s eight this yet and I know her quite well. She had a bit of time off earlier this year due to a tooth problem, so we got pushed behind on our progress. So, for four months she wasn’t doing too much. Now’s she’s back in the groove and I was really pleased to have her back in great form, no matter what the results were,” said Cruciotti Vanderveen.
Cruciotti Vanderveen and the skilled young mare advanced straight to the jump-off, “I know she’s a naturally quite fast, so I used that to my advantage to put enough pressure on the rest of the class, but I do have a tendency of wanting to go a little too quick.”
The speedy duo effortlessly rolled around the course stopping the clock at an uncatchable 38.366 seconds.
Cruciotti Vanderveen was very happy to end her last week of Summer Series with a win, “We have had a blast here. We are very grateful to have the opportunity to show here. The facility is first-class and it is all for the horses and the riders, from the stabling, fans, shaded areas for the horses and not to mention the amazing footing and incredible atmosphere that they provide for us. We are looking forward to coming back!”
Tanimara Macari (MEX) and her own 12-year-old KWPN mare Feminka (Verdi TN x Vaminka) were just behind the winning pair with a quick time of 38.808 seconds to hold second.
Third place was secured by Gwyneth Babington and Ernst Hofschroer’s Flinstering (Otangelo x Korhaya). Babington and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding yielded a swift jump-off to stop the clock at 39.943 seconds.
$10,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Isabella Van De Zuuthoeve, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen, Serenity Farm: 0 | 0 | 38.366
2 Feminka, Tanimara Macari, Tanimara Macari: 0 | 0 | 38.808
3 Flinstering, Gwyneth Babington, Ernst Hofschroer: 0 | 0 | 39.943
4 Chacco Lait, Avery Erickson, Avery Erickson: 0 | 0 | 40.005
5 Chapeau PS Z, Luis Pedro Biraben, Luis Pedro Biraben: 0 | 0 | 40.486
6 California PJ, Bree Rosales, Gail Dady: 0 | 0 | 40.588
7 Kennedy Z, Ansgar Holtgers Jr, Gut Einhaus, LLC: 0 | 0 | 42.304
8 Ravello, Justine Dutton, The Ravello Syndicate: 0 | 0 | 44.461
9 Vivant’s Air PS, Alejandro Karolyi, Karolyi Showjumping Inc: 0 | 0 | 44.782
10 Voigtsdorfs Quonschbob, Bree Rosales, Gail Dady: 0 | 4 | 38.393
Harold Chopping & Quadrant 3 Prevail in the $10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic
Week VIII of World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s 2022 USEF Summer Series closed with the final feature class of the week, the $10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic. A strong field of 23 horse-and-rider combinations vied for the top prize over Catsy Cruz’s final test of the week, but it was Harold Chopping and Rein Family LLC’s Quadrant 3 (Quadros x O-Carlotta) that prevailed.
Of the 23 starters, only four managed to deliver clear first rounds and two jumped double clear, with Chopping leading the victory gallop.
Chopping and the 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding were the first pair to deliver a clean first round, “Going early in a Table II.2b class, you don’t have the benefit of knowing how many or who you’re up against in the jump-off, so the strategy can’t be the same,” said Chopping.
“My goal was to lay down a reasonable track that used Quadrant 3’s strengths. He has an enormous stride and the jump-off suit him. The way that the jump-off started, you could count from one to two, then leave out to three. The abstract turn to the oxer was off your eye, then had to do the five to the double. Everyone did the same thing after the double combination to the next fence, then to the last one, it was placed in the corner, where you could gallop, but I didn’t think that was the place to win the class.”
Chopping and Quadrant 3 soared over the final fence to stop the clock at 36.946 seconds which couldn’t be caught.
Chopping spoke about the scopey gelding, “Mark and Tara Rein own him and the horse that I placed sixth on. They are great supporters of mine. Quadrant 3 will jump the welcome prix and grand prix next week. Being the first of three weeks, I wanted to just get in the ring and compete a bit. Now I feel quite ready for next week.”
Joshua Tabor and Carat Group LLC’s 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding Concanto (Connor x Wahnnever S) were the only other pairing to leave all the rails up in a time of 38.293 seconds to guarantee second place.
The fastest of the two four-faulters in the jump-off was found by Leslie Howard and Laure Sudreau and Peter Howard’s 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Clip De La Haye Z . The pair navigated a quick round in 38.673 seconds, but fell victim to one rail down.
$10,000 1.40m Jumper Classic Results:
1 Quadrant 3, Harold Chopping, Rein Family LLC: 0 | 0 | 36.946
2 Concanto, Joshua Tabor, Carat Group LLC: 0 | 0 | 38.293
3 Clip De La Haye Z, Leslie Howard, Laure Sudreau & Peter Howard: 0 | 4 | 38.673
4 Cencorinue PS, Scott Keach, Kandor Farm LLC: 0 | 4 | 40.380
5 Calispera, Joshua Tabor, Carat Group LLC: 4 | 78.490
6 Gerderieka II VI, Harold Chopping, Rein Family LLC: 4 | 79.713
7 Feminka, Tanimara Macari, Tanimara Macari: 4 | 80.459
8 Hinosa C, Alejandro Karolyi, Karolyi Showjumping Inc.: 4 | 81.219
9 Berlin, Hannah Matts, Hannah Matts: 4 | 81.564
10 Chapeau PS Z, Luis Pedro Biraben, Luis Pedro Biraben: 4 | 81.663