Ocala, FL – A highlight of Week VIII of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series, Hunter Derby Friday showcased three highly competitive derbies; $12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby where a stunning field of hunters attempted natural tracks designed by Pat Muskus and several athletes managed to reach scores into the 90s.
Maria Rasmussen prevailed in the $12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby aboard Goodfella (Favorit Ask x WI A’Qua) owned by Maya Grove.
Rasmussen and the 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding yielded a superb effort in the first-round for a score of 93.
When it came time to return for the handy on Goodfella, Rasmussen knew what she had to do, “It was a tough course. You had to pick the right track and there were so many options. It made my head hurt,” joked Rasmussen. “But I knew Daniel had a good trip in the first round and a handy horse. Coming back, we were only separated by one point, so I knew I had to be as tidy as I could, but my horse loves that. It’s his favorite thing.”
Rasmussen and Goodfella took each inside turn available and jumped all four high options for a score of 89 for a two-round total of 181 for the victory.
“The horses feel like they are getting better and better each week. They are more in-tune and I think they’re ready for Derby Finals. Goodfella felt so great today, I might not even show him next week. It’s been great having this to help prepare,” Rasmussen shared about her time at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
$12,500 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Goodfella, Maria Rasmussen, Maya Grove: 92 | 89 | 181
2 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Magnolia Lane Stables, LLC: 93 | 87 | 180
3 Carado, Jordan Melfi, Jordan Melfi: 89 | 90 | 179
4 Epic’s La Mia, Kierstin Antoniadis, Epic Sporthorses, LLC: 82 | 89 | 171
5 Catumet, Lauren Schweppe, Cynthia Bourdeau: 86 | 84 | 170
6 Ava, Kathryn Jarriel, Kathryn Jarriel: 83 | 82 | 165
7 SVF On My Own, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 50 | 86 | 136
8 Casa Quo Vadis, Chelsea Stopford, Dreams Come True Horses LLC: 79 | 45 | 124
9 Isle Royale, Rebecca Brady, Deborah Wroblewski: 48 | 75 | 123
10 Cliff Affair, Skylar Gurtis, Laura Barrett: 72 | 44 | 116
Two-for-Two for Daniel Geitner & Even Steven in the $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby
The $10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Derby saw a strong field of athletes, but it was Daniel Geitner that not only piloted Even Steven (Embracee x Gulf Star) to his second consecutive derby win, but also secured second place with Verified Investing LLC’s For Diamonds Z.
Geitner saved Even Steven this week specifically for today’s derby, “He was fantastic today. I purposely didn’t show him all week because he’s shown two weeks in a row, so we took him back to the farm and let him have a break. He felt fresh and ready to go. I maybe made a little mistake in the first-round, turning left after the last jump and he played a little, but he made up for it in the handy.”
For Diamonds Z was a catch ride for Geitner, and although the partnership is new, the pair were perfectly in tune and earned a high score of 88 in the first round.
“I’ve never ridden her before today. She’s Mark and Michelle Stopfords’. They called yesterday and asked if I could show her in the derby. The mare was great, a little green in the first round, so we practiced a few little things for the handy and she was fantastic.”
Geitner came back first on Even Steven for the handy with a first-round score of 84, “The handy was a bit tricky. The first jump was in a difficult spot, if you went inside the turn was short. You had to trust your horse and they had to trust you. The first two turns in the beginning were tricky, but the rest you could gallop and show off your horse.”
Geitner and the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding impressed the judges for a high score of 93 for a two-round total of 177.
The success didn’t stop there, Geitner rode For Diamonds Z to another stellar effort for a score of 88 for an overall score of 175 for second place.
$10,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Even Steven, Daniel Geitner, Margaret Russell: 84 | 93 | 177
2 For Diamonds Z, Daniel Geitner, Verified Inesting LLC: 87 | 88 | 175
3 Party Started, Penny Lombardo, Tricia Barr: 90 | 84 | 174
4 Hobbs Lane, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 78 | 88 | 166
5 MTM Nonchalant, Crystal Young, Adello Alletto: 86 | 78 | 164
6 Abudabi, Robert Mendoza, It’s All Covered, LLC: 74 | 74 | 148
7 Sunday Morning, Stone McCormick, Morgan Nicholas: 79 | 58 | 137
8 Julington, Jenny Miller, Jenny Miller: 49 | 82 | 131
9 RSH Fenomene Des Reves, Markie Morrison, Sofia Cruz: 60 | 68 | 128
10 GFS Mikado, Jake Evans, Sergent Stables, LLC: 72 | 49 | 121
Second Consecutive Win for Lillian Geitner & Banks Mill in the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Week VIII of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series saw a strong field of 23 junior and amateur athletes put forth their best efforts over Pat Muskus’ flowing tracks. Lillian Geitner followed in her father’s footsteps for the second consecutive week in a row with Banks Mill in the $10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby.
Geitner showed her talents by navigating a seamless first round effort aboard the 12-year-old Warmblood gelding for a score of 85.
“I thought it was a great course. It was easy with a few bending lines, a simple in-and-out and a few single oxers. Each jump came up perfectly for us,” shared Geitner about the first-round track.
The pair returned for the handy sitting in third place, “I wanted to make a lot of nice, neat turns, but play it safe. The handy was a lot of fun and I couldn’t be happier with our round.”
The pair floated around the winding track, taking each tidy option to earn a high score of 92 for a two-round total of 177.
Geitner has enjoyed her time showing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “It’s been a fun few weeks. It’s so nice to be able to compete in the indoors and stay cool. The courses have been great, and the jumps are beautiful. I am excited to come back this winter.”
$10,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Banks Mill, Lillian Geitner, Daniel Geitner: 85 | 92 | 177
2 Consanto, Lily Toensing, Lily Toensing:85 | 90 | 176
3 K&T Games of Thrones, Ella Bostwick, Christine Bostwick: 88 | 82 | 170
4 Cambastian, Evana Somareddy, Evana Somareddy: 78 | 82 | 160
5 Cardinal, Zara Humayun, Zara Humayun: 76 | 80 | 156
6 Hideaway, Cece Williamson, Cece Williamson: 83 | 70 | 153
7 Churchill Blue, Reagan Williams, RPW Show Horses, LLC: 82 | 67 | 149
8 Edouard, Lauren Hunt, Lauren Hunt: 80 | 64 | 144
9 Capitano HDH, Shay Mlak, Shay Mlak: 77 | 61 | 138
10 Brunos Bellini R, Catherine Moorhead, Pic Farm: 84 | 50 | 134
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
The UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center
The UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center provides leading-edge patient care in a new 40,000-square-foot hospital facility located in Ocala, Florida. Veterinarians from the University of Florida offer world-class veterinary care and advanced diagnostics and treatment for horses, dogs and cats.
Hours of Operation:
Equine Animal Hospital Open Monday – Sunday, 8am-5pm
Small Animal Hospital, Open Monday – Saturday, 8am-5pm
Contact us at 352-414-3858.