The first Hunter Derby Friday of World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s 2022 USEF Summer Series featured more than 60 elegant horse-and-rider combinations competing for the blue ribbon in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby and the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Doug Russell designed the winding tracks the featured stunning natural fences that encouraged the hunters to show off their brilliant jumping styles.
Maria Rasmussen was simply unbeatable in this evening’s $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, securing both first and second place. Competition was fierce in the in the big derby with scores soaring into the 90s, but Rasmussen and her two star-studded mounts hunted their way to the top placings.
Rasmussen and Maya Grove’s Goodfella (Favorit Ask x WI A’Qua) earned the blue ribbon, producing a seamless first round for a score of 89.
“We have only had Goodfella for a few months, but he has been nothing but amazing. He does the 3’3 Large Juniors with his owner Maya,” said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen and the 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding were the last pair to try their hand at the handy course, “The two horses that I had coming back in the handy are very nimble, so I was able to make all of the inside turns that Doug gave us. It was a super fun course and Goodfella was perfect.”
Rasmussen and Goodfella received the highest handy score of 91 for a two-round total of 180 for the win. Rasmussen also took home second place aboard Sunset View Farm LLC’s Worthy.
$12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1.Goodfella, Maria Rasmussen, Maya Grove: 89 | 91 | 180
2. Worthy, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 85 | 90 | 175
3. Shutterbug, Timothy Maddrix, Sarah Campbell: 86 | 83 | 169
4. Casimir Ice, Isaac Leffkowitz, Isaac Leffkowitz: 81 | 87 | 168
5. Caligua, Clair Kellner, Suzanne Cayatte: 85.5 | 79 | 165.5
6. Belino 8, Danielle Menker, Sergent Stables, LLC: 76 | 75 | 151
7. Starfighter, Taylor Anna Adams, Donald Stewart: 71 | 76 | 147
8. MTM Incanto, Dorothy Douglas, MTM Farm: 49 | 86 | 135
9. High Renaissance, Jenny Miller, Della Equestrian: 46 | 77 | 123
10. Miyamoto Musashi, Timothy Maddrix, Lynne Skaryak: 43 | 44 | 87
Clair Kellner & Inspiration Shine in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Twenty-three beautiful hunters gathered at CaptiveOne Advisors Arena 1 early this morning to contest the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby, but it was Clair Kellner and Inspiration (Numero Uno x C’est Sym Bien) that earned the highest overall score from the judges.
Kellner and the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding laid down a lovely first round taking all three high options to earn a score of 89.
Kellner has been riding Inspiration for quite some time, “I have been riding him since he was four. He is an amazing horse and a total ham. He has a lot of character, but always tries for me.”
Kellner and Inspiration were the third to last combination to return for the handy, “I really enjoyed the courses today. The handy had a lot of fun options where you could show off.” Kellner and Inspiration floated around the turns and jumped each fence in perfect form to earn a score of 86 for a two-round total of 175 for the win.
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1.Inspriation, Clair Kellner, Mindy Carreja: 89 | 86 | 175
2. Hobbs Lane, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 88 | 84 | 172
3. Triple Gold, Robert Stucky, Carone Stucky: 91 | 80 | 171
4. Candid Traveler, Timothy Maddrix, Michelle Guardino-Dettelbach: 86 | 82 | 168
5. MTM Exceptional, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 78 | 89.25 | 167.25
6. Cataumet, Lauren Schweppe, Cynthia Boudreau: 76 | 91 | 167
7. SVF James, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC: 81 | 81 | 162
8. Mr. Big, Isaac Leffkowitz, Jai Smith Rezac: 83 | 70 | 153
9. For Profit Z, Maria Rasmussen, Maya Grove: 78.5 | 70 | 148.5
10. Hallmark, Maria Rasmussen. Maya Grove: 80 | 43 | 123
Lilly French & Citation Top the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
The $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby saw an impressive field of 29 compete for the victory, but none could best Lilly French and Douglas Wheeler’s Citation (Thunder Van De Zuuthoeve x Argenta VD Berghoeve).
French and the eight-year-old Warmblood gelding delivered a superb first round while opting to take all three high options to earn a score of 90.
Citation is new mount for French, “I started riding him off and on a couple of months ago. This is my third show with him and I think we really figured it out this week.”
French and Citation were the last pair to return for the handy, “I had two horses coming back for the handy, so I experimented on my first horse and found what I needed to change. I fixed my track to the first jump then after that I told myself to relax and stay patient.”
French and Citation delivered a gorgeous handy round to secure a score of 87 for an overall score of 177.
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/ Am Hunter Derby Results:
1.Citation, Lilly French, Douglas Wheeler: 90 | 87 | 177
2. Versailles, Avery Wegmann, Allison Wegmann: 86.5 | 88 | 174.5
3. Bender, Kyra Cordell, Kyra Cordell: 87 | 84.5 | 171.5
4. Congo MCF, Madeline Jordan, Madeline Jordan: 86 | 85 | 171
5. Mojito Z, Macie Sousa, Macie Sousa: 91 | 77 | 168
6. Calrissian, Lilly French Stephanie Keen: 83 | 76 | 159
7. Chaval V, Sophie Hendriksen, Sophie Hendriksen: 82 | 75 | 157
8. Without A Traces, Jessica Hunkiar, Jessica Hunkiar: 76.5 | 78 | 154.5
9. Minute Maximus, Maggie Britt, Maggie Britt: 75 | 70 | 145.5
10. Kenobi, Gabriella Savettiere, Derek Petersen: 75 | 68 | 143
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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