Wilmington, Ohio – Michaella Gerlacher emerged victorious with Frances Conti’s Callestino (Cellestial x Olympic Fire) in the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington Winter Classic 1.
Surrounded by her longtime True Course team, Gerlacher was thrilled to climb the leaderboard in Friday’s class with her supportive group behind her.
“It feels great to be on top! It feels like it has been my whole life waiting,” Gerlacher laughed. “It really has been since the first year WEC was open that I have won a derby here. I have gotten a million second places though!”
Aboard the eight-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Gerlacher set the tone with a first-round score of 90 and returned on top for the handy.
Though the handy asked technical questions, Gerlacher guided her young mount to a winning track, “The course was really good for him. He loves to get on a nice gallop and continue going forward. I didn’t want to risk it with the inside turns because he is still quite young. He is still in his 3’3 green year, so he still has more to learn.”
With a handy score of 87 and an overall of 177, the duo topped the leaderboard to kick-off the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series.
Gerlacher and trainer Sarah Ash were thankful to Callestino’s owners, “Frances Conti owns ‘Tino’ [Callestino]. She is the nicest girl in the world, and they all adore him. They are the best family!”
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Callestino, Michaella Gerlacher, Frances Conti | 90 | 87 | 177
2 Nicholas The Third, Sarah Duhon, Lorrie Canady | 86 | 87 | 173
3 Cinda, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 79 | 82 | 161
4 Quattro 39, Kara Treiber, Jenna Wedemeyer Design Inc | 80 | 78.5 | 158.5
5 Dalliance, Michaella Gerlacher, Charlotte Kunes | 81 | 77 | 158
6 Cool Pleasure VDL, Kayla Schenk, Megan Westrick | 75 | 78 | 153
7 Need To Know, Sarah Duhon, Gwendolyn McCormick | 78 | 67 | 145
8 Executive Order, Kartina Shulda, Maeve Schrif | 74 | 68 | 142
9 Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly, Elizabeth Becker | 89 | 44 | 133
10 Brighton, Mackenzie Suffy, Lee Ann Ingram 33 | 80 | 113
Jordan Melfi Shines on MF Starboy in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby
The $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby began the first Hunter Derby Friday of the 2024 Winter in the Midwest Series. Of 19 competitors, Jordan Melfi (USA) surpassed the competition with MF Starboy (Like Angel x Frisia) for the win.
Melfi, of Bellmawr, New Jersey, piloted Michael Britt-Leon’s seven-year-old Westphalian gelding to an overall score 16 points higher than second place.
Melfi spoke favorably of his young mount, “This is our last stop of the year, and he has been perfect. He is only seven and has had a really great year. He is such a good boy. I am so thankful to be riding him, he is such an awesome horse.”
Going into the handy with a first-round score of 94 and a significant lead, Melfi was confident that the second round was suitable for his mount.
“I thought the courses were really good. The handy was fitting fro him because he likes to land the left lead and I am a bit better off the left lead. There were a lot options where you could go inside and it gave you the opportunity to show off your horse, but gave you the option to go around everywhere as well,” said Melfi.
The duo was nearly perfect, earning a second-round score of 92 and a two-round total of 186 for the win.
Melfi was delighted with his first ever trip to WEC – Ohio, “I have been to Ocala, and after being there I really wanted to see what Ohio was all about. I love it here and am happy that we came. It is so homey here!”
$15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby Results:
1 MF Starboy, Jordan Melfi, Michael Britt-Leon | 94 | 92 | 186
2 Counselor, Claire Mullally, Judgement Farms LLC | 87 | 83 | 170
3 Class Act, Kelly O’Bryan, Kelly O’Bryan |70 | 81 | 151
4 Speechless, Eva Orlando, Eva Orlando | 68 | 82 | 150
5 Watch Hill, Olivia Wilson, Stonegate Equine Facility LLC | 79 | 69 | 148
6 Shenanigans, Emma Mechlin, Mechlin Farm | 66 | 81 | 147
7 MTM Jollyrancher, Amelia Vandevender, Adrienne Ruffle | 72 | 74.5 | 146.5
8 Deceiving, Myra Utterback, Myra Utterback | 75 | 71 | 146
9 Hilton II, Keely McIntosh, Booth Show Jumpers | 84 | 60 | 144
10 Family Affaire, Claire Mullally, Judgement Farms LLC | 81 | 59 | 140
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Results can be found at wec.net.
All horse show images are provided by Winslow Photography and can be purchased onsite at WEC – Wilmington or online through their website.