Wilmington, Ohio – The R+L Arena at World Equestrian Center – Wilmington welcomed 15 polished horse-and-rider combinations for the $15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby of Christmas in the Midwest. Joe Carnicom crafted the tracks that allowed riders to showcase their rideability and brilliance.
Ryan Petronelli ultimately emerged victorious to mark the final derby victory of the 2024 show season aboard Jill Mastoloni’s Dash Parr.
“He is awesome. I absolutely love him. He is coming eight this year. We bought him in May. We found him in Europe when he was doing the 1.35m and was a breeding stallion. We gelded him and brought him over and this was our first week doing the 3’6″ Greens. He won all of his jumping trips and was second in the under saddle! He felt fantastic today and he jumped awesome,” Petronelli shared about his young mount.
Petronelli secured a first-round score of 87, putting him in the third-place position moving onto the handy phase.
The vibrant seven-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Dominator 2000 Z x V-Olympic showcased his bright future, jumping in impressive jumping style in the second round.
The duo earned a second-round score of 87.5, just enough to climb the leaderboard and emerge victorious in the class with an overall score of 174.5.
“I have been coming here for seven or eight years. We try to get here twice a winter, the drive is far for us,” Petronelli shared. “I love it here. It is so nice because you can come and bring the young ones. You can jump everything and practice. I don’t know any other shows that have rings like this.”
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Dash Parr, Ryan Petronelli, Jill Mastoloni | 87 | 87.5 | 174.5
2 Mischief Maker, Samantha Rothman, Donna Rothman | 89 | 84 | 173
3 West Lake, Melissa Donnelly, Fawn Lake Farm LLC | 86 | 86 | 172
4 Cedric, Caroline Weeden, Santa Burke | 84 | 87 | 171
5 Soul Love, Tyler Petrie, Covert Equestrian | 82 | 88 | 170
6 Emerald City Z, Tyler Petrie, Tyler Petrie | 90 | 75 | 165
7 Below Deck, Nicole Miller, Anna Clouse | 78 | 82 | 160
8 Vingino De Ganad, Ben Miller, Anna Clouse | 75 | 77 | 152
9 Comin’ Back, Madison Barnett, Mary Crawford | 74 | 75 | 149
10 Jupiter De Hus, Emma Smith, Emma Smith | 69 | 73 | 142
Jenna Drago & Sandriano Are Back on Top in the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby
The final Hunter Derby Friday of the 2024 season at WEC – Wilmington kicked off with the $15,000 USHJA National Non-Pro Hunter Derby of Christmas in the Midwest. Twenty-seven combinations tried their hand at Joe Carnicom’s winding track, but Jenna Drago ultimately moved her way to the top of the leaderboard after a competitive handy round.
Drago returned for the handy with her own 17-year-old Zangersheide gelding, Sandriano (Sandro Boy x Cool Pearl Z) sitting in second place with a first-round score of 89.
After walking the track, Drago “wanted to shoot for nine from two-to-three, but since they were on an angle I just rode what I saw,” she shared. “I just stayed on a gallop and met all of the numbers that I wanted in the first round.”
Entering looking for the top spot, Drago shared, “I was getting nervous because we had to walk in for the handy instead of cantering right away! I just tried to get a good gallop to the first jump and hoped it would work out.”
After laying down a picture-perfect second round, Drago’s consistency was rewarded with a score of 88 and a two-round total of 177 to move up the leaderboard.
“We are going to come back here in January and he will do the derby again. Then we go to Florida and he will stick to the 3ft. He loves the derbies so much, so I never want to stop showing him,” Drago gushed over her tried-and-true derby partner.
$15,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Sandriano, Jenna Drago, Jenna Drago | 89 | 88 | 177
2 Gregory ES, Liza Shoaf, Liza Shoaf | 88 | 87 | 175
3 Grandslam ES, Milagros De Jong, October LLC | 92 | 79 | 171
4 Cassiopeia, Lindsay Birnbrich, Lindsay Birnbrich | 86 | 80 | 166
5 Lugatti, Nicole Lyvere, Nicole Lyvere | 90 | 75 | 165
6 Gio Lemon, Caden Nolt, Caden Nolt | 82 | 82 | 164.5
7 Cavendish, Melissa Mastroni, Melissa Mastroni | 78.5 | 84 | 162.5
8 No Worries, Elaina Davis, Sarah Oelerich | 79 | 83 | 162
9 Amando M, Magnolia Labuda, Magnolia Labuda | 83 | 78 | 161
10 Billy Enjoy, Haylee Moore, University of Findlay | 86 | 74 | 160