Today marked the final Derby Friday of the of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular with $225,000 to be awarded between three highly anticipated derbies: the $75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″, the $75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open and the $75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro. Keith J. Bollotte and Joe Carnicom designed the courses for today’s derbies, each featuring stunning natural fences and a weaving walk-through obstacle.
$75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″
Tonight’s $75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ hosted 19 entries under the lights in the Stadium at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Two discerning panels of judges scored the class with 1st and 2nd place falling just 1.5 points apart, but it was Samantha Schaefer of Shadow Ridge Farm in Ocala, Florida, who emerged victorious aboard Madeline Schaefer’s In The Know (Arkansas x Cavelle).
Schaefer and the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding have topped three $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ during the past 11 weeks of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular, and the unstoppable duo was on fire again tonight. The pair navigated a foot-perfect first round, earning scores of 87 and 92 for a total of 179 in the first round. Schaefer and the striking gelding returned for the handy round, laying down a second flawless round with inside turns to fences 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. The pair was rewarded with scores of 92 and 97, totaling 189 in the handy round, bringing their overall score to 368 for the win in the class.
Just behind Schaefer and In The Know were Jeff Gogul and Abby Wagner’s No Doubt (Nerrado x Abba II). Gogul and the 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding took 2nd place in last week’s $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ and were on form tonight. The pair earned a pair of 91 scores in the first round, along with scores of 92 and 92.5 in the handy round, totaling 366.5 for 2nd place.
Jeffrey Ayers and his own Cartel were also impressive in tonight’s derby. Ayers and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding topped last week’s $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″, preparing them well for tonight’s class. The duo earned first round scores of 89 and 90, along with handy round scores of 88 and 91, totaling 358 for 3rd place.
$75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ Results
- In The Know, Samantha Schaefer – 179 | 189 | 368
- No Doubt, Jeff Gogul – 182 | 184.5 | 366.5
- Cartel, Jeffrey Ayers – 179 | 179 | 358
- Lafitte De Muze, Amanda Steege – 164 | 179 | 343
- Cypress, Morgan Ward – 148 | 186 | 334
- Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly – 164 | 170 | 334
- S & L Lion King, Dorrie Douglas – 172 | 156 | 328
- Monique, Christina Kelly – 145 | 172 | 317
- Larrico, Patrick Miller – 147 | 158 | 305
- Carsten S, Jennifer Tate – 166 | 134 | 300
$75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open
Samantha Schaefer proved unbeatable today, also topping the morning’s $75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open aboard Madeline Schaefer’s Sutton Place (Valentino x Argrepina). The pair faced a field of 32 entries with scores soaring well into the 90s, making for tough competition.
Schaefer and the 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding earned 2nd place in the $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open during Week 3 of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular and brought their A-game again this morning. The duo laid down a flawless first round, taking all four high options for a score of 91. They returned last in the handy round, taking tidy inside turns throughout the course. Schaefer and Sutton Place were rewarded with a score of 93.5 for their efforts, totaling 184.5 to win the class.
Samantha Schaefer also found success aboard Ava Berman’s Emilio (Embassy I x Pirouette). Schaefer and the 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding topped the $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open just two weeks ago, preparing them well for this morning’s class. The pair earned scores of 88 and 94, totaling 182 for 2nd place.
Rounding out the top three spots were Amanda Steege and Lisa Arena Davis’ Balou (Balou Du Rouet). Steege and the 17-year-old Westphalian gelding topped the $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open during Week 9, signaling they would be strong competitors in this morning’s derby. The pair earned scores of 90 and 91, totaling 181 for 3rd place.
$75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open Results
- Sutton Place, Samantha Schaefer – 91 | 93.5 | 184.5
- Emilio, Samantha Schaefer – 88 | 94 | 182
- Balou, Amanda Steege – 90 | 91 | 181
- True Balou, Isaac Leffkowitz – 84 | 93 | 177
- Norderney, Belynda Bond – 86 | 89 | 175
- Abudabi, Jeff Gogul – 85 | 89.5 | 174.5
- MTM Animated, Tracy Fenney – 82 | 92 | 174
- Vulcan, Jeff Gogul – 87 | 84 | 171
- Sorrento, Hillary Johnson – 80 | 90 |170
- Rafferty, Jennifer Jones – 81 | 87 | 168
$75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro
This afternoon’s $75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro saw a highly competitive field of 38 entries vying for the win. Competition was fierce, but it was Haleigh Landrigan and Ava Berman’s Skorekeeper (Casall) that prevailed, taking home the blue ribbon and the lion’s share of the $75,000 purse.
Landrigan and the 17-year-old Warmblood gelding earned 3rd place in the $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro during Week 10 of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular and were on the hunt for the win this afternoon. The duo found a foot-perfect first round, taking all four high options for a score of 90. They returned near the end of the order in the handy round, delivering a second stunning course for a score of 87, totaling 177 for the win.
Sarah Tredennick and Agneta Currey’s Tomcat (Mezcalero x Kitten) were hot on Landrigan and Skorekeeper’s trail. Tredennick and the 17-year-old warmblood gelding earned 5th place in last week’s $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro and were well prepared this afternoon. The pair eared scores of 86 and 88, totaling 174 for 2nd place.
Trailing by just one point were Madeline Jordan and her own Congo MCF (Indoctro x Katynka). Jordan and the 10-year-old Continental Warmblood gelding finished in 3rd place in Week 3’s $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro and were impressive again this afternoon. They earned scores of 82 and 91, totaling 173 for another 3rd place finish.
$75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro Results
- Skorekeeper, Haleigh Landrigan – 90 | 87 | 177
- Tomcat, Sarah Tredennick – 86 | 88 | 174
- Congo MCF, Madeline Jordan – 82 | 91 | 173
- Lion King, Ryleigh Threatt – 86.5 | 86 | 172.5
- Moonwalk, Kendall Meijer – 88 | 84 | 172
- Fitz, Isabel Harbour – 85 | 85 | 170
- Freedom G, Addison Reed – 84.5 | 84 | 168.5
- Bode Well, Tracy Scheriff Muser – 85.5 | 78 | 163.5
- Gabriel, Ellen Toon – 92 | 65 | 157
- Quinn, Samantha Ruttura – 83 | 73 | 156
Featured Awards
Before the start of the handy round in the $75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″, the prestigious Style of Riding Award was presented to Samantha Schaefer for her classic style and her sportsmanship. The Style of Riding Award is generously donated by Bill Rube to be awarded to the rider who best displays the American Style of riding in the ring and sportsmanship outside of the competition arena. The recipient serves as a role model for preserving the integrity and tradition of equestrian sport. “This award is very special to me because the recipient of this award pays it forward both in and out of the show ring,” says Rube. Schaefer received an elegant leather duffel bag and wore a white rose corsage on her lapel throughout the handy round to signify her achievement.
The Shapley’s Champion Groom Award for the best turnout in the class was presented to the grooms of 3rd place finisher in the $75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″, Cartel. Shapley’s is a proud sponsor of the World Equestrian Center and is thrilled provide an award each week of the Winter Spectacular to the groom of the best turned out horse. Cartel’s grooms received a Shapley’s Award Bucket for his stunning turnout.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.