Ocala, FL – World Equestrian Center – Ocala’s 2022 USEF Summer Series commenced with another unforgettable Hunter Derby Friday. A bevy of stunning hunters took to the CaptiveOne Advisors Arena to compete for the top prize in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby and $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby. Nearly 70 entries contested Tucker Williams’ creative tracks that allowed horses to shine and where scores reached well into the 90s in all three derbies.
A who’s who of top hunter riders vied for the lion’s share of prize money in this afternoon’s $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, but it was Taylor Ann Adams and Donald Stewart’s Starfighter (Stolzenberg x Caliku) that found two scores in the 90s.
Adams and the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding yielded a foot-by-foot perfect first round earning the highest score of the series with a 98.
“The first course suited him very well. He was incredible today. I haven’t ridden him since last derby Friday and he was still jumping top-notch,” laughed Adams.
Adam was ready to show off in the handy, “My business partner, Colin Savaira was my voice of reason. He told me that I should aim to have a smooth and consistent round. I don’t have to be the hero. So, I want to thank Colin for his intelligent words today. I couldn’t do any of this without him.”
The pair floated around the handy course, jumping all three high options with ease to secure a score of 95 for a two-round total of 193.
$12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Starfighter, Taylor Ann Adams, Donald Stewart: 98 | 95 | 193
2 Autograph, Hunt Tosh, Ceil Wheeler: 91 | 90 | 181
3 Lord Don, Daniel Geitner, Page Flournoy: 88 | 88 | 176
4 Gambler B, Kelli Cruciotti Vanderveen, Serenity Farm: 87 | 88 | 175
5 Coltrane, Daniel Geitner, Kate Richardson: 84 | 90 | 174
6 Belino 8, Danielle Menker, Sergent Stables, LLC: 76 | 86 | 162
7 Sedrick, Danielle Menker, Sergent Stables, LLC: 73 | 81 | 154
8 Self Care, Ilana Halpern, Mariah Durand: 77 | 76 | 153
9 Bull Run’s Jacob, Alexia Rule, Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 79 | 73 | 152
10 Checkpoint Charlie, Rory Caskey, Nourah Caskey: 68 | 80 | 148
Tracy Fenney Makes Memories in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby Aboard MTM In The Moment
The $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby set off Week VIII’s Hunter Derby Friday with an elite field of 17 stunning hunters. Tracy Fenney secured the victory by a whopping 13 points with her new mount, MTM In The Moment (Diarado x Joyblesse Of Ballmore) owned by MTM Farm.
Fenney and the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding navigated a superb first round for a score of 92.
Fenney spoke about the talented gelding, “We just imported him. His previous owners thought that he was going to be a big four or five star horse, but soon found out that he was just too quiet. So, that’s how I got him.”
Fenney and MTM In The Moment were the last pair to return for the handy, “I almost wanted to go inside to the second jump, but on my other horse, who I was in second place with at the time, I made a mistake. So, I told myself I can’t mess up twice, and focused on creating another consistent round.”
The duo delivered an impeccable handy round to earn a high score of 97, for a two-round total of 189.
Fenney is excited for the talented gelding’s future, “I think he is going to be an incredible big derby horse. I would be doing the big derby now, but I didn’t want to break his green. He doesn’t look at a single fence and doesn’t need any prep. He’s the best.”
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 MTM In The Moment, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 92 | 97 | 189
2 Light My Fire MD, Harold Chopping, Alexis Niepert: 85 | 91 | 176
3 MTM Bet On Me, Dorothy Douglas, MTM Farm: 89 | 85 | 174
4 Eldoret, Josh Dolan, Karen Redding: 82 | 84 | 166
5 Markut, Jamie Reinheimer, Cricket Hill Farm, LLC: 76 | 79 | 155
6 Gowran Castle, Dana Ventrice, Eleanor Heidbrink: 73 | 80 | 153
7 RVF Petersburg, Susan McMorris, Rio Vista Farm: 87 | 65 | 152
8 Like I Said, JP Roukis, Melissa Brantley: 72 | 78 | 150
9 MTM Grateful, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 91 | 55 | 146
10 RVF Catalina, Susan McMorris, Rio Vista Farm: 72.5 | 73 | 145
Katalena Prusso Secures First & Second in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
Thirty-eight horse-and-rider combinations competed for the ultimate prize in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Katalena Prusso from Woodstock, Georgia that snagged both first and second place with scores in the 90s on both mounts.
Prusso navigated gorgeous first rounds, earning a score of 92 on Viscolando and a score of 90 aboard Judy Kerr’s Camelot.
Prusso returned first aboard the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding Camelot. The pair swiftly delivered the inside turns to receive a score of 96 from the judges for a total of score of 186, securing the victory.
Viscolano owned by Falcon Ridge Stables, found the second place spot with Prusso with a handy score of 90 and a overall score of 182.
Prusso spoke about both of her mounts, “Camelot is an amazing horse owned by Judy Kerr. He is so much fun to ride and really tries to win for you,” told Prusso. “Viscolano is my mom’s horse. He’s young and just starting to do the derbies. I went a bit wider in the handy with him, because I knew this was all still so new for him.”
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/ Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Camelot, Katalena Prusso, Judy Kerr: 90 | 96 | 186
2 Viscolano, Katalena Prusso, Falcon Ridge Stables: 92 | 90 | 182
3 Chaval V, Sophie Hendriksen, Sophie Hendriksen: 85 | 94 | 179
4 C’Van De Helle, Michelle Whitman, Michelle Whitman: 88 | 85 | 173
5 Mojito Z, Macie Sousa, Macie Sousa: 84 | 88 | 172
6 C-Star, Mary Beth McGee, Mary Beth McGee: 83 | 86.5 | 169.5
7 Forget Me Not, Veronica Feeley, Veronica Feeley: 82 | 87 | 169
8 Stylized, Eliza Cho, Laura Cho: 89.5 | 75 | 164.5
9 Costa Curta, Elizabeth Bunt, Madeleine Marlowe: 81 | 79 | 160
10 Calrissian, Lilly French, Stephanie Keen: 89.25 | 45 | 134.25
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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