Ocala, FL – Another Hunter Derby Friday has commenced at World Equestrian Center – Ocala with nearly 60 hunters ready to contest 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. The two courses, designed by Doug Russell allowed competitors to show off their horse’s adjustability and style. Competition was tough in three derbies with only fractions of points separating the top contenders.
The best came to play in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, but none could best Timothy Maddrix and the brilliant Shutterbug (Catango Z x Seuerka). Maddrix is at the top of his game, earning the top spot in last week’s $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby aboard Candid Traveler.
Today, Maddrix continued that success aboard the 14-year-old Czech Warmblood gelding owned by Sarah Campbell. Maddrix and the stylish gelding yielded a superb first round, jumping all three high options to earn the class’s highest first round score of 91.
The pair was the last to return for the handy, “The handy was hard. Dorrie [Douglas] went in and did a turn that I wasn’t planning on doing. She did the tight turn after fence one, before the double combination. I knew I had to do exactly what she did in order to win, and it had to be done well.”
Maddrix and Shutterbug navigated a seamless second round, taking all of the inside turns while jumping each fence in perfect form to secure a score of 89.5 for a two-round total of 180.5 for the victory.
Shutterbug earned some time off after his victory today, “I probably won’t do much more with him. Our goal is derby finals, so he may come back to do a few more derbies as prep, but until then he gets to go relax for a few weeks,” said Maddrix.
$12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1 Shutterbug, Timothy Maddrix, Sarah Campbell: 91 | 89.5 | 180.5
2 MTM Incanto, Dorothy Douglas, MTM Farm: 88 | 91 | 179
3 MTM Post Script, Erin Clayton, Cecilia Halsey: 87 | 90 | 177
4 Long Game, Ilana Halpern, Peggy Towers: 86 | 88 | 174
5 Consanto, Adelaide Toensing, Lily Toensing: 83 | 85 | 168
6 Addition, Raine Whitman, The Gelt Group: 84 | 78 | 162
7 Kygo D, Jenni McAllister, Bailey Darling: 84.5 | 73 | 157.5
8 Atlantus Blue, Ella Bostwick, Christine Bostwick: 79 | 76 | 155
9 Ipanema, Josh Dolan, Belle Rolfe: 49 | 89 | 138
10 Cingsley 2, Audrey Muscari, Audrey Muscari: 80 | 48 | 128
Megan Young & Hela Land the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby
Sixteen stunning hunters gathered at the CaptiveOne Advisors Arena 1 first thing this morning to vie for the top prize over Doug Russell’s natural track. Megan Young and Kristen Cox’s Hela (Hochfein x Sina) landed the victory taking home the lion’s share of the prize money.
Young and the seven-year-old Warmblood mare delivered a beautiful first round for a score of 91. “Hela is a little mare that I got about seven months ago. I started her in the 3’ Greens and recently moved her up to the 3’3” Greens. She is an amazing mover with a gorgeous jump,” Young expressed.
Second-to-last to ride, Young and Hela laid down an impressive performance to earn for a score of 89.5 for an overall score of 180.5.
Young is excited to continue to develop Hela, “Next year she will go on to do the first years. I have done the 3’6” with her and she was fantastic. I didn’t want to break her green, so I stuck with the 3’3” derby this year. Next year, she will come out to do the big derbies.”
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Open Hunter Derby Results:
1 Hela, Megan Young, Kristen Cox: 91 | 89.5 | 180.5
2 MTM Exceptional, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 92 | 88 | 180
3 Inspiration, Clair Kellner, Mindy Carreja: 87 | 88.25 | 175.25
4 Caligua, Clair Kellner. Suzanne Cayatte: 85 | 90 | 175
5 What D’Ya Think, Megan Young, Samantha Derosa: 85.5 | 87 | 172.5
6 Caston, Erin Clayton, Colleen Smith: 82.5 | 89 | 171.5
7 MTM Campedu, Kelly Lorek, Emersales LLC: 89 | 81 | 170
8 AJ, Emma Vivienne Sartor, Emma Vivienne Sartor: 84 | 85 | 169
9 Carsten S, Jennifer Tate, Barbara Kravetz: 81 | 82 | 163
10 Riverside, Timothy Maddrix, Barbara Debler: 88 | 72 | 160
Jennifer Prior & Having Said That Are Victorious in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby
The $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby saw 28 gorgeous hunters compete for the win, but it was Jennifer Prior that emerged victorious aboard her own Having Said That.
Prior and the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cornet’s Prinz produced an impeccable first round, opting to take all three high options to earn a score of 87.
Prior has owned Having Said That for a few years, “He is a lovely horse. I have had him for four or five years now and he has been a blessing. He’s a total sweetheart in the barn and always tries his best for me in the ring.”
The duo came back for the handy with one simple goal, “Not to mess up. I knew a I was ahead so I planned on focusing on my turns and pace. He was perfect and I am very happy with our ride.”
Prior and Having Said That created a lovely round to earn a score of 86 for an overall score of 173.
$10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby Results:
1 Having Said That, Jennifer Prior, Jennifer Prior: 87 | 86 | 173
2 Fitz, Isabel Harbour, IMH Equine, LLC: 83 | 89 | 172
3 With Regard, Devin Seek, Devin Seek: 78 | 82 | 160
4 Condor, Wyette Felton, Wyette Felton: 80 | 78.5 | 158.5
5 Cinnamon Z, Karen Ogle, Kailyn Ogle: 78.5 | 78 | 156.5
6 MTM Bet On Me, Aysa Yadlowsky, MTM Farm: 81 | 73 | 154
7 High Society, Olivia Barkell, Olivia Barkell: 77 | 74 | 151
8 TJC’s Yo Gotti, Hallie Nelson, The Jaeckle Centre: 75 | 69 | 144
9 Griffin, Carly Herrin, Two Jacks Farm LLC: 84 | 58 | 142
10 Ghianti, Kaydence Cothran, Cool Kid Farms: 72 | 68 | 140
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
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