Ocala, FL – The second week of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala saw a new group of athletes grace the winner’s circle. Daniel Geitner and Vesta De Lavardin kept the audience on the edge of their seats in Thursday’s $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix. Amanda Steege secured a pair of impressive scores in the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby, claiming the top prize. Tracy Fenney and MTM Apple navigated a fast track in the $100,000 Juniper Grand Prix, securing the top spot on the leaderboard. Read on for additional highlights from the week!
In a thrilling 11-horse jump-off, Tracy Fenney had the crowd cheering as she flew over the final fence with MTM Apple for the win in the $100,000 Juniper Grand Prix.
“There’s no other feeling like winning on a Saturday night and walking down that ramp. To have the crowd go crazy and cheer you on is the best feeling. Apple has become such a favorite; everyone knows her, and it makes it that much more fun.”
The $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix featured 22 emerging stars of show jumping, but it was Megan Wexler (USA) who piloted Doo-Wop to a smooth and fast track to claim victory.
“It was a fast course, but in the lines you had to balance, especially galloping in between to stay within the time allowed. When I first walked the course, I knew exactly where I needed to gallop to make up some time.”
Amanda Steege secured her biggest victory of the Hunter Derby Friday in the $20,000 Golden Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby aboard Lafitte De Muze with a first-round score of 94 from the judges.
“I got an idea to do some bridleless training with him. After a couple of weeks, I was able to take the bridle off and walk, trot, canter, extend, collect, and do lead changes. It was a great practice for us. It kept him mentally stimulated without overexerting his body. I believe it furthered our bond and our partnership, and now I feel like I can ride him even better.”
In the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital USHJA National 3’ Open Hunter Derby, Amanda Steege kicked off Hunter Derby Friday on a triumphant note, claiming victory aboard Tangelina.
“Almost everyone did the same track. You could go inside to the first jump, and there was some discussion between us riders if you could go inside after the green oxer to the double, but everyone opted to go around. I decided it was a great track to show off a nice gallop. I wanted to be prompt and show pace.”
Forty-one junior and amateur athletes vied for the top prize in the $15,000 USHJA National 3’ Jr/Am Hunter Derby, but it was Augusta Iwasaki who emerged victorious, steering her own Small Safari to the top of the leaderboard.
“The ring is already impressive enough, so I wanted to just be smooth and not do anything too abrupt. I like to be very handy, and sometimes I have to remind myself to be a bit more conservative, so she doesn’t get too lit up,” laughed Iwasaki. “She was great, and I had so much fun out there.”
In an exciting 10-horse jump-off, Daniel Geitner (USA) upped the ante for victory with Vesta De Lavardin in the $24,000 C. Jarvis Insurance Welcome Prix, navigating a track so slick the crowd was on the edge of their seats.
“I watched Aaron, who is probably the fastest rider in the country. I got lucky and did one less from two to three in the rollback, then one less to the last in the jump-off. The other two riders had done eight, and my mare has such a big stride, I caught the second to last fence going, and I actually ended up having to balance in the seven.”
Additional Highlights:
On Sunday afternoon, Richard Spooner (USA) claimed the top prize in the $15,000 1.45m Jumper Classic aboard Molly Ohrstrom’s Halcon with a quick and clear time of 36.545 seconds in the jump-off.
Daniel Bedoya (USA) captured the $15,000 THIS 1.40m Jumper Classic victory aboard Monica Hank’s Londonlike.
Julianna Lurie and Amber Hill Farm’s Cyrus bested a field of 18 other competitors in the $3,500 2’6” Non Pro Child Hunter Derby.
In the $3,500 2’6” Non Pro Adult Hunter Derby, Carolyn Sanders piloted her own Riddle Me SSF to victory.
Charlotte Morassutti snagged her second consecutive $2,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby victory with Wishlea Star Song.
Congratulations to all exhibitors on another fantastic week of equestrian sport!
Spectators are welcome! From now until March 24, 2024, experience the thrill of the 2024 Winter Spectacular Show Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Explore the daily class schedule, orders of go, class counts, and final results on HorseShowing.com. For real-time scoring, check out Ryegate.Live.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
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