For Immediate Release
Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
Wellington, FL – March 25, 2022 – The 2022 Winter Equestrian Festival continued week 11 competition, sponsored by Palm Beach County Sports Commission, on Friday, March 25, 2022, with top hunter competition on the grass Derby Field at Equestrian Village and international jumpers in CSI4* and CSI2* classes on the main grounds of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Taking home yet another derby win this winter, Jimmy Torano and Laskano captured the title in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go. Victoria Colvin, Macquarie Simon, and Caroline Olsen took the top prizes in the three sections of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
Thirty-two riders attempted a course of 13 obstacles in a “Hunt & Go” format, with the first seven fences as their classic round, and the last six fences judged as their handy round.
This “Hunt & Go” format also allowed for a possible extra two points awarded per section for high options taken and handy round bonus points awarded up to a maximum of 10 per judging panel.
Over a course designed by Ken Krome, it was the 30th pair to go, Laskano and Jimmy Torano, that would claim yet another derby victory.
“He’s already won three,” said Torano of the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding. “He won one back in December, he won the two others he’s done during WEF, and now today so, the only four he’s been in, he won all four.”
Though this wasn’t their first trip to the winner’s circle, it was the pair’s first time out on the grass this season.
“I actually think he was better on the grass,” noted Torano. “I think he was almost bored of being in those same rings. I think [the grass] sparked him up just enough, and he’s got a big, beautiful gallop that I think he really showed off today. I think between the jumps is where he was just so pretty.”
His gallop is just one of the attributes that Torano thinks makes Laskano so accomplished.
“He’s just a horse you can count on,” said Torano of the Isalou Inc.-owned champion. “He never, ever, ever spooks at a jump. When I walk in a ring, I don’t need a big tour, and I don’t need to show him the jumps. He’s a horse that really tries not to let you down.
“He’s a quiet horse, not spooky, he’s got a perfect lead change, he jumps the height easy,” continued Torano. “He really checks all the boxes, and he has all the qualities a horse really needs for this.”
Despite going late in the order, Torano didn’t have the usual opportunities to prepare.
“A lot of times people say that going late is an advantage, but for me today it didn’t really matter,” Torano said. “I missed the course walk because I had to be at the other show and when I came up, I literally didn’t get to watch anybody go so today, in my case, it didn’t really make a difference.”
Without the chance to get an idea of how the course was riding, Torano had to rely on his knowledge of Laskano and his abilities.
“I came up, someone told me the course, I went in, and I did it,” said Torano. “I didn’t know what was scoring well so I thought, ‘I have to try to be as handy as I can.’”
Laskano and Torano would start the “classic round” section of their course earning scores of 93 and 87.5 with both high options taken for a 184.5 total. The “handy round” section of the course was an elevated 94 and 90 with eight handy bonus points earned from each judging panel and both high options taken for a total of 204, putting their final total at 388.5 and earning them the top spot.
Also taking all the high options, Kelley Farmer and Meaningful, owned by Emma Vandenhouten, ended on a score of 379 for second place. Greg Crolick rode Carole Chase’s Chappy to 373 points, earning them the third place spot.
Final Results: $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby ‘Hunt & Go’
Horse, Rider, Owner
Round 1 Total | Round 2 Total | Overall Total
1. Laskano, Jimmy Torano, Isalou Inc.
184.5 | 204 | 388.5
2. Meaningful, Kelley Farmer, Emma Vandenhouten
180.5 | 198.5 | 379
3. Chappy, Greg Crolick, Carole Chase
176 | 197 | 373
4. Unbelievable, Jacob Pope, Forget Me Not Farm
179 | 193 | 372
5. Cascartini, Havens Schatt, Ken and Amy Wexler LLC
180 | 189.25 | 369.25
6. Gabriel, Victoria Colvin, J T Farm
169 | 196 | 365
7. Heartfelt II, Tiffany Morrissey, Diener Farms LLC
169 | 194 | 363
8. Front Page, Colin Syquia, Cynthia Sulzberger
171.5 | 182 | 353.5
9. Kuore, Greg Crolick, Renaud Farm LLC
171 | 182 | 353
10. Doctor’s Orders, Brianne Goutal-Marteau, Brad Wolf
162.5 | 189 | 351.5
11. Ocean Road, Ariana Marnell, Marnell Sport Horses
151 | 195.5 | 346.5
12. Just Because, Rush Weeden, Glory Days Farm LLC
162.5 | 182.75 | 345.25
Simon, Olsen, and Colvin Win in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
The $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby out on the grass saw junior, amateur, and open sections with 41, 33, and 43 entries respectively.
Each section would follow the “Hunt & Go” format with riders attempting a course of 13 obstacles with the first seven fences as their classic round, and the last six fences judged as their handy round with extra points being awarded for high options taken.
The junior and amateur sections ran together but were pinned separately, and riders from each section could end up riding back-to-back, as was the case with the amateur and junior winners, Macquarie Simon and Caroline Olsen.
Macquarie Simon and her own Call Me Cool were 43rd in the order of go and posted a pair of 87s (+2 high options each) for her “classic” and “handy” portions of the course giving them a total of 178 and first position in the amateur section.
“This was my second time out here on the grass,” said Simon. “I did the derby a couple weeks ago, which was amazing, so I had to give it another go. I was hoping to have a lot of fun and get around, and that’s definitely what I was able to execute.”
As for the difference in format from her last derby, Simon admitted to having a preference.
“I definitely prefer the Hunt & Go [format],” she said. “It’s nice to get both out of the way all at once; you’re not having to wait around and then get back in there.”
Call Me Cool and Simon have been working together for a few years, and usually compete in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’6” division.
“This horse has the best personality,” said Simon of the 11-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding. “He sleeps in the cross-ties, can’t be bothered to walk anywhere, and is just the most incredible, sweetest guy.”
Simon added, “I want to say a huge thanks to Chance Arakelian and Ox Ridge for everything they do to get us here.”
Caroline Olsen and Taiga Z, owned by Valentina Pombo, would follow Simon directly as 44th in the order. That pair would go without the high options and post scores of 84 and 89 for a total of 173, which put them in the top spot for the junior section.
“This was my first time out on the grass and first derby of the season, and I loved it. It was really fun,” said Olsen. “It’s nice to have a big field to do derbies in.”
The newness of being out on the grass coincided with Olsen only recently becoming acquainted with Taiga Z.
“This horse is a catch ride,” said Olsen of the 10-year-old Zangersheide mare. “I’ve only been riding her for a couple weeks, so we just wanted to go in and have a good experience and be consistent in our round. I haven’t done a ton of derbies though, so this was kind of new.”
The Open section of the derby ran separately and was won by Victoria Colvin on Joelle Sedlacek’s My Style.
Victoria Colvin and My Style chose all of the high options with base scores of 86 and 89 to give them a final total of 179 to earn the first-place sash.
“It’s fun doing a Hunt & Go out here,” said Colvin. “The field is quite large, which is nice. It feels like a big, long course, but not too long.”
Colvin is no stranger to the hunter derbies here in Wellington, but she has a special history with My Style.
“I purchased him off a video as a three-year-old,” said Colvin of the nine-year-old KWPN gelding. “Joelle [Sedlacek] has had him for the past few years, and he’s been doing the 1.20m jumpers with her. We thought it would be fun to come out on the field and do this.”
My Style usually competes in the jumpers, but in the past had some show experience with Colvin in the hunters.
“He hasn’t done the hunters in probably two years,” explained Colvin. “This is his first class back in a while, so it’s quite special for her [Sedlacek] that he went out there and did well. We weren’t expecting a win. We were just hoping for him to go around, but he was quite good so we’re all very thrilled with him.”
Final Results $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Horse, Rider, Owner
Round 1 Total | Round 2 Total | Overall Total
*Junior*
1. Taiga Z, Caroline Olsen, Valentina Pombo
84 | 89 | 173
2. Tradewind, Maya Rahaim, Carole Chase
91 | 80 | 171
3. Credit, Elizabeth Grace Thomassin, Elizabeth Grace Thomassin
83.5 | 87 | 170.5
4. Steel Away, Lillard Preschlack, Paula Preschlack
83.5 | 86.5 | 170
5. Coppertone, Olivia Sweetnam, Sweet Oak Farm
87 | 82 | 169
6. Galway Blazer, Caroline Cole, Caroline Cole
81 | 85 | 166
7. After Hours, Georgia Jacob, Georgia Jacob
75 | 84 | 159
8. Game On, Charlotte Harris, Stephanie Harris
77.5 | 79 | 156.5
9. Don Benito BG Z, Cate Hernandez, Cate Hernandez
80 | 75 | 155
10. Ladies First, Caroline Olsen, Elysian Stables LLC
88.02 | 63 | 151.02
11. Black Diamond, Elizabeth Lowham-Ruzzo, Elizabeth Lowham-Ruzzo
75.51 | 75.5 | 151.01
12. Candor, Talia Kirson, Ashland Farms
67 | 84 | 151
*Amateur*
1. Call Me Cool, Macquarie Simon, Macquarie Simon
89 | 89 | 178
2. Chekandino, Nicole Oliynyk, Nicole Oliynyk
89.5 | 85.5 | 175
3. Belino 8, Danielle Menker, Sergent Stables LLC
85.5 | 86.5 | 172
4. All In, Jacquelynn Christenson, Brenda Christenson
80.5 | 90 | 170.5
5. Micah, Celia Sutherland, Sutherland
85 | 83 | 168
6. City Walk, Angela Calicchio, Cali Horse Sales LLC
79 | 88 | 167
7. The Spy, Kimberly Penfold, Glory Days Farm LLC
83 | 82 | 165
8. Castle, Alexa Davis, Ulster/GSA
82.25 | 82 | 164.25
9. Allure DVE, Lily Barnard, Dutch Valley Sporthorses
82 | 80 | 162
10. Velvet Brown, Jennifer Leroy, Jennifer Leroy
77.5 | 82.5 | 160
11. Easy B, Colby Hassfurther, Gillian Galvin
82.5 | 76.5 | 159
12. Cascade, Lisa Rabon, Randi Vladimer
84 | 74 | 158
*Open*
1. My Style, Victoria Colvin, Joelle Sedlacek
88 | 91 | 179
2. Drumroll, Kelly Mullen, Mary Jane King
90.01 | 87.5 | 177.51
3. Someday, Laena Romond, Rachel Suna Britchkow
84.5 | 93 | 177.5
4. Worthy, Maria Rasmussen, Sunset View Farm LLC
87.5 | 89 | 176.5
5. Didgereedoo VDL, Kelsey Epperson, Lashier Properties LLC
85.76 | 87.25 | 173.01
6. Bohemian Luxe, Caitlin Boyle, Caroline Grubb
85 | 88 | 173
7. Baron Z, Tiffany Morrissey, Heidi Chase
87 | 85 | 172
8. Rocklyn, Laura Bowery, Anne Byers
88.5 | 82.25 | 168.25
9. Red C, Adam Edgar, Tracey London
86 | 83 | 169
10. Uppercut, Jennifer Hannan, Patricia Fulchino
76.5 | 92 | 168.5
11. Clem Brecourt, Hannah Isop, Tracey Freels
80 | 88.25 | 168.25
12. Camelito De Muze Z, Ed Copland, Ariane Stiegler
77.5 | 89.5 | 167
Moya and Malibu De Muze Master $50,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round XI
Over at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s International Arena, 59 of the highest-level show jumpers in the world prepared to vie for the top title in the $50,000 Adequan® WEF Challenge Cup Round XI. Following a 10-horse jump-off, Sergio Alvarez Moya (ESP) emerged victorious aboard his 10-year-old BWP gelding entry, Malibu De Muze (Nabab De Reve x Tornedo FCS).
Top course designer Olaf Petersen, Jr. (GER) gave the field 77 seconds on the clock to navigate the long track, which included a double combination, triple combination, and multiple related distances. As the first round concluded, 14 entries created their plan for the jump-off. The returning number of contenders dropped to 10 when Ioli Mytilineou (GRE), Daniel Bluman (ISR), Emanuele Camilli (ITA), and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) elected to save their efforts for another day.
Ireland’s Brian Cournane and Armik were the first of seven nations represented to return, but it was Margie Engle for the USA who would be the pathfinder to the first clear round. Engle ultimately settled for fifth place as the time to beat continued to increase in speed. Despite top efforts by Ireland’s Darragh Kenny and Mark McAuley, Sergio Alvarez Moya produced the leading round as he flew through the timers with a time of 35.36 seconds.
“He has a huge stride and a ton of blood,” said Alvarez Moya. “It is funny because I don’t have the best control with him, but when I am going fast I don’t need as much, so I guess that helps. The first few fences of the jump-off I really had to make a plan and ride, but then I just let him go a bit and followed him for the rest.”
The gelding originally appeared on Alvarez Moya’s radar as a prospect for a client, but when the two were not found to be a good match, he pursued the horse.
“We have only been paired for roughly five months,” he explained. “Control was a bit of an issue for me at first, but we have been working hard at getting to know each other and I think we are starting to get there. I always say the horses will find you, and it is true because I was not looking for another horse but now, I have him. He doesn’t have much experience at this level, but I have been very pleased with him throughout the majority of the season.”
Irishmen Kenny and McAuley settled for second and third place, respectively. Kenny produced one of the final efforts on course with Vlock Show Stables LLC’s 11-year-old Westphalian stallion Chic Chic (Comme Il Faut 5 x Contendro I) and slid into the second spot a little over a second slower than Moya in 36.98 seconds. McAuley and SNC McAuley Equestrian’s 13-year-old BWP gelding Jasco VD Bisschop (Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Krunch De Breve) chased Kenny down to the wire but landed in third with their time of 37.07 seconds.
Weekend competition at WEF will resume on Saturday, March 25, as competition revs up in anticipation of the $50,000 Beerbaum Stables Grand Prix CSI2*. Saturday’s much anticipated “Saturday Night Lights” event, the final Saturday night of the 2022 WEF, will feature the $140,000 CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Championship Final CSI4*, and will highlight the re-naming ceremony of the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Final Results: $50,000 Adequan WEF Challenge Cup Round XI
1. MALIBU DE MUZE: 2012 BWP gelding by Nabab De Reve x Tornedo FCS
SERGIO ALVAREZ MOYA (ESP), Sergio Alvarez Moya: 0/0/35.36
2. CHIC CHIC: 2011 Westphalian stallion by Comme Il Faut 5 x Contendro I
DARRAGH KENNY (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/0/36.98
3. JASCO VD BISSCHOP: 2009 BWP gelding by Dulf Van Den Bisschop x Krunch De Breve
MARK MCAULEY (IRL), SNC McAuley Equestrian: 0/0/37.07
4. VITAL CHANCE DE LA ROQUE: 2009 Selle Francais gelding by Diamant De Semilly x Rivage Du Poncel
CONOR SWAIL (IRL), Conor Swail: 0/0/38.40
5. DICAS: 2009 Rheinlaender gelding by Diarado x Cassini I
MARGIE GOLDSTEIN-ENGLE (USA), Storm Ridge Capital LLC Show Horses, Garber, and Gladewinds, Inc: 0/0/39.83
6. ARMIK: 2009 Oldenburg gelding by Armitage 2 x Justinian xx
CAPT. BRIAN COURNANE (IRL), Mr. and Mrs. Stiller and Brian Cournane: 0/4/38.70
7. ERDENTO VAN DE LEEUWERK: 2009 KWPN stallion by Cardento 933 x Marlon
ALEX MATZ (USA). Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC: 0/4/38.93
8. DON VITO: 2008 KWPN gelding by Quaprice Bois Margot x Jus De Pomme
LORENZO DE LUCA (ITA), Poden Farms: 0/4/48.81
9. H&M KIRLO VAN DEN BOSRAND: 2010 BWP gelding by Cardento 933 x Utrillo VD Heffinck
SAMUEL HUTTON (GBR), Abdel Saïd: 0/8/40.86
10. MANHATTAN: 2011 AWR gelding by Metropolitan x Lancer III
SPENCER SMITH (USA), Gotham Enterprizes, LLC: 0/8/42.40
11. L’ARTISTE DE TOXANDRA: 2011 BWP gelding by Toulon x Kashmir Van Schuttershof
IOLI MYTILINEOU (GRE),Elia Construction SA: 0/75.72
11. UBILEC: 2012 Mecklenburg gelding by Ubiko x Lucian
DANIEL BLUMAN (ISR), Over The Top Stables LLC: 0/75.49
11. CHADELLANO PS: 2011 OS gelding by Chacco-Blue x Centadel
EMANUELE CAMILLI (ITA), Emanuele Camilli: 0/75.78
11. ALEJANDRO: 2009 Rheinlander gelding by Acorado’s Ass x Continue
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Sweet Oak Farm, Spy Coast Farm, and Seabrook LLC: 0/75.84