Nikko Ritter Schools to a Win in $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m
For Immediate Release
Lindsay Brock for Jennifer Wood Media, Inc.
North Salem, NY – May 14, 2015 – Darby Mazzarisi of Chesterfield, NJ, thought about ending her Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows on a high note last week after winning Grand Adult Amateur Hunter Champion aboard her own Gemology. However, after deciding to give Week 2 a try, she impressed again with another Grand Champion title to her credit. On The Grand Prix Field, Nikko Ritter and Casey jumped to blue in the $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are in the second week of competition and run through Sunday, May 17, at the picturesque Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY. The shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from all corners of the country to compete for more than $500,000 in prize money.
Darby Mazzarisi and Gemology
Mazzarisi has owned Gemology since the Dutch Warmblood/Thoroughbred mare was six-months-old. Now seven, Gemology has turned into a real show horse, she said. “Her rideablility has really stepped up [at Old Salem Farm]. She loved it here. She came out everyday with a working attitude and did exactly what we asked of her,” she said. “She’s so game now; I don’t even have to ask anymore.”
A budding star in the ring, Gemology was first in all but one class in the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-45 division to earn high-point honors and the Grand Champion designation. Despite her knack for winning ribbons, however, Gemology also knows how to let loose at home. When she isn’t schooling at Beacon Hill Show Stables, Gemology lives an hour up the road at home with Mazzarisi and spends her days in a field with a herd of retired mares. “I don’t make her think about work at home – we only flat. But, when she comes to Beacon Hill she’s all business,” said Mazzarisi.
On her way to Grand Champion, Mazzarisi was first under saddle before jumping to blue in three classes over fences. She took fifth in the first over fences class, and admits she made all her mistakes in one class.
“It was nice to get that out of the way,” she joked. “I think we had one of everything – a nice little chip and a swap. We did it all in one class and then I said ‘Okay, take a breath.'”
Darby Mazzarisi and Gemology in their winner’s presentation.
Reserve Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 36-45 Division went to Mimi Moulton on Privet Farm, LLC’s Ravello. They were second under saddle, and won the first over fences classes before taking second in the next three.
As summer competition fast approaches, Mazzarisi has plans to make this Gemology’s ‘big three-foot year.’ “We are going to take things two weeks as a time because she is a baby and I think that’s best for the young ones,” she said. “We will be at HITS Saugerties for two weeks, then Lake Placid and we will see what happens!”
Kimberly Maloomian and Terry Maloomian’s Urlala took Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 18-35 Division with two firsts and two seconds over fences, as well as a third-place ribbon under saddle. Reserve Champion was presented to Francesca Migliore and her own Avignion with first and second placings over fences.
Sandra Epstein and her own Gisele accepted Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunter 46 & Over Division after winning the under saddle and collecting two seconds, a third and fourth over fences. Laurie Stevens and her own Belvedere were Reserve Champion with blue ribbons in both of Thursday’s classes over fences.
Nikko Ritter Takes Blue in $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m
Nikko Ritter of Greenwich, CT, trotted onto The Grand Prix Field at Old Salem Farm with a nice training round in mind in Thursday’s $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m. But, what he got was more than he expected. He and 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Casey, owned by Ritter’s client Claire Schreder of Ceahorse, LLC, topped a 42-horse field for a clear win in 55.060 seconds.
Nikko Ritter and Casey
“He does the medium and high junior (jumpers) with his owner, so I was just looking for a nice round as a prep,” said Ritter, who works with Peter Leone at Lionshare Farm and was able to spare a moment for a win himself in between coaching students in hunter, jumper and equitation rings at Old Salem Farm. “[Casey] is a proven winner and a great horse. He’s easy, very fast and has a huge stride,” added Ritter.
Ritter was in good company with Mclain Ward finishing second behind him. Ward currently leads the $20,000 Leading Jumper Rider standings and took the red ribbon aboard Adele who he co-owns with Tequestrian Farm in 55.216 seconds. Vasco Flores was third aboard Gotham Enterprizes, LLC’s Central Park with a time of 59.201 seconds.
Off to a promising start, Schreder purchased Casey from Mattias Tromp earlier this year and Ritter admits they are still getting to know the gelding. Casey will partner with his owner in Sunday’s $7,500 Medium Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic with plenty of experience already behind him over courses set by Ireland’s Alan Wade.
“This field is really conducive for him – it’s challenging with the hills, but the ground is fantastic,” said Ritter. “That’s why we love coming to Old Salem [Farm] year after year – it’s a great a horse show with a very European feel.”
Last week, Ward took the top spot in the $5,000 Open Jumper 1.40m aboard HH Carlos Z for Double H Farm, and Quentin Judge kept it in the family this week as jumper competition continued on The Grand Prix Field. Judge scored blue in the speed class on HH Eli Cash in 63.242 seconds. Filip De Wandel followed in second with his own Gentley in 64.693 seconds, and Ward remained in the top three during Week 2, this time in the irons of Azibantos for Group C, LLC. They stopped the timers at 65.721 seconds.
Final Results: $3,000 Open Jumper 1.30m
1 CASEY NIKKO RITTER CEAHORSE, LLC 0/55.060
2 ADELE MCLAIN WARD MCLAIN WARD & TEQUESTRIAN FARM 0/55.216
3 CENTRAL PARK VASCO FLORES GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES, LLC 0/59.201
4 CARMEN BEN ASSELIN ATTACHE STABLES 0/60.210
5 KARLOTTA SCOTT CODY AUER SARAH RYAN 0/61.380
6 COCQ A DOODLE MOLLY ASHE NUTMEG GROUP, LLC 0/62.085
7 FEELING ANNIE PHILLIPS ANNIE PHILLIPS 0/63.226
8 AMINKA MICHAEL DESIDERIO TRANQUILLITY FARM 0/63.426
9 HENRIK MARIO DESLAURIERS MARIO DESLAURIERS 0/64.085
10 ROKY DORCEL VASCO FLORES GOTHAM ENTERPRIZES, LLC 0/64.994
11 HISTOIRE DE LAUBRY LELSIE HOWARD JAKE KREMBIL 0/65.330
12 COCARIE CARA RAETHER CAREY TRELAWNY FARM, LLC 0/65.884
Competition continues tomorrow at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows with the $6,500 Open Jumper 1.35m before the $35,000 Grand Prix of North Salem, presented by Karina Brez Jewelry, takes center stage at 1 p.m. For hunters, Amateur-Owners kick-off their divisions, and the grooms of The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows will take their turn in the show ring. The $5,000 Grooms Class, presented by grand prize sponsors Mclain Ward, Inc. and Stronghold Equine Equipment, in addition to support from JET Show Stables, Ilan Ferder Stables and Vlock Show Stables, gets underway at 4 p.m.
To enjoy what is still to come at The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, tickets can be purchased HERE. Live streaming of all events is also available Friday-Sunday at www.oldsalemfarm.net.
Major events on the live stream include (times are subject to change):
Week 2
$35,000 Grand Prix of North Salem, presented by Karina Brez Jewelry, on Friday, May 15, 1 pm
$20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem, presented by Miller Motorcars, on Saturday, May 16, 12 pm
“ShowNet Time Allowed” Pre-Game Show, on Saturday, May 16, 1:30 pm
$10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, on Saturday, May 16, 2 pm
“ShowNet Time Allowed” Pre-Game Show, on Sunday, May 17, 2 pm
$100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on Sunday, May 17, 2:30
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Full horse show results can be found at www.horseshowsonline.com.
Photos by The Book, LLC
Old Salem Farm, located just one hour north of New York City, is one of the best equestrian competition venues in North America, as rated by the North American Riders Group in 2011-2014. Host of the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows, the prestigious American Gold Cup CSI-W 4*, and year-round competitions, the facility offers a state-of-the-art turf grand prix field, indoor riding arena, and two all-weather footing rings. As a boarding and training facility, Old Salem Farm is second to none and home to top trainer Frank Madden. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net or call 914-669-5610.