North Salem, NY – May 18, 2013 – It was derby day at the Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show with two featured events in the schedule. Adrienne Iverson and Redfield Farm’s Salto Mortale captured the top prize in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, while Beezie Madden and Mademoiselle sped to the win in the $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem. On hand at the show today as well was Robert Astorino, the County Executive for Westchester County. Astorino met riders and enjoyed the show jumping competition as he helped support the event that brings thousands of equestrians to the county every year. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show concludes tomorrow with the highlight event, the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, at 2:30 pm.
There were 46 entries in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate. The top 12 returned for a second round. Iverson and Salto Mortale scored a 180 in the first round and jumped up to a high score of 196 in the second round for a total of 376 for the win. They took all four high options in both rounds as well.
Second place went to Louise Serio on Bonaparte, owned by Annette Lauer. They won the first round of the derby and finished on a score of 371. Victoria Press rode Mayfair to a score of 365 for third place.
Iverson, who is originally from Oakville, ON, Canada, has worked for Emil Spadone’s Redfield Farm for two and a half years. Her relationship with Salto Mortale, an eight-year-old Westphalian gelding by Sandro Boy, is significantly shorter. Having just been imported from Europe two months ago, he has quickly adapted to his new life as a hunter. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows are his first competition in the United States. Salto Mortale showed in the First Year Green Hunters for the first time last week, showed again this week, and entered the derby.
Watch an interview with Adrienne Iverson on her first hunter derby win!
“I didn’t have these expectations,” Iverson admitted. “I knew he was brave and going to do well, but this was beyond what we were expecting for this horse. He was easy from the first day. He’s just a sweet, easy horse. I knew he would be easy, but the quality we were shocked by a little bit. It takes a lot for a horse who’s only been here for a month, to step up and do something like this, especially at this late in the day. I’m really proud of him.”
Iverson said in the short time they’ve been together, she has worked on smoothing out the time between the jumps. “He’s picked it up really quickly. He’s really become a lot more fluent in the two weeks he’s been here at this horse show,” she noted. “This was the third handy course in his life and the third jump he’s trotted (at a show) in his life. I couldn’t be happier with how he handled everything, being such a newbie to this game.”
Adrienne Iverson and Salto Mortale
Iverson praised the courses designed by Paul Jewel. “It was really fun to ride,” she said. She described of her derby rides, “I was planning one inside turn after the fifth jump, but I got my eye on it a little bit late. I think he could have done it. We did some tighter turns. From being a jumper, that I think he’s used to. He just stayed slow and relaxed. He’s a natural at it.”
This was Iverson’s fifth international hunter derby. “I’d like to do more,” she said. “I really enjoy them. It gives a little bit more interest and sponsorship to hunters in this country. It’s my first win (in an international derby), and it’s exciting.”
Final Results: $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate
1 SALTO MORTALEADRIENNE IVERSON
R1/J1 85 4
R1/J2 87 4 180.00
R2/J1 87 7 4
R2/J2 88 6 4 196.00 376.00
2 BONAPARTE LOUISE SERIO
R1/J1 94 1
R1/J2 90 1 186.00
R2/J1 85.5 6 2
R2/J2 84.5 5 2 185.00 371.00
3 MAYFAIR VICTORIA PRESS
R1/J1 84.25 4
R1/J2 83.25 4 175.50
R2/J1 85 5 4
R2/J2 85.5 6 4 189.50 365.00
4 SIENNA LEXI MAOUNIS
R1/J1 85.25 1
R1/J2 86.5 1 173.75
R2/J1 86 8 1
R2/J2 85 7 1 188.00 361.75
5 SUNDANCE MEREDITH LIPKE
R1/J1 85.3 3
R1/J2 84.25 3 175.55
R2/J1 82.5 7 3
R2/J2 84 6 3 185.50 361.05
6 CINEMAGIC LOUISE SERIO
R1/J1 86 1
R1/J2 88 1 176.00
R2/J1 82 6 2
R2/J2 86 5 2 183.00 359.00
7 MEDALIST BRADY MITCHELL
R1/J1 83.5 4
R1/J2 83.75 4 175.25
R2/J1 83 6 4
R2/J2 83 3 4 183.00 358.25
8 POOLSIDE HOLLY ORLANDO
R1/J1 89 4
R1/J2 85.5 4 182.50
R2/J1 78 5 4
R2/J2 79 5 4 175.00 357.50
9 ALASKA TODD MINIKUS
R1/J1 82 4
R1/J2 85 4 175.00
R2/J1 79 7 4
R2/J2 78 10 4 182.00 357.00
10 TIDAL WAVE HOLLY ORLANDO
R1/J1 84 1
R1/J2 86 1 172.00
R2/J1 84 4 2
R2/J2 82 4 2 178.00 350.00
11 DYNASTY BRIAN FEIGUS
R1/J1 80.5 4
R1/J2 84.5 4 173.00
R2/J1 70 7 4
R2/J2 75 6 4 166.00 339.00
12 SKYFALL ADRIENNE IVERSON
R1/J1 85.5 4
R1/J2 87.5 4 181.00
R2/J1 50 5 4
R2/J2 58 5 4 126.00 307.00
Speed is the Name of the Game
The $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem featured a field of 35 competitors as they galloped through a course of 15 numbered obstacles and 18 efforts on a course that included the Devil’s Dyke and table bank designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio of Red Hook, NY. Any rails down added four seconds to a rider’s final time, so speed was imperative in today’s class. Going 29th in the order, Beezie Madden of Cazenovia, NY, rode Abigail Wexner’s Mademoiselle to victory in a time of 75.567 seconds. A clear round didn’t add any seconds to their time.
Beezie Madden and Mademoiselle
Madden was chasing a time of 76.353 seconds, set by McLain Ward and Emma. They had four seconds added to their time after a rail down. A close challenge to Madden’s victory came from 15-year-old Lillie Keenan and Vanhattan, owned by Chansonette Farm LLC. They were clear and finished just off the pace in 75.768 seconds for second place.
Madden saw Ward’s early ride. “He was blazing,” she remarked. “By the end, my strategy was just to try to go fast enough to beat his added time and hope the others after me couldn’t catch me as well.”
While Mademoiselle, a 16-year-old Holsteiner mare by Libertino I x Silvester, has plenty of experience showing on grass fields at Spruce Meadows and in Europe, Madden was using this class to see if she would be good for the speed derbies in Calgary.
“This was a little bit of an experiment,” she conceded. “I was pretty sure she’d do well, but it was also to see if we want to do these kinds of classes with her in Spruce Meadows. She felt great. I haven’t done so many natural obstacles, like the Devil’s Dyke and the bank, with her in her career because she’s been doing grand prix, really. It was nice to see she didn’t bat an eye at them. I probably could have done five strides after the table (bank) like they were doing at the beginning of the class. I wasn’t quite sure if she’d be bold off the table, but I think in hindsight, or next time, I can probably leave a stride out. At the end I thought it was good.”
Beezie Madden and Mademoiselle negotiate the table bank
Madden felt today’s class was an easy transition for Mademoiselle from the grand prix ring. “She’s always been a fast horse. The going fast part she knows, and she turns well. She’s very rideable, so you can run early in the course and still have control at the end. She’s always been good with that,” she said.
In addition to being comfortable with speed, Madden felt the mare’s fitness was ideal for a speed derby. “I think she has a lot of Thoroughbred blood in her and she has a lot of fitness on her own,” she commented. “Even though it’s a longer course and a faster pace, I think it’s easy for her.”
Madden enjoyed her time galloping around the course too. She said, “It’s great to be out in this field. It’s fun to have a speed horse like that. It’s good for your riding to be able to go in and go fast, and have a little fun with it.”
Final Results: $20,000 Speed Derby of North Salem
1 MADEMOISELLE BEEZIE MADDEN: 75.567
2 VANHATTAN LILLIE KEENAN: 75.768
3 EMMA MCLAIN WARD: 76.353
4 LENNOX LEWIS 2 LESLIE HOWARD: 77.797
5 TUXEDO TODD MINIKUS: 78.278
6 WRIGLEY BEEZIE MADDEN: 79.706
7 PRINCESS EMILY ISABELLA SALLES: 82.644
8 UNEX TIMO IV MEG O’MARA: 83.240
9 CASCON DARRAGH KENNY: 84.568
10 TIBOR TODD MINIKUS: 84.734
11 G & C SACRAMENTO LUIS LARRAZABAL: 87.467
12 PELE LESLIE HOWARD: 87.630
Taylor Kwait and Perquin
Three jumper classics were held in the Grand Prix Field today as well. The winner of the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Classic was Taylor Kwait on Perquin. They finished the jump-off double clear in a time of 34.666 seconds. Second place went to Cayla Fisher on Windo, who finished double clear in 36.350 seconds. Riding Zentina B, Madeline Placey was third in 37.158 seconds with four faults.
Lexi Maounis and Whisper with ringmaster Alan Keely, along with Kevin Harrop and Nick Fitzpatrick of Aden Brook
Victory in the $2,500 Marshall & Sterling Adult Jumper Classic sponsored by Aden Brook went to Lexi Maounis on Whisper. They stopped the timers in 30.995 seconds. Jennifer Rowland and Lux Lovely were second in 32.502 seconds. Chacca Blue, ridden by Gina Calicchio, was third in 33.376 seconds.
Lauren Ward and Oscar
In the $7,500 Medium Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, Lauren Ward and Oscar were fastest in 37.140 seconds for the win. Lucy Deslauriers and Hester stopped the timers in 40.547 seconds for second place. With Zibon HC, Gabrielle Bausano was third in 42.126 seconds.
Grand Amateur-Owner Champion Honored
In the hunter ring, the Grand Amateur-Owner Championship was awarded to Winner, ridden by Daryl Portela and owned by James B. Pirtle Ent. The pair won the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’3″ division championship after they won all four over fences classes and were second in the under saddle. The reserve champion was Castelli and Jeanne Fogel.
The first week of the Old Salem Spring Horse Shows were Portela’s and Winner’s first show since week 11 at WEF in March. Portela acknowledged, “We were probably a little rusty last week, but I was very pleased with him. This week he felt incredible. I felt really on with him this weekend and very consistent. I was pleased after I won both yesterday and wanted to end on a good note. To win all four (classes) over jumps is very exciting.”
Portela is known for her great success in the Amateur-Owner Hunters with her previous horse, Frascati. After a nine-year absence from showing, she returned when her husband saw Winner in trainer Jimmy Torano’s barn. “I hadn’t been riding or anything and Jimmy had him in his barn. My husband had me try him and I fell in love with him,” she recalled. “He’s gotten me back into the ring. He’s a very, very special horse.”
Daryl Portela and Winner
In their two years together, Portela and Winner have not overly shown, but after qualifying for indoors last year, they made the most of it with Grand Championships at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and Washington International Horse Show. “I don’t show all the time, but I pick a few here and there. I’ve gotten really consistent with him. I know him really well and have such a great time showing him,” Portela said.
She went on to describe, “He’s great to ride. He’s got a great jump and a soft mouth. He’s very, very comfortable and I’m picky! He always tries his hardest. If something goes wrong, it’s usually my mistake. He’s very spoiled with candy and carrots and apples, but it’s worth it.”
The champion in the Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’6″ division was Rock Steady, ridden by Katie Robinson for KJ Robinson LLC. For their win, they received a gift certificate from Hunt Ltd. The reserve champion was Do Tell, ridden by Bridget Hallman for Bridget Hallman and Merrylegs South. Champion in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’6″ Hunters was Sienna, ridden and owned by Lexi Maounis, while the reserve championship went to Endo Fino and Lisa Arena. Stephanie Riggio won the championship in the Amateur-Owner 18-35 3’3″ Hunters with Breitling, and Messina was the reserve champion with Catherine Cowie.
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show continues tomorrow with $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix presented by The Kincade Group at 2:30 pm. Grand Championships for the Pony, Children’s, and Junior Hunters will be decided as well. In the jumpers, the $5,000 Low Junior Jumper Classic, the $5,000 Low Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, and the $15,000 High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic will be held on the Grand Prix Field, weather pending.
For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net, and for full results, please visit www.horseshowsonline.com.
Exhibitors – Sign up for a Free Raffle in the Horse Show Offie to Win a Henry Lloyd rain jacket from Beval Ltd!
Sunday, May 19
Highlight Competition – 2:30 pm: $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group
11 am – 4 pm: ASPCA Adoption Day! Meet rescued dogs, cats, and miniature horses looking for forever homes!
For those who can’t make it out to the show tomorrow, but still want to watch great show jumping action, our main event – the $100,000 Empire State Grand Prix, presented by The Kincade Group, on May 19 – will be live streamed on USEF Network presented by Smartpak. The entire Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Show is also live streamed at www.shownet.biz!
The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows celebrate its 31st year in 2013 and offer two weeks of exceptional equestrian sport on May 7-12 and May 14-19 at one of the nation’s premier and newly renovated equestrian facilities, Old Salem Farm, in North Salem, New York. Old Salem’s beautifully manicured grounds, list of elite horses and riders, and fantastic social gatherings draw spectators from Westchester County and beyond to watch horses and ponies of every size compete for almost $500,000 in prize money. The Old Salem Farm Spring Horse Shows feature over 130 hunter and jumper classes each week, bringing together top competitors, including Olympic show jumpers, from across the country. For more information, please visit www.oldsalemfarm.net/mayhome.
Photo Credit:© The Book LLC. These photos may be used only in relation to this press release and with proper credit.