Wellington, FL – March 30, 2018 – The final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued with a full day of hunter derby competition on the grass derby field at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Friday, March 30. Jennifer Hannan and Mindful were victorious in the $15,000 International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go. In the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Open, Jennifer Bliss and Sugarman led the victory gallop, while Daisy Farish and Cinemagic captured the win in the junior/amateur division.
Victory went to Brazil’s Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa (BRA) riding Sharapova Imperio Egipicio in the $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m CSI5* and there was a win for Irish rider Jordan Coyle aboard Eristov in the $35,000 Wanderers Club 1.45m CSI2* on Friday. WEF continues through April 1 and offers more than $9 million in prize money.
WEF concludes with its twelfth week of competition on March 28-April 1, sponsored by Rolex. The highlight event is the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* in the WEF International Arena on Saturday, March 31, at 7:45 p.m. WEF wraps up with the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Round Two on the grass derby field at 1 p.m., and the $50,000 Wanderers Club Grand Prix CSI 2* and $50,000 CP 1.50m National Grand Prix in the WEF International Arena, on Sunday, April 1.
Jennifer Hannan and Mindful.Photo by Sportfot
Thirty-nine competitors took to the field in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Hunt & Go to compete for the blue over Kenny Krome’s 14-fence course. Jennifer Hannan and Mindful, owned by Kensel, LLC, took the lead after earning 355 points with a daring performance around the derby track.
“It’s so exciting out there,” said Hannan. “My horse did his job very well. I like showing on the grass field because I can gallop a lot more, and there are more places to show off. The judges really want to see you move along, so you need a brave horse that you can comfortably do that on. It’s a little daunting for some, but I have a good string of horses that handled it very well.”
Jennifer Hannan and Mindful in their presentation ceremony.Photo by Sportfot
The Hunt & Go format is a new addition to the Winter Equestrian Festival and operates similar to a power and speed class in the jumpers. Instead of the top 12 horses being called back after completing their classic round, riders continue into the handy portion of the class immediately following the beginning part of the course without stopping or exiting the arena. Today’s derby field featured a total of 14 fences, with eight fences in the typical classic round and the remaining six in the handy. Four high-options were offered for one additional point each.
“I like this structure for two reasons,” said Hannan. “First, if you have an older horse you can just do one round and be done, which is great for their stamina and age. Second, if you have a younger horse, you can get in the ring and get a feel for things before you speed it up and get going. [The Hunt & Go] mixes it up a little bit, so that it’s not the same monotonous thing all the time.”
Two judging panels gave individual scores encompassing both sections of the course for each rider-horse combination, which were then added together for a combined total to determine final standings.
As the eighth-to-last horse to enter the ring, Hannan received a score of 177 from Panel One and a 178 from Panel Two that edged out Kelley Farmer and her mount, Exceptional, owned by Todd Minikus LTD, by 3.25 points.
Farmer’s total of 352.75 earned her the red ribbon, with a 172.75 from Panel One and a 180 from Panel Two, and Liza Boyd, a three-time USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship winner, secured third aboard S & L Just A Cobbler, an entry of S & L Farms, with scores of 165 and 181, for a combined total of 346.
Hannan’s win aboard the 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding followed an impeccable round of swift maneuvers, and the duo made the most of the challenges they were faced with. The two were partnered together over a year ago and have captured two championships at WEF this circuit in the Antares Sellier France High Performance Working Hunter division prior to today’s competition. The professional, of Wakefield, RI, admitted that the gelding’s admirable reputation was originally a bit intimidating, but that two have continued to grow together.
Mindful is an established figure in the show ring with achievements such as being named The Chronicle of the Horse’s Show Hunter of the Year and the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider Hunter of the Year. He additionally claimed numerous USHJA International Hunter Derby wins and earned honors as the high scoring horse in professional divisions at competitions such as the Devon Horse Show, and the Washington International Horse Show.
“His achievements were certainly intimidating at first,” said Hannan. “We spent last summer just getting to know each other, and then we started to learn each of our ins and outs bit by bit. After indoors, we were able to take a breath and tune in on certain things, and, since we started the WEF circuit, it has been perfect all the way through.”
Hannan added that she is looking forward to the USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals this year, and that she is including the Devon Horse Show in her future plans along with some smaller shows over the summer before the indoor show season.
Final Results: $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby “Hunt and Go”
1 2091 JENNIFER HANNAN, MINDFUL, KENSEL, LLC
R1/J1 90.00 1.00
R1/J2 85.00 1.00 177.00
R2/J1 88.00 1.00
R2/J2 88.00 1.00 178.00 355.00
2 3596 KELLEY FARMER, EXCEPTIONAL, TODD MINIKUS LTD R1/J1 85.25 2.00
R1/J2 83.50 2.00 172.75
R2/J1 90.00 2.00
R2/J2 86.00 2.00 180.00 352.75
3 4334 ELIZABETH BOYD, S & L JUST A COBBLER, S &L FARMS
R1/J1 81.00 1.00
R1/J2 82.00 1.00 165.00
R2/J1 89.00 1.00
R2/J2 90.00 1.00 181.00 346.00
4 6241 KELLEY FARMER, FROSTED, SLOAN LINDEMAN-BARNETT
R1/J1 84.00
R1/J2 82.50 166.50
R2/J1 84.50 1.00
R2/J2 84.50 1.00 171.00 337.50
5 2211 HANNAH ISOP, RED RYDER, TRACY FREELS
R1/J1 83.00 2.00
R1/J2 84.00 2.00 171.00
R2/J1 82.50 2.00
R2/J2 80.00 2.00 166.50 337.50
6 2087 JENNIFER HANNAN, OLYMPIC FIRE, JENNIFER HANNAN
R1/J1 85.00 2.00
R1/J2 83.00 2.00 172.00
R2/J1 84.00 2.00
R2/J2 74.00 2.00 162.00 334.00
7 1345 MARIA RASMUSSEN, SIDARTA, OVER FENCES FARM LLC
R1/J1 79.00 1.00
R1/J2 79.00 1.00 160.00
R2/J1 83.75 1.00
R2/J2 82.00 1.00 167.75 327.75
8 7261 KERI KAMPSEN, ST TROPEZ, MARY CRAMER
R1/J1 73.00 2.00
R1/J2 77.00 2.00 154.00
R2/J1 86.00 2.00
R2/J2 83.50 2.00 173.50 327.50
9 2092 CLAIRE KENNA, CORICE Z, CLAIRE KENNA
R1/J1 82.00 2.00
R1/J2 76.00 2.00 162.00
R2/J1 83.25 1.00
R2/J2 79.00 1.00 164.25 326.25
10 2776 SARA TAYLOR, NO DOUBT, ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
R1/J1 76.50 1.00
R1/J2 79.50 1.00 158.00
R2/J1 75.50 1.00
R2/J2 83.00 1.00 160.50 318.50
11 2662 VICTORIA COLVIN, GELATO, NICODEMUS FARMS
R1/J1 76.00 2.00
R1/J2 69.50 2.00 149.50
R2/J1 82.25 1.00
R2/J2 80.50 1.00 164.75 314.25
12 2591 JENNIFER BLISS, POKER FACE, HARRIS HILL FARM LLC
R1/J1 72.75 1.00
R1/J2 76.75 1.00 151.50
R2/J1 82.75 2.00
R2/J2 75.75 2.00 162.50 314.00
Jennifer Bliss and Daisy Farish Take Blue Ribbons in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Jennifer Bliss, aboard Sugarman, and Daisy Farish, riding Cinemagic, showed their winning ways at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center’s (PBIEC) Equestrian Village on Friday in their respective sections of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
Jennifer Bliss and Sugarman.Photo by Sportfot
Jennifer Bliss and Sugarman in their presentation ceremony. Photo by Sportfot
The class pinned two separate sections, an open section and a junior/amateur section, and ran both simultaneously over a course designed by Kenny Krome of Westminster, MD. All 61 hunter competitors took to the venue’s vast grass field to traverse a first course of eleven fences, with the top twelve riders from each group returning for a second round to determine standings. The leading 24 were faced with ten total fences for their second time on the field, including a trot fence and series of bending lines.
Bliss piloted her mount of four years, Sugarman, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, to an 84 in the first round and returned to capture the highest score of the handy with a 92, for a combined total of 176 to win the open section of the class. The pair took all four high options in their second round to achieve their top score, with an additional point added for each.
Second went to Schuyler Riley and Golden Glock WS, an entry of Wolfstone Stables & Sales Inc., after the pair received an 85 and an 89, for a red-ribbon total of 174, just missing the win by two points. Laura Bowery took the yellow aboard Prince of Thieves, owned by Stormy Good, with an 83 and a 90, the only other score in the 90s, which totaled 173.
Sugarman, an 11-year-old gelding, accompanied the professional to the blue-ribbon in the same class just last year, and Bliss, who is now based here in Wellington, FL, humorously commented on ‘Sugar’s’ consistency on the derby track.
“We were joking with him that he had to defend his title this week,” said Bliss with a laugh. “I don’t want to jinx myself, but I feel I’ve never had a horse go poorly over here. This is such a fun field to ride on, and I feel like the horses love it. It’s so nice to have a day like this, especially with a horse like Sugar, who we have had for a long time and have a lot of history with.”
Following a successful stint in the Pre-Green and First Year divisions, and his first-ever time international derby competition at WEF in 2015, Sugar sustained an injury that required a lengthy amount of recovery time. The gelding’s win last year was only his second time back in the show ring following his time off, and today’s blue marked another step in the right direction.
“He really loves this venue,” said Bliss. “We just try to save him and show him sparingly because we have had some bad luck and bumps in the road with him in the past. He is very special to us and, at this point, we are just happy to have him back in form and feeling good, and we are looking forward to having some fun with him again. We will probably just continue to aim for some more national derbies for now, and then, if he continues to feel good, we may step him back up to the international derbies. For now, we are happy just letting him tell us what he wants to do.”
Daisy Farish and Cinemagic.Photo by Sportfot
The Junior/Amateur section awarded the blue to Daisy Farish and Cinemagic, owned by Meralex Farm, Inc., who led both cards with an 88 and a 93 to a total of 181, which included eight additional points from all high options.
“I think we really pulled it off,” said the 17-year-old of Versailles, KY. “I don’t do a lot of hunter competition myself because I don’t own any hunters, so whenever I get to ride a special horse like Cinemagic, and we get to do a fun class like this, it’s an amazing experience. We just really wanted to come back strong in the second round, and he was being amazing, so it was up to me to hold it together.”
Daisy Farish and Cinemagic in their presentation ceremony.Photo by Sportfot
Farish praised the Westphalian gelding, who has proven himself many times in the Junior Hunter 16-17 division, for his experience in the ring.
“He has kind of been there, done that,” said Farish. “I just started showing him at the beginning of circuit and I have been able to have lots of fun with him. I think that doing all the high options helped me a lot today, but he is also a very handy horse and jumped some of those fences incredibly, so I think that it was ultimately his style that set us apart.”
The second-place ribbon went to Meredith Lipke and her entry, For Love, with an 83 and an 84 from the judges, for a 167 total. John Yozell and Aiden finished third with a total of 166, following a 79 and an 87 from the judges.
Final Results: $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Open Section
1 2593 JENNIFER BLISS, SUGARMAN, HARRIS HILL FARM, LLC
R1/J1 84.00 84.00
R2/J1 88.00 4.00 92.00 176.00
2 6116 SCHUYLER RILEY, GOLDEN GLOCK WS, WOLFSTONE STABLES & SALES, INC.
R1/J1 85.00 85.00
R2/J1 85.00 4.00 89.00 174.00
3 3031 LAURA BOWERT, PRINCE OF THIEVES, STORMY GOOD
R1/J1 83.00 83.00
R2/J1 86.00 4.00 90.00 173.00
4 3646 AUDREY ROBISON, CALIBER Z, MARCUS EQUESTRIAN ENTERPRISES LLC
R1/J1 81.00 81.00
R2/J1 82.00 4.00 86.00 167.00
5 2188 LISA REX, FABRICIO 23, OVER THE TOP STABLES LLC
R1/J1 83.50 83.50
R2/J1 79.00 4.00 83.00 166.50
6 4661 SCHUYLER RILEY, INTEGRITY, WOLFSTONE STABLES & SALES INC
R1/J1 77.50 3.00 80.50
R2/J1 81.00 4.00 85.00 165.50
7 5829 KATHERINE NEWMAN, CASTLE, ULSTER/GSA
R1/J1 79.00 79.00
R2/J1 84.00 84.00 163.00
8 1200 LISA RICHTER, HAVANA, TAKE THE HIGH ROAD, LLC
R1/J1 79.00 79.00
R2/J1 77.00 4.00 81.00 160.00
9 4951 CYRAN ITZKOVITZ, ENDEAVOR, ELLIE O’HEANEY
R1/J1 83.00 83.00
R2/J1 68.00 4.00 72.00 155.00
10 7040 JULIE OLIVER, BOSSA NOVA, JULIE OLIVER
R1/J1 87.00 87.00
R2/J1 63.00 2.00 65.00 152.00
11 7455 REBECCA GIBSON, BETTER THAN GOLD, SAUNDRA HENDRICKSON
R1/J1 71.00 3.00 74.00
R2/J1 66.00 4.00 70.00 144.00
12 6180 TIFFANY HAMMACK, GT 40, ROGER L SCHRAMM
R1/J1 84.00 1.00 85.00
R2/J1 EL 85.00
Final Results: $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Jr/Am Section
1 1502 DAISY FARISH, CINEMAGIC, MERALEX FARM, INC
R1/J1 84.00 4.00 88.00
R2/J1 89.00 4.00 93.00 181.00
2 2946 MEREDITH LIPKE, FOR LOVE, MEREDITH LIPKE
R1/J1 79.00 4.00 83.00
R2/J1 80.00 4.00 84.00 167.00
3 3675 JOHN YOZELL, AIDEN, JOHN YOZELL
R1/J1 76.00 3.00 79.00
R2/J1 83.00 4.00 87.00 166.00
4 2506 STEPHANIE BULGER, MAYFAIR, STEPHANIE BULGER
R1/J1 80.00 4.00 84.00
R2/J1 77.00 3.00 80.00 164.00
5 1459 ALLIAH KASSEM, C BEYOND, BIJOUX SHOW STABLES
R1/J1 77.00 4.00 81.00
R2/J1 78.00 4.00 82.00 163.00
6 2598 HILLARY JEAN, WITH GRATITUDE, HILLARY JEAN
R1/J1 82.00 82.00
R2/J1 79.00 79.00 161.00
7 7462 LISA BAUGH, KINGS ROAD, NANCY BATTER
R1/J1 78.00 4.00 82.00
R2/J1 70.00 4.00 74.00 156.0
7 2741 TRACY THOMSON, HOUDINI, PATRICIA RAYNES
R1/J1 81.00 4.00 85.00
R2/J1 67.00 4.00 71.00 156.00
9 6618 LISA BUTZER, PURE IMAGINATION, PONIES & PALMS SHOW STABLES LLC
R1/J1 80.50 4.00 84.50
R2/J1 66.00 4.00 70.00 154.50
10 7205 KATARINA MUHLHAUSER, CALVARON, KATARINA MUHLHAUSER
R1/J1 74.00 4.00 78.00
R2/J1 40.00 4.00 44.00 122.00
11 236 SIENA VASAN, NAMESAKE, PALM PONIES LLC
R1/J1 75.50 2.00 77.50
R2/J1 38.00 1.00 39.00 116.50
12 2828 SAMANTHA KARP, ZENTINA B, SAMANTHA KARP
R1/J1 75.00 4.00 79.00
R2/J1 WD 79.00
Brazil and Ireland Pocket Wins During on Friday During Final Week of 2018 WEF
Musa mastered fellow Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge’s speed track and secured the top spot by more than two seconds. Stopping the clock in 58.08 seconds, he and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio, a 15-year-old Brazilian Sport Horse mare (Baloubet du Rouet x Welton Ambassador) topped the 49-horse field. Yet another Brazilian, Eduardo Menezes, took second riding Caruschka 2 in 60.97 seconds for owner E2 Stables, while Alexandra Paillot (FRA) was third aboard Uelem Croze, owned by Paillot Equine Consulting, Inc., with a time of 61.82 seconds.
Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio.Photo by Sportfot
Musa has had the ride on Sharapova Imperio Egipicio for a year and always points the mare toward speed classes, saying, “She is very experienced and you never have to touch the reins. The horses and riders in today’s class were very, very fast and you had to take a risk and run the whole time.
“This is a special victory,” continued Musa, who spent the season at WEF with a string of four horses. “I have been coming to WEF for four seasons and I am happy to be here and win here. It’s like the Formula 1 of equestrian sport.”
Francisco Jose Mesquita Musa and Sharapova Imperio Egipicio in their presentation ceremony with Richard Schechter of Bainbridge and ringmaster Steve Rector.Photo by Sportfot
Later in the day, Coyle ended his circuit in just the same way it began after a win in the $35,000 Equinimity WEF Challenge Cup Round 1 during the first week of the season. Both top placings came aboard Eristov, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cicero Z Van Paemel x Concorde) owned by Elan Farm.
Returning third in Friday’s 1.45m, Coyle was one of 11 riders to advance to Jorge’s jump-off track from an original field of 63. His time of 33.06 seconds held on for the win, dropping Matthew Metell (USA) to second in 33.46 seconds riding Donchalant for owner Wolver Hollow. Javier Fernandez (MEX) rounded out the top three in 34.06 seconds aboard End Good All Good, owned by Miguel Madero.
Jordan Coyle and Eristov.Photo by Sportfot
“This is a spectacular horse,” said Coyle, who rides for Old Salem Farm based in North Salem, NY, and got the ride on Eristov at the end of 2017. “I knew he was going to be great the first time I sat on him and I think he proved that this winter. I have to thank my team at Old Salem Farm and my owner, Elan Farm, for their support in helping me and the horse find success.”
Jordan Coyle and Eristov in their presentation ceremony with ringmaster Steve Rector. Photo by Sportfot
Coyle and Eristov will contest the $50,000 Wanderers Club Grand Prix CSI2* on Sunday during the final day of competition at the 2018 WEF.
“Eristov has definitely earned himself some time off in the paddock as soon as we return home to North Salem,” concluded Coyle.
Final Results: $35,000 Douglas Elliman 1.45m CSI5*
1 SHARAPOVA IMPERIO EGIPICIO: 2002 Brazilian Sport Horse mare by Baloubet du Rouet x Welton Ambassador
FRANCISCO JOSE MESQUITA MUSA (BRA), Daniel Aguiar Morelli: 0/58.08
2 CARUSCHKA 2: 2004 Oldenburg mare by Caspar x Continue
EDUARDO MENEZES (BRA), E2 Stables: 0/60.97
3 UELEM CROZ: 2008 gelding
ALEXANDRA PAILLOT (FRA), Paillot Equestrian Consulting Inc: 0/61.82
4 JIVA: 2009 BWP mare by Concorde (84.4140) x Nonstop
BEEZIE MADDEN (USA), Abigail Wexner: 0/62.14
5 CERISE: 2008 SBS mare by Cicero Z van Paemel x Non Stop
MCLAIN WARD (USA), Sagamore Farms: 0/62.79
6 VITIKI: 2008 Hanoverian by Valentino x For Expo
YURI MANSUR (BRA), Yuri Mansur: 0/62.97
7 JEWEL 8: 2009 Belgian Warmblood mar by Kannan x Indoctro
ERIC LAMAZE (CAN), The Jewel Group: 0/63.12
8 ELIZABETH: 2009 KWPN mare by Zirocco Blue VDl x Sydney
SHANE SWEETNAM (IRL), Siboney Ranch: 0/63.22
9 WAHRHAFTIGE CR: 2006 Holsteiner mare by Clearway x Coronado
BEN ASSELIN (CAN), Spruce Meadows: 0/63.63
10 CHARMING FORCE B: 2007 KWPN mare by Vleut x Flipper
ERYNN BALLARD (CAN), Terri Brent Stables & Cynthia Gordon: 0/64.10
11 CAILLOU: 2007 gelding
LUIS PEDRO BIRABEN (ARG), Mighel Madero & Luis Pedro Biraben: 0/64.94
12 BOCKMANNS LAZIO: 2000 Westphalian stallion by Lancer II x Cor de la Bryere
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Gladewinds Farm LLC: 0/65.99
Final Results: $35,000 Wanderers Club 1.45m CSI2*
1 ERISTOV: 2009 KWPN gelding by Cicero Z Van Paemel x Concorde
JORDAN COYLE (IRL), Elan Farm: 0/0/33.06
2 DONCHALANT: 2008 KWPN mare by Larino x Amaretto I
MATTHEW METELL (USA), Wolver Hollow: 0/0/33.46
3 END GOOD ALL GOOD: 2009 KWPN gelding by Mr. Blue x Caretino
JAVIER FERNANDEZ (MEX), Miguel Madero: 0/0/34.06
4 LOUGHNAVATTA INDIGO: 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Luidam x VDL Arkansas
JONATHAN CORRIGAN (IRL), Twin Oaks Stables Inc.: 0/0/34.43
5 VDL CARTELLO: 2007 Holsteiner stallion by Cartani x Lord
CORMAC HANLEY (IRL), Heathman Farm, LLC: 0/4/32.27
6 SHL SWEET TRICIA: 2009 KWPN mare by Caspar x Tampa
MAVIS SPENCER (USA), Sarah Ryan: 0/4/34.20
7 DEEJAY: 2008 KWPN gelding by Harley VDL x Amulet
STEPHEN MOORE (IRL), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/35.41
8 AANWINST: 2005 KWPN mare by Odermus R x Jackson
JORDAN MACPHERSON (CAN), JEM Stables Inc: 0/4/35.51
9 HH DONNATELLA: 2003 Belgian Warmblood mare by Toulon x Mr. Blue
DANIELA STRANSKY (VEN), Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc.: 0/4/36.86
10 HAVANA DE LA LANDE: 2007 Belgian Warmblood mare by Nabab de Reve x Parco
ELISA URIBR (COL), Elisa Uribe: 0/11/50.72
12 BRAVOURE: 2006 KWPN gelding by Tolano Van’t Riethof x Goodwill
BLYTHE KAROLYI (USA), Amalaya Investments: 1/72.54
The final week of WEF continues on Saturday, March 31, with the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*, as well as a championship presentation for the Hunt Ltd. Amateur-Owner 36 & Over 3’6” Hunters.