Wellington, FL — February 18, 2018 — Victory on the grass derby field on Sunday, February 18, in the $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix went to 17-year-old Madison Goetzmann (USA) riding Prestigious at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. In the WEF International Arena, Tracy Scheriff-Muser rode Shoreline and Samantha Karp rode Zentina B to win sections of the Peggy Cone Adult Amateur Hunter Classic.

WEF competition continues on February 21-25 with CSI 5* competition sponsored by Lugano Diamonds and featuring the $384,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, February 24. WEF goes through April 1 and offers more than $9 million in prize money.

On the grass derby field on Sunday, 50 entries competed over a course designed by Ana Catalina Cruz-Harris (MEX), and ten of those were clear to advance to the jump-off. Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Seabrook LLC’s Baloppi set the early winning pace in 41.97 seconds with no faults, which would hold up for second place.

Next into the ring for the jump-off was Ailish Cunniffe (USA) on Baloucento 2, owned by Whipstick Farm Ltd. They finished in 42.16 seconds and placed third.
Five trips later, the winning time was lowered to 41.53 seconds when Goetzmann and her own Prestigious finished the jump-off. Three additional rounds were unable to catch Goetzmann’s time and stay clear through the course.

It was the second win in a row for Goetzmann, who also captured Saturday’s $10,000 Hermès U25 Welcome with Prestigious.

“I think yesterday’s round really set me up for today,” said Goetzmann. “I got my horse’s rideability really nice yesterday and patting off the ground with the short turns and efficient track. Coming in today, I knew he was going to be set for the long strides and galloping in the jump-off.

“Going into the jump-off, I knew that I could trust him to gallop up in the first line and maybe do one less (stride) than the others,” she continued about her second round. “He came right back after that and really was just perfect through the rest of the jump-off. He really saved me to the last jump; I was a little deep and he covered it right up. I trust him in that and he was really perfect. I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Goetzmann and Prestigious, an 11-year-old Westphalian gelding by Con Cento x Corofino, have been strong competitors in the U25 division leading up to this winter, having won the silver medal at the USEF U25 Show Jumping National Championship in November.

“He’s a horse that I want to move up to the bigger level – 1.50m, three-star, four-star eventually,” she said.

Gilbertson, 24, describes Baloppi, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, as “pretty simple” and “good in all sorts of rings.”

Gilbertson has been extremely consistent throughout the Hermès U25 series thus far, having won the week 2 grand prix in the WEF International Arena and recording a clear round in the team event in week 4 under the lights in the Global International Arena.

“It’s an advantage for us for her to be able to stay consistent throughout the series when we have to do so many different arenas,” said Gilbertson. “I think it’s really cool. It makes it really exciting and it doesn’t get boring. For them, it keeps them sharper and fresher and ready for what’s coming next.”

Cunniffe and Baloucento 2 have been paired together a year and the “energizer bunny,” according to Cunniffe, wasn’t tired at all after competing two days in a row.

“All of our horses are kind of on the hotter side and it’s really hot out today,” said the 20-year-old student at Southern Methodist University. “They had to work hard yesterday and without a day off in between. It was to our advantage that our horses are on the hotter side.”

WEF 8 hosts the next Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix class, with the $35,000 Semi-Final on Friday, March 2, under the lights at 7 p.m. in the WEF International Arena.

Final Results: $25,000 Hermès Under 25 Grand Prix

1 PRESTIGIOUS: 2007 Westphalian gelding by Con Cento x Corofino
MADISON GOETZMANN (USA), Madison Goetzmann: 0/0/41.53

2 BALOPPI: 2007 Danish Warmblood mare
LACEY GILBERTSON (USA), Seabrook LLC: 0/0/41.97

3 BALOUCENTO 2: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Baloubet du Rouet x Cento
AILISH CUNNIFFE (USA), Whipstick Farm Ltd: 0/0/42.16

4 B ONCE Z: 2004 Zangersheide mare by Baloubet du Rouet x Lavaletto
LUCAS PORTER (USA), Sleepy P Ranch: 0/0/42.64

5 IRCO VAN KLAPSCHEUT: 2008 BWP gelding by Radco d’Houtveld
ROGELIO PELLERANO (DOM), Rogelio Pellerano: 0/0/43.37

6 DUROSA W: 2008 KWPN mare by B Zirocco Blue VDL x Manhattan
MCKAYLA LANGMEIER (USA), Linda Langmeier: 0/4/39.33

7 MAE: 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare by Vegas x Topas
NOEL FAUNTLEROY (USA), Noel Fauntleroy: 0/4/42.37

8 CONCARDO: 2006 German Sport Horse gelding by Consul x Levisto
SUMMER HILL (USA), Andrea Simpson: 0/4/42.40

9 GASPER VAN DEN DOORN: 2006 Belgian Warmblood gelding by Calvaro x Larome
TEDDY VLOCK (USA), Vlock Show Stables LLC: 0/4/44.63

10 GREAT WHITE: 2008 Holsteiner gelding by Cumano x Julio Mariner
DAISY FARISH (USA), Daisy Farish: 0/19/64.36

11 JERSEY V.D. HUNTERS: 2009 BWP mare by Scendix x Canadian River
NICOLE BELLISSIMO (USA), Bellissimo LLC: 1/85.54

12 LIKE A DREAM: 2002 Westphalian gelding by Larenco x Pilot
ALI BOONE (USA), Sterling Equestrian: 1/86.97

Tracy Scheriff-Muser and Samantha Karp Share $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic Win

A field of 74 competitors took to the International Arena on Sunday in the $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic to wrap up the much-anticipated World Championship Rider Hunter week at the 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival. Due to its size, the class featured a California split and pinned two different sections of winners. Tracy Scheriff-Muser, aboard Shoreline, and Samantha Karp, aboard Zentina B, prevailed.

In today’s classic, the winners were determined based on the combined scores of two separate rounds. The top 24 exhibitors were selected to return for a second tour around the challenging arena, and the class came to a close mid-afternoon.
Scheriff-Muser and her veteran mount, Shoreline, topped the field in section A with two top scores of 88 and a total of 176. Scheriff-Muser is no stranger to this particular classic and expressed her enthusiasm to finally walk out of the International Arena with the blue.

“I have never won that class before,” said Scheriff-Muser. “I have done it a bunch of times before, and this time I was excited just to go back, but then we ended up doing so well!”

Zentina B, guided by Samantha Karp, received the highest score in the division of a 90 in the first round and came back to get an 84 in the second with a total of 174 to secure the section B win.

“She is easily my horse of a lifetime,” said Karp of her mount of four years, also known as Tina. “I am in college now, so it has become more difficult to get over here and ride. For me to be able to come back and have her be exactly the way I left her is amazing. This [win] is really exciting for me because it has been such a long journey with her, and I love that I am able to still have riding as part of my life and still be able to have a good time doing it while moving on and growing in other areas too.”

Karp, a student of the University of Miami, added that she is happy doing this division with the 14-year-old mare for as long as she wants to do it.

“You go in the ring knowing she is going to try her 100% every single time,” said Karp. “I don’t know where I would be right now if it wasn’t for her!”

Allison Cederberg and Zero Tolerance claimed second place with combined scores of 84.50 and 87 for a total of 171.50. Terri Irrer and Café Noir were just two points short and took third place with an 84 in the first round and an 85 in the second for a combined 169.50. In section B, Jeanine Cash and Tristram 7 scored 83 and 87 for a total of 170 for second place, while Caroline Gibson and Gia were third with scores of 82.5 and 85 for a 167.50 total.

Final Results: $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic Section A

1   SHORELINE, TRACY SCHERIFF-MUSER       88.00 88.00 176.00
2   ZERO TOLERANCE, ALLISON CEDERBERG         84.50   87.00 171.50
3   CAFE’ NOIR, TERRI IRRER                 84.50 85.00 169.50
4   STATEMENT, LINDSEY TOMEU               85.00 81.50 166.50
5   DREAMBOY, JULIE HOGAN                 79.00 84.00 163.00
6   EMERSON, SHAWNA STOUT               78.00 81.00 159.00
7   CZECHMATE, LINDSAY MUTSCHLER           78.50 78.00 156.50
8   RUMZU, LAURA LEE MONTROSS         82.00 72.00 154.00
9   BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY, TRICIA BARR                 77.00 75.00 152.00
10 COOLIDGE, NANCY HOOKER               80.00 68.00 148.00
11 KENNEDY, BLANCHE STRUNK             76.25 66.00 142.25
12 GRIFFIN, LESLIE KOPP                 77.50 35.00 112.50

Final Results: $5,000 Peggy Cone WCHR Adult Hunter Classic Section B

1   ZENTINA B, SAMANTHA KARP 90.00 84.00 174.00
2   TRISTRAM 7, JEANINE CASH 83.00 87.00 170.00
3   GIA, CAROLINE GIBSON 82.50 85.00 167.50
4   WAGNER PARK, TRACEY GORIN-BYRNE 84.00 82.00 166.00
5   LALIQUE, REBECCA PATTERSON 79.50 82.00 161.50
6   COCOMO, DANA BRAWLEY. 75.00 83.00 158.00
7   VALHALLA, KATE ELLIS 86.00 68.50 154.50
8   SUGAR RAY, BRIGITTE LEROUX 76.00 77.00 153.00
9   SHOWGIRL, ALEXIS JOEL 75.50 73.00 148.50
10 REGARD, LEAH PATIPA 75.75 71.00 146.75
11 DENMARK, MICHAEL BAUM 89.00 50.00 139.00
12 TRENDING, ABBIE TAYLOR 81.00 elim 81.00

Stephanie Danhakl Sweeps Top Two in $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Classic

Stephanie Danhakl of Pacific Palisades, CA, topped the $5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Classic aboard her own Enough Said and also took second riding her own Quest.

After earning the Adequan Amateur-Owner Hunter 18-35 3’3” division title earlier in the week, Danhakl collected scores of 90 and 84 in the classic to finish on a 174 total with Enough Said. She bested herself by four points after also piloting Quest to scores of 86 and 84 to sit on a total of 170 for second place. Brad Wolf and Libretto rounded out the top three by combining scores of 82 and 85 for an overall score of 167.

Of Enough Said, a 12-year-old Warmblood gelding, Danhakl noted, “He’s a little bit of a nervous horse, but we have developed a really great bond. Everyone says when he sees me or hears my voice his ears immediately go up and he gets really excited. I love him just as much as he hopefully loves me.

“He’s extremely straight forward, big-strided, careful, kind, and brave,” continued Danhakl, who is based out of Boston, MA, while she pursues her doctorate at Boston University. “He has all the qualities I would want in a horse. My first round was one of the best rounds we’ve had, but he always surprises me with how amazing he is. Today was no exception.”

Danhakl trains with Scott Stewart, who had to catch a flight and had to leave during the second round. She returned with the top twelve for the handy round sitting in second.

“Luckily, I have a great team behind me – I felt confident they would fill in for Scott and they definitely did,” said Danhakl. “I won’t get to show in the International Ring again until next year so I wanted to enjoy it and enjoy my horses. It was a great way to end a great week and I’m looking forward to next year.”

$5,000 WCHR Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” Classic

1 ENOUGH SAID STEPHANIE DANHAKL 90.00 84.00 174.00
2 QUEST STEPHANIE DANHAKL 86.00 84.00 170.00
3 LIBRETTO BRAD WOLF 82.00 85.00 167.00
4 ORLON MARGOT PERONI 83.00 82.00 165.00
5 SIENNA LEXI MAOUNIS 78.00 86.00 164.00
6 VERDICT JEAN SHEPTOFF 88.00 75.00 163.00
7 FOREVER JAMES G ANDERSON 81.00 78.00 159.00
8 NOT TO WORRY SARAH HELLMAN 87.00 68.00 155.00
9 BOZEMAN KATHERINE OBERKIRCHER 80.00 70.00 150.00
10 CARAWAY KRISTAN LASSITER 76.50 73.00 149.50
11 CONCEPT KRISTA WEISMAN 79.00 55.00 134.00
12 BELGRAVIA LINDSAY MAXWELL 92.00 35.00 127.00

Caroline Ratigan Guides Trust to WCHR Junior Hunter Classic 16-17 Win

Caroline Ratigan and Trust remained unfazed after a scheduling change that moved the junior hunter competitors out of the International Arena and into the E.R. Mische Grand Hunter ring. The pair took two high scores of 87 in both rounds of the World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) Junior Hunter Classic 16-17 and emerged victorious.

With a total of 174, the duo was tough to beat. Ratigan and the 10-year-old gelding have been partnered together for three years, and the two continue to best competitors in the hunter ring. Today marked their third consecutive first-place win this week in addition to winning the division championship on Saturday in the International Arena.

“He has really started to come into his own this year,” said Ratigan. “He is a complete professional in the ring now. To win the classic today was icing on the cake. I want to thank Ken Berkley, Scott Stewart, and Richard Slocum for everything that they have taught me and helped me with. Their entire program is phenomenal and I have been lucky enough to ride with them for a long time now. It’s been great.”

Second place went to Erin Floyd aboard Canal Street with two scores of 80 and 87 for a 167 total. Elly Ficca followed close behind for third with Cleopatra’s Smile and exited the ring with an 82 and an 84 for a combined 166.

WCHR Junior Hunter Classic 16-17 Results

1 TRUST Caroline Ratigan 87.00 87.00 174.00
2 CANAL STREET Erin Floyd 80.00 87.00 167.00
3 CLEOPATRA’S SMILE Elly Ficca 82.00 84.00 166.00
4 ECKO Ella Bostwick 86.00 75.00 161.00
5 CYMPLIFY Erin Floyd 72.00 85.00 157.00
6 FANTASY BOY Taia Lapointe 83.00 72.00 155.00
7 ZANZIBAR Sarah Ekola 81.00 70.5 151.50
8 ESKULTURO Rachel Momrow Darby 70.00 81.00 151.00
9 CASA LOMA Emily Sun 79.00 71.00 150.00
10 WELL PLAYED Emma Jolly 68.00 68.00 136.00
11 QUIBOT Abigail Carlson 63.00 69.00 132.00
12 CARTANI CROFT Ronni Gassib 62.50 45.00 107.50

Stephanie Smith and Clintano Crowned WCHR Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under Classic Winner

Sunday’s final class of the World Champion Hunter Rider week went to one of the last entries to return for their second round in the WCHR Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under Classic, Stephanie Smith and Clintano, owned by Sand Dollar Farm, LLC. The pair had a first round score of 84 and came back to earn an 85. A combined score of 169 was enough for Smith to capture the blue.

Smith entered the Rost Arena with her blue ribbon flowing in the evening breeze and galloped around for a victory gallop as a team of close friends and supporters cheered her on.

“I got him last April, and the last few months have been a bit of a struggle for us,” said Smith. “I’ve had some trouble with his lead changes, but he was such a good boy today and it was so rewarding for me, after going through so many learning experiences with him, to pull it all together.”

Smith, of Saddle River, NJ, and Clintano also won Friday’s section A over fences class in the International Arena with a pair of 83 scores, and the young rider expressed how she entered today’s competition with continued confidence, despite being moved out of the larger ring due to a scheduling change.

“I was ready to [go in the International Arena] and try to shine again, but it worked out,” said Smith. “From the minute we went into the ring today, I felt like we were connected, and I really think that is what made us stand out.”

Stella Propp, who was the division champion this week, combined an 81.50 and an 86 to finish the day aboard Maraschino and captured second with a combined 167.50. Propp secured third aboard Neato with a 78 and an 85 for a total of 163.

WCHR Junior Hunter 3’3” 15 & Under Classic Results

1 CINTANO Stephanie Smith 84.00 85.00 169.00
2 MARASCHINO Stella Propp 81.50 86.00 167.50
3 NEATO Stella Propp 78.00 85.00 163.00
4 REVELRY Gwyneth Babington 74.00 84.00 158.00
5 ROC’S ALL THAT Taylor Holstead 75.00 81.00 156.00
6 SOCIALITE Gabrielle Sokolow 76.00 79.00 155.00
7 DREAM ON Lindsay Sterne 80.50 74.00 154.50
8 CHICAGO Sydney Hamel 81.00 66.00 147.00
9 J’ADORE Gigi Moynihan 86.00 59.00 145.00
10 ILLUSION Ella Sherman 77.00 67.00 144.00
11 GANOSO Tessa P. Brown 82.00 39.00 121.00
12 JUILLIARD Hunter Champey 80.00 40.00 120.00

Victoria Colvin Cruises to $25,000 CP National Grand Prix Victory

The $25,000 CP National Grand Prix was held on the grass derby field, and it was 20-year-old Victoria Colvin of Loxahatchee, FL, who sped to victory on Clochard, owned by Neil Jones Equestrian Inc.

There were 26 entries in the class, and seven in the jump-off. Colvin was the last to go, and she and Clochard, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion, raced across the field to clock a time of 40.902 seconds for the win.

They were chasing a time of 42.236 seconds set by Jonathon Millar (CAN) and Bonzay, owned by Isotropic, who finished in 42.236 seconds for second place. Third place went to Cafino, ridden by Amber Harte (USA) and owned by Take The High Road LLC, who had a time of 42.741 seconds.

Colvin has only shown Clochard four times and ridden him “less than eight times.” Owner Neil Jones asked her to compete him in the Under 25 division, and while he has shown in the Welcome classes, Colvin can only compete one horse in the grand prix classes. For week six, Colvin thought the CP National Grand Prix would be a perfect alternative.

Describing herself as a “forward rider,” Colvin loves riding the horse she describes as “like a little moped, like a little dirtbike!”

With a forward rider and a fast horse, the outcome was a blazing winning time.

“In the jump-off, I wasn’t even trying to go fast,” said Colvin. “I had to control myself. Usually to the in and out, I would have left one (stride) out, but I said, ‘No, slow it down Tori.’ That was my conservative. I was shocked to see the time. I didn’t expect it to be that fast. I see my distance so far away and I just do it. I don’t count strides or anything. To the last line, I was cooking! At the last jump, I could have slowed it down and added one, but at that point I was moving.”

Final Results: $25,000 CP National Grand Prix

1   CLOCHARD, VICTORIA COLVIN (USA), NEIL JONES EQUESTRIAN INC.: 0/0/40.902
2   BONZAY, JONATHON MILLAR (CAN), ISOTROPIC: 0/0/42.326
3   CAFINO, AMBER HARTE (USA), TAKE THE HIGH ROAD LLC: 0/0/42.741
4   APOLLO, MOLLY ASHE (USA), HS SPORTPFERDE: 0/0/44.340
5   C AMALIA Z, FABIAN SE JANES (ARG), CONSTANZA COMALERAS: 0/0/46.130
6   RETIRO, PETER LUTZ (USA), M. MICHAEL MELLER: 0/4/43.087
7   UKULMAN DE LA NUTRIA, CELSO ARIANI (BRA), RICARDO ROMERO: 0/4/45.726
8   STEALING HOME, WINN ALDEN (USA), SOUTHERN ARCHES LLC: 4/79.048
9   JAVAS MISS JORDAN, NICKY GALLIGAN (IRL), NICKY GALLIGAN: 4/81.656
10 JANARI TER DOLEN, CELSO ARIANI (BRA), RODRIGO PADILLA AND RICARDO ROMERO: 4/82.265
11 TOSCA DU FEUGRE, LAUREN FISCHER (USA), CHERYL FISCHER: 8/78.277
12 AL CALYPSO, MANUEL FERNANDEZ HACHE (DOM), ARISTIDES FERNANDEZ ZUCCO: 8/79.699

The 2018 Winter Equestrian Festival continues with its seventh week of competition on February 21-25.

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