1.40M Jumper Classic
Week IV of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Summer Series wrapped up 4th of July afternoon with the $15,000 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic. A field of 24 entries challenged a course designed by Peter Grant of Canada. The course presented a winding track through the WEC Grand Arena that included a double combination and a triple combination. Seven entries managed a clear first round and five jumped double clear, but it was Kim Farlinger and her own Imara that raced to the win with an unbelievably fast jump-off.
Kim Farlinger of Wellington, Florida and Imara (Dutch Design x Wamara) delivered a remarkable first round course, stopping the clock at 81.483 seconds, well under the time allowed of 85 seconds. Farlinger liked the first-round course, “It was a nice first round track. It was similar to the Grand Prix last night, where I was fortunate enough to be in the class, so I had an idea of what to expect today. She is a big mover, so I did seven to the plank jump instead of eight. She is much happier to jump off of a gallop which really helped me with the time allowed.”
Farlinger and the eight-year-old KWPN mare advanced straight to the jump-off. “My plan was to run as fast as I could, really. Sharn is always fast, and I knew he was leading, so I thought if she jumped clear, I might as well give it a go. I did six strides in the last line and the entire time that I was doing it, I thought it was a terrible idea, but she left it up which was amazing.”
Farlinger and Imara soared through the last line leaving every jump up, to stop the clock at 36.705 seconds to earn the win.
Right behind the winning pair, was Sharn Wordley and Esmee the 12-year-old Warmblood mare. Wordley and Esmee found previous success in last week’s class placing eighth. Olympic rider, Wordley and Esmee delivered a beautiful first round 37.238 seconds. The pair advanced straight to the jump-off taking multiple inside turns, stopping the timers at 37.238 seconds, just behind Farlinger and Imara.
Diego Perez Bilboa and Wyndmont Inc’s Tinker Bell produced an impeccable fast first round, stopping the clock at 79.297 seconds, well within the time allowed. Bilboa and Tinker Bell jumped-off immediately, galloping through the entirety of the course to stop the clock at 39.136 seconds to round off the top three.
$15,000 WEC Ocala 1.40m Jumper Classic Results:
1. Imara, Kim Farlinger, Kim Farlinger Equestrian: 0 | 0 | 36.705
2. Esmee, Sharn Wordley, Sharn Wordley: 0 | 0 | 37.238
3. Tinker Bell, Diego Perez Bilboa, Wyndmont Inc.: 0 | 0 | 39.136
4. Infante SK, Marcus Gruenthal, Marcus Gruenthal: 0 | 0 | 39.370
5. Emeraldo, Karl Beyer, Hannah Matts: 0 | 0 | 40.142
6. Ravello, Justine Dutton, The Ravello Syndicate: 0 | 4 | 40.290
7. Extra Des Sequoias, Carlo Ramirez, Carlos Ramirez: 0 | 8 | 39.024
8. Cornut GP, Vicente Guillen, Rafael Celis: 4 | 80.271
9. The Diamant Rose Z, Santiago Lambre, Santiago Lambre: 4 | 80.627
10. MTM Unexpected, Carlee McCutcheon, Carlee McCutcheon: 4 | 80.746
Brady Mitchell and Casting Call won the $12,500 Hunter Derby. (Andrew Ryback Photography)
$12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby
Week IV’s Derby Friday took over the CaptiveOne Indoor Arena as 40 horse-and-rider combinations contested the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby and the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby. Courses for today’s classes were designed by Doug Russell. Both courses showcased inviting organic obstacles with three high options each. The handy round for each class presented several opportunities to show off athleticism with challenging inside turns.
This afternoon’s $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby saw a field of 16 entries compete for the win. Scores soared into the high 80s and mid 90s, but none could best Brady Mitchell and Casting Call, who scored the second-place win in the class last week. Mitchell and Casting Call (Cornet Obolensky x Laila) were unstoppable this afternoon, completing a impeccable first round, taking all three high options to earn a score of 90.
“This week I did the high options in the first round because I had one little rub before the high options came up, so I thought I might need to take a little risk and do the high options to earn a higher score,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell competed multiple horses earlier today in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby and performed a stunning handy round taking extremely tight inside turns but Mitchell had a different plan for this handy round, “In the smaller derby today, to the third to last fence [fence six] I went inside and inside after the fence but the fences were lower, so it was possible. With Casting Call, I went inside to the third to last fence [fence six] then out and around the one jump, then back inside to the trot jump.”
Mitchell and Casting Call the seven-year-old Westphalian gelding returned for the handy, jumping all three high options to earn a handy score of 95, for a total score of 185 for the win.
Dorothy Douglas and Carlee McCutcheon’s MTM Personal Assistant were also impressive this afternoon. Douglas and the nine-year-old Warmblood gelding had the second highest first-round score of 92, after delivering a lovely first round, taking all three high options. Douglas and MTM Personal Assistant (Cero x Graefinsandra) returned for the handy, taking multiple inside turns with the three high options for a score of 91, and a two-round total of 183.
Third place was captured by Carlee McCutcheon of Aubrey, Texas and KT Hedwich the nine-year-old KWPN gelding. McCutcheon and KT Hedwich earned second place in Week I and sixth in Week II’s $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby. McCutcheon and KT Hedwich supplied two superb rounds, taking all three high options in both, to score a first-round score of 87, and a second-round score of 88, for an overall score of 175.
Also, in the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby, Brady Mitchell and his own Pompidou earned the second-place finish in the class. Mitchell and the recently imported seven-year-old Westphalian gelding started the class off strong, jumping all three high options in the first round to receive a score of 84. Mitchell and Pompidou (Pilothago x Haya Z) returned for the handy round taking every inside turn that was available, while taking all three high options to earn the classes highest handy score of 90, for a total of 177.
$12,500 WEC 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1. Casting Call, Brady Mitchell, Float On Equestrian LLC – 90 | 95 | 185
2. MTM Personal Assistant, Dorothy Douglas, Carlee McCutcheon – 92 | 91 | 183
3. KT Hedwich, Carlee McCutcheon, Carlee McCutcheon – 87 | 88 | 175
4. MTM Last Word, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm – 88 | 78 | 166
5. Eyewitness, Chelsea Stopford, Jessica Collin – 81| 83 | 164
6. Fabriano, Sheila Motley, Visse Wedell – 82 | 81 | 163
7. Oswald Van De Leeuwerk, Devin Seek, Joan Burke – 80 | 73 | 153
8. Karma AB, Emily Cherney, Emily Cherney – 84 | 63 | 147
9. Lord Don, Rowan Willis, Page H. Flournoy – 66 | 77 | 143
10. Castle Black, Brady Mitchell, Float On Equestrian LLC – 95 | 47 | 142
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