Another week of ESP Summer Series competition wrapped up on the Derby Field as Kent Farrington of Wellington, FL and Creedance dominated the $20,000 Resilient Fitness Grand Prix. The pair crossed through the jump-off timers in 42.746 seconds, besting a total of 37 competitors on the course designed by Jasen Shelley. Joao Eduardo Ferreira De Carvalho of Delray Beach, FL rode Volt Du Thot, owned by Karina Rocha Mello, to a second-place victory after a 44.98-second jump-off. Sophia Studd of Wellington, FL claimed third place aboard Holsteins Matina, owned by Marie Botved Studd, after they finished the jump-off track in 47.232 seconds.
Farrington had a total of three entries in this Grand Prix, and has been working to keep them in shape despite the slower competition season this Summer. “Creedance and Gazelle are very experienced horses, and it’s a great opportunity to jump them on the grass. I think it’s one of the best arenas that we have in America, so the fact that they’re able to hold some shows here during this difficult time is great,” commented Farrington. “I wanted to take advantage of [this field] with my horses and still keep them in a bit of a routine even though there’s not a ton of shows going on right now.” The KPF Team recently returned from competition in North Carolina and Michigan, and the top rider expressed that he’s very happy some venues have been able to hold competitions, considering “a lot of other sports aren’t able to continue now.”
Many of his social media followers have also seen the incredible workouts that Farrington completes, so in honor of this week’s Grand Prix sponsor, Resilient Fitness, Farrington described how he manages to stay motivated and healthy during this time: “I take my job seriously. I think if we’re going to call ourselves athletes, then we have to be athletes. So, I try to be authentic to that and live and train like a top athlete should.”
Jumper Highlights
The $2,500 Equiline Medium Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic was championed by Sheer Levitin of Delray Beach, FL and her entry Love Scendix after they completed the second round in 36.589 seconds. Taking home the red ribbon was Luiza Leivas Da Costa of Boca Raton, FL after racing through the timers in 36.824 seconds aboard Luziada Jmen, owned by Bonne Chance Farm LLC. Sheer Levitin and her mount Anis De La Piece also clinched the third-place position with a 37.132-seond jump-off.
Sheer Levitin returned to the winner’s circle for the $2,500 Equiline Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic, this time aboard her Vitus K and with a final time of 40.547 seconds. Christie Rugh-Bileddo of Port St. Lucie, FL captured second place with her entry Beotie De Ravel after they completed the course in 38.387 seconds and with four faults. Ansgar Holtgers Jr. of Wellington, FL stopped the clock at 40.65 seconds to claim the third-place ribbon with four faults aboard Alfonsine Manciaise, owned by Gut Einhaus, LLC.
Over in the Van Kampen Covered Arena, the $250 CCTV Agent .85m Classic took place with Kate Marra of Delray Beach, FL topping the leaderboard with Kristin Schuttenmeyer’s On The Rocks after a 32.677-second round. Julia Lane of Wellington, FL was close behind with a time of 34.171 seconds aboard her mount Davinchie. Charlie Berch of Boca Raton, FL and Silver White Winters, owned by Jayden Rivas, took home third with a 34.896-second jump-off.
The $1,500 Low Child/Adult Amateur Jumper Classic presented by French Horse Exports named Manuela Gomez of Wellington, FL and Coignard Katalei, owned by Jorge Gomez, champion after they stopped the timers at 44.904 seconds. Angela Calicchio of Wellington, FL clinched the red ribbon aboard Cali Horse Sales LLC’s City Walk with a jump-off time of 50.042 seconds. Seconds behind to claim third was McKenna Schmell of Wellington, FL with a final time of 50.127 seconds aboard her entry Lordess of the Rings.
Earlier in the week, jumper competition began with the $5,000 Vita Flex-Lactanase 1.35m Open Stake. Canada’s Kim Farlinger captured the blue ribbon aboard Stanley Stone, owned by Sher-Al Farm Inc., with a 35.994-second jump-off. Ronan McGuigan of Wellington, FL rode Blythe Masters’ Ella Sandra G to second after a jump-off time of 37.859 seconds. Clinching third place was Gabriel De Matos Machado of Lexington, KY and RF Casablanca, owned by Raylyn Farms Inc, with a 39.878-second jump-off.
On Friday, Kent Farrington piloted Jasper, owned by Kent Farrington & Tanma Corp, to victory in the $10,000 Bainbridge Companies Open Stake on the Derby Field in 42.843 seconds. Victoria Birdsall of Topsfield, MA claimed the red ribbon aboard Ilan Ferder’s Maestro Van Het Binnenveld with a jump-off time of 45.493 seconds, while Ronan McGuigan rode Elvis, owned by Blythe Masters, to third place in 45.87 seconds.
Hunter Highlights
The hunter feature class of the week was the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Score At The Top, held on the Derby Field Annex on Friday afternoon. Clair Kellner of Lutz, FL and Inspiration, owned by Mindy Carreja, rose to the top of the leaderboard after they received a combined score of 180.5. Molly Sewell of Wellington, FL rode Sara Hogan’s Hamilton to second place with a final score of 177.5, while Amy Momrow of Wellington, FL captured the yellow ribbon aboard Victorino Z, owned by Monty Kelly, with a combined score of 174.
The Derby challenged 25 combinations in the first round, with the top 12 returning for the handy round. Kellner, who also received fifth place aboard Suzanne Cayatte’s Caligua and sixth place aboard Maggie Alexander’s Geronimo L, explained that she did have separate plans for each horse going in depending on their experience: “Even though Inspiration is a bit younger he’s very brave, so I did all the high options in the first round and he was so good, so I figured I would just turn and burn during the handy round and see what happened!”
“He’s six, and doesn’t have a ton of experience yet,” continued Kellner about her winning mount Inspiration. “That was probably his fifth or sixth derby, but he actually won the last one we did too, so his head is going to start getting too big,” Kellner joked.
While heavy rain hit the Wellington area earlier in the week, the feature class was still able to be held on the Derby Field Annex, which Kellner was happy about: “I actually haven’t shown on grass since I was about seventeen years old, so it was nice to get out there and the footing was beautiful. That field is phenomenal.”
Lauren Gee of Valdosta, GA claimed the top two spots in Sunday’s $500 Pony Hunter Classic. The blue ribbon was awarded to Aquitaine Equine’s Eastside after receiving a final score of 168, while the red ribbon was awarded to Team Weston LLC’s Tina Turner after a final score of 163. Taylor Cawley of Wellington, FL received a final score of 152 after piloting Flat Stanley, owned by Vanessa Mazzoli, around the course to capture the yellow ribbon.
Olivia Burns of Wellington, FL was named champion of the Child/Adult Hunter division presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center aboard Cake Walk, owned by Melissa Burns, while reserve champion went to Grace Sager of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Quasini Landai, owned by Fallen Oak Farm LLC.
The Children’s Pony Hunter division presented by The Wanderers Club saw Faith Schuttemeyer of Boca Raton, FL take home the tricolor ribbon with Emily Stowe’s Mr. Snuffleupagus, while Carsyn Korotkin of Wellington, FL and Castlewood Farm Inc’s Fortnite clinched a reserve champion finish.
Alexandra Mikhail of Wellington, NY dominated the Junior Hunter 3’6” division presented by #1 Education Place aboard her entry M Monroe, while the reserve champion title was awarded to Cecelia Perry of Boynton Beach, FL and Icadello, owned by Castlewood Farm Inc.
Loxahatchee, FL native Julie Burton claimed the champion ribbon in the Low Adult Amateur Hunter division presented by Pilates Rocks aboard her mount Uppercase. Natalia Hatami of Boca Raton, FL received reserve champion riding Candy Crush, owned by Mailin Delia Backman.
Lauren Gee and Eastside returned to the winner’s podium to claim the champion title of the Large Pony Hunter division presented by Dover Saddlery, while Quinn Hunter of Wellington, FL captured reserve with Land’s End Bit Of Honey, owned by Mikensie Roberts.
The ESP Summer Series, hosted at Equestrian Village, continues this week with USEF “A” National & Jumper 4* competition from Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30, including another USHJA National Hunter Derby on Friday, August 28. No spectators or outside media are allowed on-site, but friends and family can view all classes via our SGL live stream HERE.
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