Winn Alden and Double Play won the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix, the first of three big wins bringing her to the Winner's Circle at the Showplace Spring Spectacular I. Crete, IL – June 9, 2017 – Hunter Derbies took over the main hunter ring while the popular $10,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.30m Jumper Classic was the feature in the Grand Prix Ring as competition continued during the Showplace Spring Spectacular I Horse Show at the new HITS Balmoral Park venue.
Friendly gate staff invited riders to the ring for the
$2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Riders who compete in five or more of these classes can qualify for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final, where the top 80 horses will compete for the big paycheck during the championships at HITS on the Hudson in Saugerties, NY, in September.
Winn Alden, St. Louis, Missouri, is on her way to qualifying for the final after her win on Double Play, owned by Southern Arches, LLC. Leading the first round with an 87, Alden took to the gallop in the handy round to earn an 84 for the win. The pair was also Champion in the Green Hunters 3’6” this week.
Winn Alden and Double Play in the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. “I’d like to qualify for the final,” said Alden after her win. “These are great classes for this horse to get some derby experience and it would be a great opportunity for him to show at a big final.”
Taking second by just one point, Katie Leverick of Millennium Farm in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, rode Madison O’Meara’s Gomeri Della Caccia to a score of 84 in the first round behind Alden. Leverick then showed a good gallop in her handy round to earn the highest second round score of 86. The horse is a new ride for owner O’Meara, who recently participated in the USHJA Emerging Athlete Program clinics with the twelve year old Holsteiner. She shows the horse in the Junior Hunters 3’3” and does some equitation with him as well.
Katie Leverick and Gomeri Della Caccia took second in the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.“This was my first Devoucoux Hunter Prix myself, and also my first derby with Gomeri,” said Leverick. “He is a fabulous horse, the same everyday with a spectacular jump! Madison [O’Meara] had great remarks from the EAP clinician Julie Winkel. He is a great confidence builder and teacher for Madison and I feel so lucky and grateful to have the opportunity to work with and show him.”
Donna Struve and her yearling PicaBaloou win the Best Young Horse. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography.The Main Hunter Ring hosted some young horse classes with Donna Struve’s PicaBalou, a handsome yearling who earned the
Best Young Horse Award. Struve, of Tapestry Farm in Bristol, Wisconsin, loves to breed and raise young horses and has a range of ages now with some of the older babies now taking on the green hunter classes with great success with trainers Scott and Josey Gentry.
The final class in the main hunter ring was the
$2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derbywith the course beautifully adorned with flowers and ferns for the event. Winn Alden on another Southern Arches LLC ride, World Affair, took over the class with a first round score of 91. After a galloping handy round and a score of 88, Alden took the lead by over ten points to win.
Winn Alden and World Affair take the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby by storm.“We just got him at the end of Florida and he was greener than we thought so we do all the National Derbies we can so he can do the bigger derbies later on. He’s won one before and I think he’s starting to get the idea now,’ explained Alden.
Liana Brown and Marengo finish in second place. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography.Liana Brown of Carmel, Indiana, and Marengo finished in second and Stephanie Peterson, Colorado, rode Linda Vellman’s The New Black to take third.
Stephanie Peterson and The New Black took home third place in the USHJA National Hunter Derby. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography.
Tameron Peterson and Ingram Hill won the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, again.Tameron Peterson and Ingram Hill added another Platinum Performance Hunter Prix victory to their list. Peterson is on her way to qualify for the $100,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final for junior and amateur riders to be held at the HITS on the Hudson Championships in September.
$10,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.30m Jumper ClassicThe feature class in the Grand Prix Ring was the popular
$10,000 Marshall & Sterling 1.30m Jumper Classic, part of the $150,000 M&S 1.30m Jumper Series
. The class is popular for both spectators and riders and usually consists of young horses or young riders moving into the grand prix level of riding. Showplace Productions offers a series bonus to the leading horse and rider combination, the leading rider and the leading trainer for those accumulating the most points throughout the Showplace Shows May through September. The awards are given out at the Showplace Fall Championships in September. Last year's winner was Kyle Perkovich and Roc My World with Mary Goldman as the Leading Trainer. Kristin Franz and Cypress are leading so far in the 2017 series.
Well when you’re hot you’re hot and Winn Alden was all that as she added a win in the grand prix ring to her Friday winning streak. After winning both hunter derbies, Alden rode Golden Boy to the top of the leader board with a double clear round and a time of 34.033. She also rode Richard Cheska’s Armanac to another double clear round for her and time of 34.683 to take third.
Winn Alden and Golden Boy win the $10,000 M&S 1.30m Jumper Classic. Golden Boy is owned by Ann Buck of St. Louis, who usually shows the horse in the Low Adult Jumpers. Alden showed him in a few 1.25m classes at the Kentucky Spring show with great success.
“He knows more than I do,” laughed Alden. “He hasn’t done 1.30m is a long time and I wasn’t expecting a lot but I give him all the credit. He just went around and knew exactly what to do.”
Winn Alden and Armanac took third in the $10,000 M&S 1.30m Jumper Classic. “Armanac is a seven-year-old and today was his first prix,” added Alden.
Alden has teamed up with Susan Baginski and Baskin Farm in St. Louis for a unique team approach. Baginski is a well-respected professional with the ability to teach and train all levels of horses and riders. With Baginski as the eye on the ground and Alden in the tack, it’s been a successful collaboration. Both professionals are adept at teaching and training and taking customers to the ring. The team has been able to enlist the help on occasion from the legendary horseman George H. Morris, which has helped moved Alden’s rides to the top of the list in every ring.
Winn Alden and Golden Boy in the Winner's Circle. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography.When asked what she credits her consistency to on a day like today Alden replied, “A little bit of luck, you always have to have a little bit of luck and I have been working very hard. This level of jumpers is really new to me. I broke my hand last year so I didn’t really get a full year in at this height. At my age (46) it’s hard to start something new. I spent some time this winter with George Morris and Susan gives me confidence and I just try to put everything out of my mind when I get on the horse and do what I can. I had a lucky day today. “
“I have an amazing team in Baskin Farms & Southern Arches because without them, none of this would be possible!” added a heartfelt Alden.
Maggie Jayne and Chaviana finished in second in the $10,000 M&S Jumper Classic.Maggie Jayne, Elgin, Illinois, and Pony Lane’s Chaviana held an early lead for most of the class with a very speedy jump off time of 34.612, putting the pressure on the rest of the class. The pressure created rails for many of the riders in the field of 25 horses.
Adeline Rohrback and Eastpoint JB landed in fourth.Adeline Rohrback and Eastpoint JB ride with Red Coat Farm in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, raced to the finish for fourth with their time of 36.818.
The view from the VIP Grandstand. Photo Chicago Equestrian.Exhibitors enjoyed a Grand Prix Draw Party in the VIP Grandstand sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition. Showplace Productions is known for their great hospitality and continues the tradition.
Exhibitors enjoyed the hospitality sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition representative.Saturday features the
$50,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix along with a ribbon cutting ceremony and Grand Opening celebration of the new HITS Balmoral Park.
2017 Showplace M&S 1.30m Jumper Series Standings1 Cypress Kristen Franz $3,200
2 Downtown’s Main Event Shannon Sullivan $2,800
2 Moritz W Hannah Bilton $2,800
4 Amalia Vande Endepoel Lisa Goldman $2,175
5 Zante Fee Van Hofterjickel Anabella Sanchez $1,800
6 Valladam Adeline Rohrbach $1,550
7 Lona C Tiffany Hammack $1,525
7 Splendor Caelinn Leahy $1,525
9 Eastpoint JB Adeline Rohrback $1,500
10 Balavan Lisa Goldman $1,250
10 Calano Z Taylor Flury $1,250
12 Espatko’s Electa R Savannah Talcott $1,175
$10,000 M&S 1.30m Jumper Classic1 318 Golden Boy
Ann Buck Winn Alden
2 176 CHAVIANA
Pony Lane Farm Maggie Jayne
3 319 ARMANAC
Richard Cheska Winn Alden
4 139 EASTPOINT JB
Adeline Rohrbach Adeline Rohrbach
5 18 Espatako's Electra R
SEA Investments LLC Savannah Talcott
6 209 REPLIQUE
Katie Leverick Katie Leverick
7 134 Roc My World
Brenda Perkovich Lisa Goldman
8 341 Cypress
Kristen Franz Kristen Franz
9 166 BUGATTI VDL
BELLISSIMO LLC Charlie Jayne
10 138 VALLADAM
Adeline Rohrbach Adeline Rohrbach
For prizelist and schedule visit
www.ShowplaceProductions.com.
Form complete results visit
www.hitsshows.com.
About Diane Carney/Telluride
