The $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open saw 26 entries vying for the win over Keith J. Bollette’s course. Competition was fierce with the top three placings separated by just one point, but it was Jeff Gogul and Abby Wagner’s No Doubt (Nerrado x Abba II) that nabbed the win.
Dorrie Douglas and MTM Farm’s MTM Dashing (Cascadello II x Jubilate) set a high standard early on in the class. Douglas and the 6-year-old Holsteiner gelding have been collecting ribbons in the Green Hunters, preparing them well for today’s derby. The pair navigated a lovely first round, taking all four high options for a score of 89.
Jeff Gogul and Abby Wagner’s No Doubt (Nerrado x Abba II) also found success in the first round. The 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding is a new mount for Gogul, but the pair were completely simpatico in the first round, finding every distance perfectly in stride with a lovely rhythm and taking all four high options for a score of 88.
The highest score in the first round was earned by Samantha Schaefer and Madeline Schaefer’s Sutton Place (Valentino x Argrepina). Madeline Schaefer typically shows the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding in the Amateur Owner Hunters, but it was Samantha Schaefer who had the ride today. The duo wowed the judges in the first round, taking all four high options for a score of 91.
With one of the highest scores of the first round, Douglas and MTM Dashing returned late in the order for the handy round. Douglas and the bay gelding took a tidy inside turn to approach fence 3 and chose all four high options for a score of 90, bringing their overall total to 179. Next in the ring were Gogul and No Doubt. Gogul and the striking bay gelding showed off their impressive skills, taking inside turns to fences 3, 6 and 7, and jumping all for high options for a score of 92, bringing their total score to 180 and moving them into the lead. Last to return were Schaefer and Sutton Place. The pair mimicked Gogul’s inside track, also taking all four high options for a score of 88.5, bringing their total to 179.5 for a 2nd place finish just behind Gogul and No Doubt.
Gogul took a moment to chat ringside after the class about his win aboard No Doubt, “It has been kind of a hiatus from showing for us because of COVID. I’ve only shown this horse in two rounds prior to this derby. He’s new to us. He is really a dream machine. His mom, Abby Wagner, is for sure his soulmate. We were so lucky to find him this year during Capital Challenge at World Equestrian Center.”
When asked about his plan on course, Gogul commented, “The goal was to have a brilliant round and learn to ride him at the same time. He followed my lead everywhere. I’ve never done a handy class on him, but I knew that I had to do all of the technical turns. He stayed with me perfectly. I had two plans because he perked up a little in the first round, but he settled nicely and was dead-on.”
Gogul also added, “We’re thrilled to be able to be at World Equestrian Center — Ocala this winter with everything going on. The footing couldn’t be better and the facility is amazing. This is our first week showing and we’re already having so much fun.”
$15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open Results
- No Doubt, Jeff Gogul – 88 | 92 | 180
- Sutton Place, Samantha Schaefer – 91 | 88.5 | 179.5
- MTM Dashing, Dorrie Douglas – 89 | 90 | 179
- Triompf, Holly Shepherd – 88.5 | 89 | 177.5
- Denmark, Morgan Ward – 83 | 88 | 171
- MTM Exceptional, Dorrie Douglas – 87.5 | 81 | 168.5
- La Vida Loca, Brooke Kemper – 82 | 85 | 167
- Executive Privilege, Tommi Clark – 79 | 87 | 166
- Tenacious, Erin Clayton – 87 | 76 | 163
- MTM Scrabble, Macey Royal – 85 | 66 | 151
Christopher Coberley takes 1st and 2nd in $15,000 WEC Derby Non-Pro
The $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro saw a field of 42 entries contest the course. For the second week in a row, it was Christopher Coberley and Fox Meadow Farm’s No Introduction that topped the class, earning an impressive pair of 90s scores. Coberley also earned 2nd place aboard Havens Schatt’s Actender PS (Action Breaker x Conpila) with a pair of 88 scores.
Coberley’s first ride in the class was aboard Havens Schatt’s Actender PS (Action Breaker x Conpila). The 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding regularly takes top placings in the Performance Hunters with owner Havens Schatt and was on-form for today’s class. Coberley piloted the handsome gelding through a foot-perfect course and over all four high options for a score of 88.
Coberley returned later in the order aboard Fox Meadow Farm’s No Introduction. Coberley and the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding have taken several ribbons in World Equestrian Center derbies, including the blue in last week’s $15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro. The pair was determined to continue their winning streak, taking to the course with purpose and navigating all four high options for a first round score of 91.
Madeline Jordan also found success in the first round aboard her own Congo MCF (Indoctro x Katynka). Jordan and the 10-year-old Continental Warmblood gelding took several top placings at the Florida Horse Park Winter Classic I recently and were well prepared for this afternoon’s class. The pair was flawless on course, taking all four high options for a score of 83.
The course was adjusted and the top entries returned for the handy round. Coberley returned early in the order aboard Actender PS to accommodate his multiple rides. The pair set a high standard with a second score of 88 for a combined total of 176, taking the lead. Jordan and Congo MCF returned about midway through the order. The pair was perfectly in sync, taking inside turns to fences 3, 6 and 7, and earning an impressive score of 91, moving into second place with a total score of 174. Coberley returned last in the order aboard No Introduction, still holding the top spot aboard Actender PS. The duo flowed effortlessly through all inside turns and soared over each high option, earning a score of 92 for an overall total of 183 to win the class for the second week in a row; and moving himself and Actender PS into a respectable 2nd place.
“I thought my horses went great and they did really good,” Coberly said. “I went with my original plan in the handy. I wanted to do the inside turns. Both horses did the inside turns well and went around the rest of the course well.”
When asked about his mounts, Coberley replied, “No Introduction is very sweet and playful. He wants to love on you all of the time. Actender PS is a very smooth ride. I’m really happy with both of them today.”
$15,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro Results
- No Introduction, Christopher Coberley – 91 | 92 | 183
- Actender PS, Christopher Coberley – 88 | 88 | 176
- Congo MCF, Madeline Jordan – 83 | 91 | 174
- Fitz, Isabel Harbour – 80.5 | 89 | 169
- Call Me Gangster, Macy White – 82 | 86 | 168
- Erosmith, Annie Walsh – 79 | 86 | 165
- G.P. Burdell, Isabel Harbour – 77 | 85 | 162
- Gelato, Caroline Mirts – 79.5 | 77 | 156.5
- Huehuetenango, Ria Ohtsu – 81 | 74 | 155
- Aventuur, Shannon Allen – 75 | 76 | 151
All photos Courtesy Andrew Ryback Photography
