The final Derby Friday of the of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular featured $225,000 in prize money, awarded between three highly anticipated derbies: the $75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″, the $75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Open and the $75,000 WEC Derby 3′ Non Pro. Keith J. Bollotte and Joe Carnicom designed the courses for the derbies, each featuring stunning natural fences and a weaving walk-through obstacle.
The $75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ hosted 19 entries under the lights in the Stadium at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Two discerning panels of judges scored the class with 1st and 2nd place falling just 1.5 points apart, but it was Samantha Schaefer of Shadow Ridge Farm in Ocala, Florida, who emerged victorious aboard Madeline Schaefer’s In The Know (Arkansas x Cavelle).
Schaefer and the 11-year-old Warmblood gelding have topped three $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ during the past 11 weeks of the World Equestrian Center – Ocala Winter Spectacular, and the unstoppable duo was on fire again tonight. The pair navigated a foot-perfect first round, earning scores of 87 and 92 for a total of 179 in the first round. Schaefer and the striking gelding returned for the handy round, laying down a second flawless round with inside turns to fences 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. The pair was rewarded with scores of 92 and 97, totaling 189 in the handy round, bringing their overall score to 368 for the win in the class.
Just behind Schaefer and In The Know were Jeff Gogul and Abby Wagner’s No Doubt (Nerrado x Abba II). Gogul and the 8-year-old Holsteiner gelding took 2nd place in last week’s $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ and were on form tonight. The pair earned a pair of 91 scores in the first round, along with scores of 92 and 92.5 in the handy round, totaling 366.5 for 2nd place.
Jeffrey Ayers and his own Cartel were also impressive in the derby. Ayers and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding topped last week’s $20,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″, preparing them well for tonight’s class. The duo earned first round scores of 89 and 90, along with handy round scores of 88 and 91, totaling 358 for 3rd place.
$75,000 WEC Hunter Derby 3’6″-3’9″ Results
- In The Know, Samantha Schaefer – 179 | 189 | 368
- No Doubt, Jeff Gogul – 182 | 184.5 | 366.5
- Cartel, Jeffrey Ayers – 179 | 179 | 358
- Lafitte De Muze, Amanda Steege – 164 | 179 | 343
- Cypress, Morgan Ward – 148 | 186 | 334
- Corlando 49, Melissa Donnelly – 164 | 170 | 334
- S & L Lion King, Dorrie Douglas – 172 | 156 | 328
- Monique, Christina Kelly – 145 | 172 | 317
- Larrico, Patrick Miller – 147 | 158 | 305
- Carsten S, Jennifer Tate – 166 | 134 | 300
