June 19, 2021 — Ocala, FL — More than fifty beautiful hunters took to the CaptiveOne Indoor Arena Friday to contest the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby and the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby at World Equestrian Center in Ocala. Doug Russell designed the elegant, winding course that contained natural fences and abundant greenery mimicking the hunt field and allowing riders to demonstrate their horse’s best abilities. Erin McCabe Clayton & Champs Élysées delivered two flawless rounds to take the win in the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6’ -3’9” Hunter Derby for the second consecutive week.
Clayton and Champs Élysées, a recently imported nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Bays and Greys, LLC, delivered a beautiful first round taking four high options to secure the highest first round score of 89. “He gets better and better with each class. About three months ago he was jumping the two-star Grand Prix, so he has more than plenty of scope. I think he is going to be a legitimate Derby Finals horse,” said Clayton.
Clayton and Champs Élysées were the final pair to return for the handy round and stylishly addressed the course which featured a difficult inside turn to a lofty two-stride, along with a sliced trot fence with a tight roll back to a high option oxer, to earn a score of 92. “I really enjoyed how this course rode. Especially the handy. The course had a couple of places where I felt like you could show off a different turn.”
Second place finishers Hanna Toering and Wyette Felton’s Condor, a nine-year-old Warmblood gelding, earned the third highest score in the first round taking four high options, producing a score of 86. Toering and the adorable Condor, who likes to be goofy and playfully stick out his tongue, came back for the handy where their presentation reaped a high score of 88, for a two-round total of 174.
Timothy Maddrix and Missy Nolen’s Play Maker (Thagoras x Hauptstutbuch) produced a delightful first round taking two high options to achieve the second highest first round score of 88. Maddrix and Play Maker the seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding returned for a lovely second round taking all four high options to secure a score of 85.5, for a total score of 173.5. Maddrix also received the first, third, and eighth place earnings in this morning $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby.
$12,500 WEC 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby Results
1 Champs Élysées, Erin McCabe Clayton – 89 | 92 | 181
2 Condor, Hanna Toering – 86 | 88 | 174
3 Play Maker, Timothy Maddrix – 88 | 85.5 | 173.5
4 S & L Lion King, Dorothy Doughlas – 82 | 86 | 168
5 Elios, Lielle Rhodes – 81| 83 | 164
6 KT Hedwich, Carlee McCutcheon – 76 | 84 | 160
7 MTM Personal Assistant, Carlee McCutcheon – 80 | 78 | 158
8 Charismo, David Wilbur – 84 | 72 | 156
9 Casaletta, Jessica Law – 77.5 | 77 | 154.5
10 Cambastian, Grace Dreyer – 74 | 77 | 151
Photos Courtesy Andrew Ryback Photography.
