CaptiveOne Advisors Indoor Arena hosted a thrilling Derby Friday as more than 30 entries contested the $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby and the $10,000 WEC Ocala 3’ Hunter Derby. Pat Muskus designed the winding tracks that featured beautiful natural obstacles and lines for entries to show off their horse’s brilliance and adjustability.
The $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby saw 13 competitive horse-and-rider combinations hunt for the win with scores soaring into the mid-90s. No stranger to the winner circle this summer circuit, Brady Mitchell, captured the first and second place spot once again. Mitchell previously secured first and second place in Week III’s derby and first place in Week IV’s 3’6”-3’9” derby.
Mitchell of Wellington, Florida, and his own Landmann were on form. Mitchell is very proud of the recently imported gelding, saying, “Landmann is an 8-year-old that I imported to be a top equitation horse, but the more that I do the hunters with him, I am starting to think it would be worth putting him in some aluminum shoes and do this full time.”
Mitchell and the Warmblood gelding preformed a foot perfect first round, taking all three high options to earn the highest first round score of 95.
“Landmann is super brave and a really good jumper,” Mitchell said. “He is the whole package, and this is only his third time showing in America.”
Mitchell and Landmann returned for their handy round.
“I wanted to be as neat as possible, especially after having good rides in the first round,” Mitchell explained.
The pair flowed flawlessly through the handy course, easily soaring over each fence while jumping all three high options to earn a handy score of 91.5 for a two-round total of 186.5 for the win.
Second place honors was also captured by Mitchell and Float On Equestrian LLC’s Casting Call who has had great success in the class.
“Casting Call has done great here,” Mitchell said. “The first week I was here, he was second then he won it the second week, and then he was second again today.”
Mitchell and the 7-year-old Westphalian gelding delivered a lovely first round, earning the classes second highest score of 93. Mitchell and Casting Call returned for the handy round producing another gorgeous course that looked effortless, jumping all three high options for a score of 92 for a two-round total of 185.
Third place went to Hanna Toering and Wyette Felton’s Condor. Toering and Conor earned fifth place honors in last week’s $12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6”-3’9” Hunter Derby. Toering and the 9-year-old Warmblood gelding delivered two stunning rounds, earning a first round score of 92 and a second-round score of 92.5 for a total score of 184.5.
$12,500 WEC Ocala 3’6” – 3’9” Hunter Derby Results:
1. Landmann, Brady Mitchell, Brady Mitchell: 95 | 91.5 | 186.5
2. Casting Call, Brady Mitchell, Float On Equestrian LLC: 93 | 92 | 185
3. Condor, Hanna Toering, Wyette Felton: 92 | 92.5 | 184.5
4. MTM Lolah LOL, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 88 | 93 | 181
5. Fitz, Idabel Harbour, Imh Equine, LLC: 89 | 91 | 180
6. MTM Last Word, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 85 | 89 | 174
7. Eyewitness, Chelsea Stopford, Jessica Collin: 84 | 86 | 170
8. Consanto, Lily Toensing, Lily Toensing: 76.5 | 88 | 164.5
9. MTM Exceptional, Dorothy Douglas, Abigail Davenport: 76| 87 | 163
10. Versailles, Allison Wegmann, Allison Wegmann: 77 | 85 | 162
