Victoria Colvin Saves the Best for Last to Win Round One of $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at Deeridge Derby Weekend

Tori and El Primero

Wellington, Fla. – March 2, 2019 – With the third and final leg of the Palm Beach Masters Series underway, Saturday saw the first round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby take place, where 42 competitors took to Philip Devita’s (USA) track on the beautiful grass field at Deeridge Farm. Riders gave it their all in the first round to aim to be in the top 25 to return for the second round Sunday, March 3 and compete for the top prize. Victoria Colvin ended the day victorious as she took over the lead with El Primero.

The course allowed riders to show off their horses to the two panels of judges, including Linda Hough, Susie Schoellkopf, Walter T. Kees, and Chance Arakelian, as they toured the large arena. With four high-options offered at fence two, four, eight, and eleven and an in-and-out combination set down the outside along the VIP club, horses had the opportunity to show off extended stride and collect for rollback turns. Many top professionals such as Peter Pletcher, Jacob Pope, Kelley Farmer, Victoria Colvin and Jennifer Hannan entered multiple entries for a shot at Sunday’s handy round.

Havens Schatt and Mostly Sunny

Colvin took an early lead with her mount, Gabriel, owned by J T Farm, after receiving scores of 87 and 85 from the judges. Jennifer Hannan came in after the break and took over the lead with Mindful, owned by Kensel LLC, with scores of 86 and 86.5. The top spot changed hands once again to Colvin, this time on her third mount of the day, El Primero, owned by Bryan Baldwin. Colvin scored an impressive 94 and 92 and held onto the lead for the rest of the competition.

Liza Boyd and Tradition

Colvin earned Saturday’s first-round win aboard a fairly new partner, El Primero, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. Her scores of 94 and 92 were strong enough to secure the coveted lead position going into tomorrow’s final round. Havens Schatt and Mostly Sunny, an 11-year-old gelding owned by Caroline Moran, scored 88 and 93 to finish in second place. Coming in third into Sunday’s portion of competition would be Elizabeth Towell Boyd who rode Tradition, a 9-year-old gelding owned by Maggie Hill, to two scores of 90.

Victoria Colvin and El Primero in the presentation

The second round of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby will take place Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m to conclude Deeridge Derby Weekend for the Palm Beach Masters Series.

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

Victoria Colvin – $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby round one winner

On showing at the Deeridge Derby:
“It’s beautiful here and I think my horse rose to the occasion here. I think he loves it out on the field. He’s really easy and the course rode great today. I don’t know much about him, but he’s one of the easiest horses I have ever ridden.He’s a newer ride for me but I’ve shown him a couple of times at WEF and then I did him under the lights at the Hunter Spectacular.”

On her plan for tomorrow:
“He might go out for a nice flat, but he’s quiet as it is so he doesn’t need to do much. I don’t think the heat necessarily bothers him, but he was quiet for this and it is a long way around out there. He will definitely be re-energized for tomorrow.”

Havens Schatt – second place

On Mostly Sunny:
“My horse is 11 years old and he has been with me since he was five years old so I know him really well. He hadn’t shown since Week Four of WEF so he has been a little wild. Today I was back on my game and he was on his game. He jumped spectacular today, the field is beautiful and the Jacobs family does a great job with this ring and the atmosphere. It is great for us as hunter riders to get to experience what the top grand prix riders get to experience almost every week.”

Elizabeth Towell Boyd – third place

On Tradition:
My horse is Tradition, he is a 9-year-old owned by Maggie Hill who also does him in the Junior Hunters. I started doing him in derbies last summer, I think my second derby on him was the [USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals]where he was third. He’s just gotten better and better; he’s brave, scopey, and likes a challenge. I think he peaked today just like I wanted him to so I am really pleased.”

RESULTS

Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Score 1 / Score 2 / Total
1. El Primero / Victoria Colvin / Meralex Farm / 90 / 88 / 186
2. Mostly Sunny / Havens Schatt / Caroline Moran / 85 / 90 / 181
3. Tradition / Elizabeth Boyd / Maggie Hill / 87 / 87 / 180
4. MTM Outbid / Tracy Fenney / MTM Farm / 88 / 84.5 / 178.5
5. Enchanted / Kelley Farmer / Christel Weller / 86.5 / 83.25 / 177.75
6. Closing Statement / Kelley Farmer / David Glefke / 86 / 83.75 / 177.75
7. Best Regards / Jennifer Hannan / Patricia Fulchino / 83 / 91.5 / 174.5
8. Mindful / Jennifer Hannan / Kensel LLC / 86 / 86.5 / 172.5
9. Gabriel / Victoria Colvin / J T Farm / 87 / 85 / 172
10. Diamante / Patricia Griffith / Callie Seaman / 88 / 84 / 172
11. In Time / Robert Weeden / Glory Days Farm LLC / 85 / 85 / 170
12. Singular Sensation / Tiffany Hammack / Diane Giard / 83 / 87 / 170

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