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March 18, 2017

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Laura Chapot won the Welcome Stake at the Devon Fall Classic in defense of her championship (2)

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September 16, 2023

By SARA CAVANAGH

DEVON, Pa.--Laura Chapot opened her defense of her championship at the Devon Fall Classic with a win in the $5,000 Welcome Stake Thursday evening, Sept. 14.

Laura Chapot on C&C Willow (Photo by Brenda Carpenter)Chapot of Neshanic Station, N.J., was co-champion with two horses along with Sloane Coles and Mia Mannis last year.

This year, she is showing two different horses in the open Jumper section, and she won Thursday evening on C&C Willow.

Not only did she win, but she won in a seven horse jump off with a clean round in 37.734, an amazing five full seconds faster than second placed Coles on Ninja Van De Moerhouve, who finished clean in 42.614.

Andrew Ross on Cornet's Cobalt was third, Clean in 44.804.

"I've had this mare for about a year," said Chapot. "She's nice. She's very forward and brave. She likes to go to the jumps."

"I was about 10th in the order," she said."I just rode my plan. She has a big stride so that means in makes leaving out a stride very easy. This was her first rime showing under lights. She was good."

CHAPOT also won the Seven Year Old Young Jumper 1.35m class riding Tyson Fury.

"I've had Tyson Fury since the end of his 4-year-old year," she said."He also was circuit champion in this division in Florida."

Doug King of Chester Springs, Pa., on Main Line Girl won the $1,500 1.30m class with one of two clean rounds in a seven horse jump-off.

King finished in 36.158 to beat August Torsilieri on Glen who finished in 36.381.

Lucy Matz of Cochranville, Pa., on Starstuck NA won the Five Year Old Young Jumper.

Andrew Ross on Cornet's Cobalt was third, clean in 44.804.

Two $ million colts sold at Keeneland's Thursday sale (2)

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September 16, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON,, Ky.--The 80th Keeneland September Yearling Sale week one ended Thursday ,, Sept. 14 with a session highlighted by steady trade among a number of major buyers and the sale of colts by Curlin for $1.1 million and by Not This Time for $1.05 million.

The 30 million-dollar horses equals the number sold last year and is the highest for the September Sale since 2007.

 For an undisclosed buyer, Lauren Carlisle, agent, paid $1.1 million for a colt by Curlin out of G2 winner Miss Sunset, by Into Mischief.

Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 2 winner Prayer for Relief.

“He looks really fast and hopefully he proves that,” Carlisle said. “He has a really good walk and looks very athletic. We’re looking for a nice two-turn colt, and hopefully he can be that horse. I was worried that the price would be that high; I did not want it to be, but that is how it is right now.”

West Point Thoroughbreds and Talla, LEB, agent, spent $1.05 million for a colt by Not This Time from the family of G2 winner Cowtown Cat and Grade/Group 3 winners Crafty But Sweet and So Perfect.

St George Sales, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of winner Foreign Affair, by Exchange Rate.

“I thought he was just a dude,” West Point’s Terry Finley said. “He walked around the back ring like he owned it. He had that presence about him. When I looked at him, he was like ‘Hey, I’m the man.’

“TODAY WAS a very steady, good, healthy market,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “We were tracking the median all through the day, and it never moved at all. It was very, very steady. I think people were overall very happy. There was some confidence that if you brought a product that people really liked, you were going to get well rewarded. There was definitely a lot of trade going on, and there was good energy. To wrap up the first week with results that equate almost identically to last year, which was an incredible sale. We look forward to this momentum carrying through into Book 3 and hopefully into Book 4 and beyond. It gives us a lot of encouragement.”

“There was great energy and big numbers today,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “RNAs were a little higher, but there is selectivity creeping into the market, though it is still a very robust and healthy market with a lot of good trade and domestic interest. We had a treasure trove of $500,000 and above purchases again today. It is a great way to end the week going into the Dark Day on Friday when everyone reloads. And there are a lot of people here who haven’t had their hands up yet, so we are looking forward to the weekend and beyond.”

Cumulative gross sales for the first four days of the auction, when the 30 yearlings sold for seven figures, reached $234 million, down slightly from the same period last year, while the average and median prices posted increases.

Week 1 featured Books 1 and 2, with more than 1,100 horses, among the sale’s finest individuals based on pedigree and conformation, in the catalog. The format was designed to offer the largest number of exceptional horses possible to major domestic and foreign buyers before the sale takes a one-day hiatus on Friday, Sept. 15.

During that span, Keeneland sold 637 horses through the ring for a total of $234,300,000, for an average of $367,818 and a median of $300,000.

Compared to Week 1 of 2022, the gross dipped 1.14 percent, while the average was up 3.83 percent from $354,245 and the median climbed 9.09 percent from $275,000.

On Thursday, Keeneland sold 207 yearlings for $53,351,000, down 5.8 percent from $56,635,000 for the corresponding session of 2022 when 230 horses sold.

Average price climbed 4.67 percent from $246,239 to $257,734. The median of $200,000 was nearly equal to last year’s $202,500.

Arielle Aharaoni won the Speed Stake while Laura Chapot won three at the Devon Fall Classic (2)

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September 17, 2023

By SARA CAVANAGH

DEVON, Pa.--Arielle Aharoni on Dutch Times won the $5,000 Speed Stake, beating Laura Chapot on a brand new mount, Kanjer P, on Friday evening, Sept. 15 at the Devon Fall Classic.

Laura Chapot on Ciego (Photo by Brenda Carpenter)Aharoni, who went close to the end of the class, finished clean in 69.569 to win over Chapot, who went seventh in the orde and also was clean but in the slower time of 70.985.

"This is my first time winning at Devon," said Aharoni. "I have been hungry for the win and I'm happy it finally happened."

Along with finishing second in the Speed Stakes, Chapot won three classes earlier in the day.

Riding Mimi Chapman's Ciego, Chapot won the 1.30m Jumpers in a six horse jump-off.

Chapot was clean in 34.586 to win over World Championship team gold medalist Devin Ryan on Kazarro, clean in 37.316, with Linda Sheridan on Gem Star Van De Vlierbeek Z placing third, clean in 40.14.

"CIEGO is a really unique horse," said Chapot. "He was bought by Mimi Chapman for me to show and for her to have lessons on. That's a hard find. He'll go to the ring with me and be competitive and then go home and go across the street, watch the deer and be relaxed for a lesson over 2 'fences. He's an angel for his owner."

Chapot also won the Six Year Old Young Jumper on Tyson Fury, making it two for two in that section as she also won on Tyson Fury on Thursday.

Then in the Seven year Old Young Jumper, she won on Ginola.

Enthusiastic crowds filled the grandstand for the evening performance and even had some lined up along the ringside railing.

The midway was filled with kids having fun, and shoppers toured the boutiques and enjoyed the food and live music in the Fair area.

$875,000 Authentic yearling topped Keeneland Sales, Saturday session (2)

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September 17, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON,Ky.--Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale resumed Saturday after a one-day hiatus with the first session of the two-day Book 3, which recorded nearly $47 million in sales and was led by the purchase of a colt from the first crop of Horse of the Year Authentic for $875,000 by Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket.

Keeneland Sales, $875,000 coltby AuthenticThe session topper, who was consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed Street Sense mare Sweetgrass.

He is from the family of champion Althea.

Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket, was the session’s leading buyer by purchasing three yearlings for $1,735,000.

St. Elias, Talla Racing and Spendthrift Farm paid $775,000 for a colt from the first crop of G1 winner Vekoma.

Consigned by Legacy Bloodstock, agent for Spendthrift Farm, he is out of stakes winner Summer of Fun, a daughter of Include who was third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The colt is from the family of G1 winner Louis Cyphre (Ire) and Grade/Group 2 winners Psychobabble (Ire) and Mekong Melody (Ire).

ST. ELIAS/STARLIGHT/Harrell Ventures paid $600,000 for an Army Mule colt from the family of G1 winner The Big Beast and G3 winner Stickstatelydude.

Out of She Beast, a winning daughter of The Factor, he was consigned by Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.

Keeneland sold 285 yearlings Saturday for $46,697,000, which was 7.98 percent below the gross of $50,747,500 from the corresponding session last year when 287 horses sold.

The average of $163,849 was 7.34 percent below $176,821 in 2022, and the median of $130,000 declined 7.14 percent from $140,000.

Through five sessions of the 12-session auction, a total of 922 horses have sold through the ring for $280,997,000, for an average of $304,769 and a median of $225,000.

The gross is slightly lower than $287,737,500 for 956 horses in 2022, while the average is up 1.26 percent from last year’s $300,981 and the median remains the same.

Jimmy Torano won the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic (2)

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September 17, 2023

By SARA CAVANAGH

DEVON, Pa.--Jimmy Torano of Mohrsville, Pa., shipped in to the Devon Fall Classic for the $25,000 Classic and won the biggest class of the show on Saturday evening, Sept. 16.

Jimmy Torano on Kochio Z Photo by Brenda Carpenter)Riding Kochio Z, Torano was one of only two clean in the 10 horse jump-off from a starting field of 27.

He was second to last to go i the jump-off, and took that advantage to finish clean in 40.645, beating Eleanor Kunsman on Jermaine HX, clean in 41.0684.

Arielle Aharoni, winner of the Speed Stake Friday evening, was the fastest of the four faulters to place third in 38.237, with Alex Matz on GK Finette fourth with 4 faults in the jump-off in 39.541, and Devin Ryan on Hangover was fifth, also with 4 faults in 41.073.

"I got Kochio in Florida last year," said Torano. "He's jumped plenty of grand prix and has won several in Kentucky and Tryon. He's very, very careful and very, very competitive."

"I'M GETTING him ready to step up to the next level," said Torano. "I showed him in a 5* at Southampton and in a 4* at HITS. He hasn't jumped a true 1.60m course yet."

"It was an amazing crowd,"said Torano. "It wasn't as big as Thursday evening at Devon, but it was as big as a Saturday evening at Devon. It was a serious crowd."

The number of spectators Saturday evening at the Fall Classic topped the numbers from the previous years.

Kara Jones on End Game had the only clear round in the $7,500 High Junior/Amateur Classic to win over Emma Brody on Charlie PS, who had 4 faults in the jump-off, and James Leone on Galliano LW was third with 8 faults in the jump-off.

Wendy Chapot Nunn finished first and second in High Adult Jumpers at the Devon Fall Classic (2)

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September 19, 2023

By SARA CAVANAGH

DEVON, Pa.--Wendy Chapot Nunn won the $3,000 High Adult Jumper on Zealous and also finished second on Cache on Sunday, Sept. 17 at the Devon Fall Classic.

Wendy Nunn on Zealous (Photo by Brenda Carpenter)"Both horses were amazing today," said Nunn.

Zealous,, by Royal Kaliber, Chris Kappler's team gold medal and individual silver medal mount at the 2004 Olympics, was previously ridden by Nunn's sister Laura Chapot to win numerous speed classes.

"Zealous is 19," said Wendy. "Laura used to show her, and she said, `She's a lot of fun to ride, you ought to try her.' I've been riding her since May. I've shown her at Princeton and Lake Placid, and she and Cache have traded places winning in both places."

Nunn went second in the Classic on Zealous.

In the Classic, all those clean stayed in the ring to go immediately in the jump-off.

"LUCKILY, despite going second, my time held up through the class," said Nunn.

Nunn on Zealous was clean in the jump-off, finishing in 35.097, and then went 13th in the order on Cache, finishing clean in 35.422.

Nunn on Cache had also won the High Adult Classic at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair earlier this year.

Brooke Treichler on Cheeky Monkey 2 finished clean in 35.942 to place third of the six that went clean in the jump-off.

Sima Margello on Irselie D Hagenhorst won the Low Amateur Jumper Classic with a clean round in 43.685 seconds in the eight horse jump-off, with Saly Glassman on Vemac JJSZ second, clean in 44.893.

In the High Children's Jumper Classic, Sophia Ercolano n Linessa Hot Ter Zeedycke won with a clean round in the jump-off, finishing in 35.43.

Katie Hackett on Horatio Z was second, clean in 36.391, and Haley Salito on Contiki was third, clean in 37.857.

Ercolano and Salito were co-champions in that section.

Rodrigo Pessoa Won the $30,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix for second consecutive year (2)

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September 19, 2023

By Staff Writers

NORTH SALEM, N.Y.--Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil on Eclat Du Cerisier won the $30,000 Old Salem Farm Grand Prix on Sunday, Sept. 17, successfully defending his title from last year when he won on Chili.

Rodrigo Pessoa on Edlat Du Cerisier (Photo by SEL Photography)Pessoa was clean in the 12 horse jump-off over Ken Krome's course, finishing in the time of 40.258 seconds on the Selle Français stallion Eclat Du Cerisier, a 9-year-old Pessoa has been developing for the last two years.

“He’s starting to do the bigger classes now and trying to be more competitive at the 1.45 to 1.50m,” Pessoa said. “He jumped the Hampton Classic 2* Grand Prix two weeks ago. Although he had an unlucky rail there in the first round, he jumped really well here this week. He’s a fairly easy ride. Sometimes getting him to adjust can be a little hard, but he’s very simple and straightforward. He’s honest and brave, and today, he was really game to go in the jump-off. We stuck to our plan, and while the margins were a bit close, we luckily came out on top.

“It was a nice class to be part of,” Pessoa said. “The course was well built. We had 12 go clear, which was nice. The point of these grand prix classes is not to make them too hard so we can give our younger horses some mileage for better money. The jumps here are great, the footing is super nice, and it’s a great opportunity to give our younger horses some mileage before they reach the top level. I especially like being only a few minutes from my house.”

Filip De Wandel of Belgium on Manhattan Van’t Leeuwerikenhof finished second with a time of 40.756 seconds, and Michael Murphy was third, clean in 40.830 seconds on Moneypenny.

U.S Junior team 3rd in the Nations Cup Youth Final, Young Rider team 4th (2)

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September 23, 2023

By Staff Writers

OPGLABBEEK, Belgium--The U.S. Junior Jumping Team placed third and the U.S. Young Rider Jumping Team earned fourth place overall on Sunday, Sept. 17 at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final at Sentower Park in Belgium.

The U.S. Junior Team (L-R): Tessa Downey, Laurel Walker, Elise Stephens, Stephanie Garrett, Carlee McCutcheon, Anne Kursinski stand on the podium (Photo by US Equestrian/Matt Turer)“The juniors were great,” said U.S. Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski. “There were some nerves and some pressure from them. Overall, they were amazing in getting on the podium. I'm proud of all of them, they all rode great.”

The Juniors led off a busy day for the U.S. after both teams qualified for Sunday’s final round earlier in the week with strong performances in the first round of competition.

Laurel Walker of Copper Canyon, Texas on Armani led off for the team with a 12 fault round which ended up serving as the team’s drop score.

Stephanie Garrett of New York, N.Y., on Darius de Kezeg Z  followed in the order, adding just a single rail to put the U.S. on 4 faults at the midway mark of the competition.

Up third in the rotation, Tessa Downey of Houston, Texas on Isabelle finished with two rails, giving the team to a three round total of 12 faults.

Needing a clear to secure a podium placing, Carlee McCutcheon of Aubrey, Texas on Coco Mercedes delivered the needed clear, crossing through the timers in 70.24 seconds.

“Carlee was amazing,” Kursinski said. “She fought for it the whole way. The mare jumped clear, and it wasn’t the easiest ride. It definitely got us on the podium, and that’s what she had done in Traverse City. at the FEI North American Youth Championship, and she repeated it here again.”

McCUTCHEON on Coco Mercedes’s clear round kept the U.S. on a team total of 12 penalties, three faults clear of fourth placed Germany’s 15 and trailing the eight from Ireland and the Netherlands.

The Netherlands ultimately defeated Ireland in a jump-off.

“I’m really proud of all of us,” Walker said. “We all did our best and it showed. We got a podium finish in international competition and I’m so thankful to be here.”

In the Young Riders Final, the U.S. entered the final rotation with a chance to finish anywhere from first to fourth place in what ended up being a tight podium battle, with the team’s drop score coming from a combination with only four total penalties.

Virginia Bonnie of Upperville, Va., on Efodea opened competition for the U.S., which went fourth in the overall order, and finished on four faults in a speedy 68.36 seconds.

Baylee McKeever of Brewster, N.Y., on Formidable added just three time penalties.

Sitting third at the halfway point, Alex Alston of Gahanna, Ohio  on Keoki went clean to keep the U.S. on three faults.

Entering the final rotation, Sweden led the way on zero penalties, followed by Denmark and Belgium each sitting on one penalty.

With the U.S. on three, over half the field remained a threat to win.

The U.S. anchor combination, Augusta Iwasaki of Calabasas, Calif., on Fresca had a rail down at the second-to-last fence, putting the U.S. on its final score of seven.

“It was close with all the top teams in the Young Riders,” Kursinski said. “The U.S. did a great job. The Europeans just have a little more experience at this level of Nations Cup jumping, but I thought we were great and Alex ended up jumping a fabulous clear.”

Sweden was first on zero faults, followed by Denmark’s one and Belgium’s six.

“I thought the U.S. teams were great, and they’ll be even better in the future because of this experience,” she said.

In individual competition throughout the week, Elise Stephens of Whitefish Bay, Wisc., had two top finishes in CSIOJ Small Tour competition.

On Saturday, Stephens on Diablowas second in the 1.30m CSIOJ Small Tour Special.

On Sunday, this time riding O' Mega H&DB, Stephens finished fourth in the 1.30m CSIOJ Small Tour Accumulator class.

On Thursday, Bonnie on Heldorado was fifth in the 1.45m BEMER Young Riders Tour Qualification for CSIOY Nations Cup Individuals, finishing on four faults and stopping the timers in 68.91 seconds.

Downey on Isabelle was one of only eight combinations in a field of 56 qualifying for Friday’s CSIOJ Grand Prix jump-off after a clear round in 68.21 seconds.

She chose to withdraw from the jump-off to preserve Isabelle for the Team Final.

Keeneland Sales had a $900,000 sale on Sunday and a $700,000 sale Monday (2)

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September 23, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--Steady trade during Monday, Sept. 18's seventh session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale was headlined by a colt by Good Magic from the family of G1 winner and sire Pioneerof the Nile that sold for $700,000 to Donato Lanni, agent for SF/Starlight/Madaket.

Keeneland September sale ringAt $700,000, the colt is the highest-priced yearling to sell in the seventh session since 2015.

A total of 306 yearlings sold through the ring during the session for $24,681,500, for an average of $80,658 and a median of $65,000.

The total is 10.39% below the $27,544,000 from the corresponding session in 2022 when 314 horses sold.

The average dipped 8.05% from $87,720 in 2022, and the median is 3.70% under last year’s $67,500.

Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 1,505 yearlings for $344,546,500, 3.07% lower than the $355,453,500 for 1,556 horses sold during the same period last year.

The average of $228,935 is slightly above $228,441 from 2022, and the median of $150,000 is 6.25% below last year’s $160,000.

The session topper, who is out of the Bernardini mare Beauty Buzz, was consigned by Gainesway, agent. Gainesway led all consignors Monday with sales of $3,715,000 for 30 yearlings.

THE SALE reached the halfway point Sunday with nearly $320 million in cumulative sales for the first six sessions and Pin Oak Stud’s $900,000 purchase of a colt by Constitution from the family of G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner and sire Liam’s Map and G3 winner and sire Not This Time.

To date, 1,199 horses have sold through the ring for $319,865,000, for an average of $266,776 and a median of $200,000.

The total is 2.45% below the $327,909,500 grossed for 1,242 yearlings sold during the same period last year.

The average is 1.04% above the $264,017 from the corresponding period in 2022, while the median is unchanged.

Keeneland sold 277 yearlings Sunday for $38,868,000, down slightly from last year’s total of $40,172,000 from the sixth session when 286 horses sold.

The average of $140,318 is nearly even with $140,462 in 2022, while the median of $100,000 is 9.09% lower than last year’s $110,000.

The session topper, who was consigned by Knockgriffin Farm, agent, is out of the Curlin mare Low Pressure Zone.

$925,000 Twirling Candy Colt Sets Mark Tuesday at Keeneland September Yearling Sale (2)

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September 23, 2023

By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky.--Pin Oak Stud on Tuesday abought the most expensive horse sold during the eighth session of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale since 1999 when it paid $925,000 for a colt by Twirling Candy on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Keeneland sale Consigned by Paramount Sales, agent, the colt is out of the winning First Defense mare Hiking and from the family of English highweight Logician, Group 1 winner Cityscape and Grade/Group 2 winners Didina (GB), Bated Breath and Equilateral.

Paramount was the day’s leading consignor with sales of $2,529,000 for 26 horses.

“He was a beautiful colt,” Pat Costello of Paramount said. “Everyone on the grounds was on him. We loved him from Day 1. We’re thrilled for the buyer (Pin Oak Stud) and I’m delighted for the breeder (Lady Bamford), a lovely lady. He was a special colt.”

Pin Oak Stud spent $1.03 million for two horses to lead buyers.

ON TUESDAY, Keeneland sold 301 yearlings through the ring for $21,476,500, for an average of $71,350 and a median of $50,000.

The gross is 1.39% higher than the eighth session in 2022, when 295 horses sold for $21,182,500.

The average is nearly even with $71,805 in 2022, and the median is 9.09% below last year’s $55,000.

Through eight sessions of the 12-day sale, a total of 1,805 yearlings have sold for $365,943,000, which is 2.84% lower than last year’s corresponding period when 1,851 horses sold for $376,636,000.

Average price of $202,739 is slightly below the $203,477 from 2022, while the median of $125,000 is 3.85% lower than $130,000 last year.

Megan McDermott won the Open Jumper 1.30m at Old Salem Farm (2)

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September 23, 2023

By Staff Writers

NORTH SALEM, N.Y.--Megan McDermott of South Salem, N.Y., on Bruce Z won the Open Jumper 1.30m in  a two horse jump-off on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at the Old Salem Farm September Horse Shows.

Megan McDermott on Bruce Z (Photo by SEL Photography)McDermott had the only clear round in the jump-off to win over Hayley Mercer of Langley, British Columbia on Fastday VDL, second with three time faults.

Mathilde Lockwood of Wellington, Fla., on Zohra M Z was the fastest of those with one time fault in the first round, placing third in 85.222 seconds.

Riders and spetators at Old Salem Farm enjoyed Wednesday’s beautiful weather as hunters and jumpers began Week 2 competition in the June Road Ring and International Arena, respectively.

Among the first winners was Caroline McLeese of Omaha, Neb., and who won the  Open Jumper 1.20m class.

on Lady Chester.

Jennifer Januzis of Stroudsburg, Pa., placed second on Scarlett O’Hara N89 Z, clean in 43.977 seconds.

Katie Lynch of Amenia, N.Y., finished third in 46.584 seconds on David Hopper Inc.’s Kitty Price.

Motion has 3 Stakes wins, Matz, Merryman, Brion and Fisher have winners (2)

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September 22, 2023

By SARA CAVANAGH

NEW KENT, Va.--Graham Motion saddled Tok Tok to win a $125,000 Stakes in only his second start.

Tok Tok winning at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Tok Tok, by Quality Road, won the $125,000,, 1 1/16 mile Kitten's Joy Stakes on the turf by 1 1/4 lengths at Colonial Downs on Sept. 9.

This was only the 2-year-old colt's second start after winning  a Maiden Special Weight race, also at Colonial Downs, on July 27.

Running third in the early going, Tok Tok went three wide on the turn, hit the front one furlong from home and continued on to win under a drive.

Also on Sept.9, Gary Broad's Vergara won the G3, $1 Million, 1 5/16 mile Aristocrat Ladies Marathon Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf by 3/4 lengths at Kentucky Downs.

This was Vergara's third Stakes win and first graded stakes win after also placing previously second and third in graded stakes.

Vergara now has four wins, two seconds and three thirds from 13 starts with earnings of $1,102,213.

Wertheimer and Frere had a second homebred stakes winner with Serifos, a 4-year-old gelding who won the $100,000, 11/2 mile Precious Passion Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths at Monmouth Park on Sept. 10.

This was Serifos third win and first stakes win from 14 starts, with also three seconds and one third.

QUEEN OF THE MUD, owned by Siena Farm, Michael Kisber and Peter and The Elkstone Group (Stuart Grant), won a $90,000, 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares 3 an up at Aqueduct on Sept. 21.

This was Queen of the Mud's second start after placing third art Delaware Park in her first start.

Amy N. Moore's Por Una Cabeza won a $75,000, 1 1/8 mile Maiden Special Weight turf race for fillies and mares 3 and up at Colonial Downs on Sept. 9.

Por Una Cabeza won by a neck in her seventh start after her previous best races being third twice before.

Motion's six win in the last two weeks came with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Yatta, who won a $156,000, 1 mile Maiden Special Weight turf race for 2-year-old fillies by 2 1/2 lengths at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7.

That was Yatta's third start after previously finishing second at Delaware Park and fourth at Colonial in maiden races.

MICHAEL MATZ had three winners, two in allowance races and one in a maiden special weight.

Runnymoore Racing's Stern Chaser was the first of the trio, winning a $38,500, 1 mile and 70 yards Allowance turf race for fillies and mares 3 and up at Delaware Park on Sept.7.

This was Stern Chaser's second win in six races, and she won by a head after closing steadily through the stretch.

Runnymoore Racing had a second winner on Sept. 8 with Understudy Kitty winning a $75,000, 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight by a neck at Colonial Downs.

This was Understudy Kitty's second start after finishing fourth in her first race at Colonial.

John T. Behrendt's Tequilera won a $160,000, 7 furlong Allowance turf race for fillies and mares 3 and up by a neck at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 10.

 This was Tequilera's second win with five seconds and three thirds in 14 starts, a very consistent filly who has hit the board 10 times.

ELIZABETH MERRYMAN saddled two winners, including one of her own homebreds in a stakes race.

Merryman's homebred Witty won the $75,000, 5 furlong Ben's Cat Stakes on the turf by a head at Sept.16 at Pimlico.

That was Witty's fourth stakes win, and prior to the Ben's Cat, Witty had run second four times in a row this year, three of them in stakes.

Merryman also saddled Hasting Farm's homebred Jean Valjean to win a $31,600, 6 furlong Allowance race by 2 3/4 lengths at Penn National on Sept. 13.

Jean Valjean now has four first, a second and a third from eight starts.

KERI BRION saddled Three Diamonds Farm's Chasing After You to win a $19,000, 6 furlong Claiming Race by 3/4 lengths at Presque Isle on Sept. 19.

This was Brion's first time training Chasing After You, who was previously trained my Michael Maker.

JACK FISHER saddled Bruton Street-US' St. John's to win a $70,000, 1 mile Maiden Special Weight turf race by 2 lengths at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9.

St. John's is beautifully bred 3-year-old gelding by Hard Spun out of a Street Cry (Ire) mare that was recently acquired by Bruton Street.

The Maiden win was St. John''s second race for Fisher.

Boyd Martin on Luke 140 leads the CCI4-S after the dressage phase at Plantation Field International (2)

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September 23, 2023

By Staff Writers

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Boyd Martin of Cochranville, Pa., on Luke 140 leads the CCI4-S division and also is third on Fedarman B following the dressage phase on Sept. 22 at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials.

Boyd Martin on Luke 140 (Photo by Amy Dragoo)On the second day of dressage competition, 39 competed in the CCI4-S division.

Martin is also placed 23rd with Contessa.

After having been sidelined with an injury during the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games, Luke resumed competition and finished 4th at the Luhmuehlen CCI5-star in Germany earlier this year.

“I feel like Luke’s going from strength to strength,” said Martin. “This is his final prep for the Maryland 5-Star, and I had Bettina Hoy training me all week. My beautiful wife Silva warmed me up today and Luke did a ripper of a test. I feel like he’s still got a few points in there to improve on.”

Fedarman B, known as “Bruno” in the barn, is prepping for the Pau CCI5 star in France.

“Bruno is continuously improving," said Martin. We’re working on getting his frame more uphill in the dressage, and this was one of his better tests.”

He said that Contessa is also continuously improving, and while her big stride makes collection a challenge, he said he feels like there is a lot of improvement to come with the mare.

JENNIE BRANNIGAN SAVILLE, who recently competed at the Burghley CCI5-star in England and is riding seven horses in four divisions this weekend, is  second on FE Conneryy.

“FE Connery has been an awesome horse, he has an awesome 3-star record," said Saville. "He doesn’t have clean changes, so I was surprised he placed as well as he did today; he also wants to get tense in the walk, but he has a beautiful walk when he’s relaxed.”

“My coach Erik Duvander has been riding him for me ,and he’s so relaxed and feels really good, so that was cool," she said. "On cross country I’m probably not going go out there guns-a-blazing. I’m lucky that Monica Spencer, who’s over here from New Zealand, has been riding him for the last month or so. I’m quite a fan of her; Erik put us in contact and we get along well and ride similarly. In fact Erik and Monica kept all of my horses that are competing here going for me while I was in Aiken teaching a clinic last week and that’s been amazing.”

With Tropical Storm Ophelia forecast to bring heavy rain to the area over the weekend, Brannigan said, “I’m okay with the rain, this ground is great and we’re on the side of a hill, and I’m one of those people who believes in riding in different conditions. When it’s going to rain I say, bring it on. I think this is a very safe place to ride in the rain.”

Monica Spencer of New Zealand is placed fourth after dressage riding Artist, her mount at last year’s World Games in Pratoni, Italy.

She said that after she and the gelding parted company on cross country at the Adelaide, Australia 5-star in April she decided to go to the Maryland 5-Star next month, and this weekend is their final preparation for that event.

She’s based at Erika Nesler’s barn in Cochranville, Pa., and is training with Erik Duvander, whom she worked with when he coached the New Zealand Eventing Team.

Walking the cross country course today she said, “It’s beautifully presented and the ground looks great.”

In the CCI3-S, Caroline Pamukcu has things locked down with three horses in the top four placings: Redfield Dexter has the lead on 23.6, HSH Blake is third on 25.4 and HSH Tolan King 26.8 is fourth on 26.8.

Pamucku is also riding two horses in the CCI4-S.

Lauren Nicholson riding Larcot Z is in second place on 24.3.

“Dexter was injured last year in his first gallop when I moved over to England, so he had all season off and this is his first real run,” Pamukcu said. “He did the prelim at Flora Lea, and if he goes well he’ll tentatively do the 4-L at TerraNova. When they have that much time off you need to listen to their body, but he’s been doing two-hour trot sets since February. I was based with Pippa Funnell for six months, and my whole training plan changed.”

Pamukcu also trains with Erik Duvander when she’s in the US.

“This is HSH Blake’s first run since we competed on the Nations Cup Team at Strzegom in Poland, and he’s aiming for the Pan-Ams," said Pamukcu. "Tolan King was a sales horse for two years and I kept telling top riders he was a little secret weapon! He’s nearly full thoroughbred but nobody would buy him. I gave the investor half of a personal horse and took half ownership of him; he’s been doing really well and just broke into the 20s in the dressage today. He’s small and sharp and has the makings of a proper five-star horse. I have another one of the same type in the barn at home; sometimes the little scrawny ones just need a little time and they’ll come into themselves.”

“The cross country looks lovely, the footing is great and the course is beautiful." she said."Course designer Derek diGrazia did a beautiful job, it makes you look forward to the fall three-day season. I love terrain like this, it’s very old-school; it’s not a derby course, like so many courses are these days. I feel like this is how cross-country is supposed to be.”

The competition is scheduled to continue Saturday with CCI3* and CCI4* show jumping as well as cross country for the CCI1*, CCI2*, and CCI3*.

The event will take place rain or shine.

General admission is $25 in advance and $30 at the gate.

More info & tickets on the website: www.plantationfield.com

World Equestrian Center – Ocala awarded an FEI Jumping World Cup Qualifier (2)

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September 23, 2023

By Staff Writers

OCALA, Fla.--The World Equestrian Center – Ocala has been awarded an FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier for the 2024/2025 through 2027/2028 World Cup seasons.

WEC Ocala ring (Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography.)WEC – Ocala was one of eight venues selected by the Fédération Equestre International at its Board meeting on Aug. 2, to host World Cup qualifiers for those seasons.

WEC – Ocala joins seven other events, including Traverse City, Washington, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Thermal in the United States as well as Toronto, Canada, and Puebla, Mexico, in forming the FEI Jumping World Cup North American League.

This comes in addition to the selection of WEC – Ocala as the only North American venue to host a new League of Nations CSIO5* event, which will be held at the facility from March 21-24, 2024.

WEC – Ocala is a 378-acre complex that was purpose-built to host world class equestrian competitions such as the World Cup qualifiers and the  League of Nations™ team competition.

THE VENUE'S 2023 calendar currently includes seven Jumping and five Dressage competitions sanctioned by the FEI.

“As we add more and more international events to the schedule at WEC – Ocala, we move closer to our goal of being the preeminent equestrian facility in the world,” said Roby Roberts, CEO of World Equestrian Center. “We focus on quality, class and distinction, and we hope that everyone who comes to our venue, either for the first time or as a returning customer, experiences everything that our core values represent.”

 WEC – Ocala says that it has quickly gained an international reputation for its state-of-the-art horse-friendly facility that includes climate-controlled stabling and premier footing in all warm-up and competition arenas.

A variety of on-site retail and dining options are offered alongside five star accommodation at The Equestrian Hotel, with the new The Riding Academy hotel opening in 2024.