The HITS Del Mar Classic I launched another full week of top-tier hunter, jumper, and equitation action in Del Mar, California. Marking an extra-special week and an important stop on the summer calendar, the schedule boasts not only four days of FEI CSI2* action, but also a coveted designation as a World Championship Hunter Rider (WCHR) event. One of the numerous highlights was the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Great American Insurance Group, held Friday, August 22, 2025. Out of an impressive field, Caroline Ingalls, of Rancho Santa Fe, California, emerged victorious with a standout performance aboard Concerto.
Riders navigated a thoughtfully designed course crafted by Scott Starnes of Coto de Caza, California, under the careful eye of judges Robert Carndall and Ryan Lenehan. Featuring a single-round hunt-and-go format, the class began with several fences encompassing the flowing classic round and continued immediately into the handy round. Fourteen horse-and-rider combinations brought forward their best efforts in what proved to be an exciting and competitive class from start to finish.
Across both phases, Ingalls led the pack with top-notch scores from both judges. Over the first phase, she and her own 14-year-old Westphalian gelding by Cathanos earned a base score of 90 plus two bonus points for high options, and paired that with a leading base score of 91 and two bonus points in the handy phase. Totaling 185 points, the pair took a six point lead for the win.
“The course was so much fun today,” enthused Ingalls. “I loved that it was early in the start of the morning, so the grass was fresh and the jumps were big. The course flowed really nicely for my horse, and we had an opportunity to do some fun inside turns.
“I think my horse really gave it a lot,” she continued fondly. “He jumped really high and nice, and it was just such a blast to be out there this morning. He’s my dream horse of a lifetime and to have moments like this at horse parks such as this, where I actually had my first horse show many many moons ago, it’s really special to be here.”
Jumping into second place was Emily Esau Williams and Star Quality. The San Marcos, California-athlete piloted Mckee Sport Horses LLC’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion by Nabab de Reve to a two-phase total of 179 points and came the closest to catching Ingalls’s score. No stranger to the winner’s circle at HITS Del Mar, Emma Lindstrom, of Newbury Park, California, rounded out the top three with June Salin’s 14-year-old Holsteiner by Chablis I, Coraggio, with a total score of 173 points throughout the course.
WCHR competition continues through Sunday, August 24, and show jumping action culminates Saturday, August 23, with the $90,000 Del Mar Classic CSI2* Grand Prix. For full results, please visit showmanagementsystem.com.
