It was an action-packed week during HITS Chicago Summertime III, where both the $5,000 National Hunter Derby on Friday, July 19, and the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Saturday, July 20, featured in the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium. Jennifer Alfano proved to be the derby queen, picking up the wins in both exciting classes, first with Pendleton and then with By the Way.
The $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby saw 35 horse-and-rider combinations vie for the victory. Alfano led from start to finish, notching a 93 plus four high option points in the first round and an 87 plus three high option points in the second round for a total score of 187 and the win. Jake Evans secured second place with a final score of 178 aboard Empire Lane’s eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Corall, San Angelo, while Jeff Gogul and Abigail Carney’s 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Claudius, claimed third with a score of 175.
“Pendleton is amazing,” said Alfano of Kathy Chiaf’s nine-year-old Warmblood gelding by Thunder VD Zuuthoeve. “We’ve had him for a while now, and his owner competes with him in the amateur divisions. Anytime she can’t come to the show, I get to ride him in the national derbies. He’s so dependable, and we know each other so well that I can always count on him to give 100 percent, and he did just that.”
The following morning, Alfano returned to the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium for this week’s spotlight event, the highly anticipated $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Two panels of judges oversaw the class in which 15 competitive duos challenged for the win.
The first-round course, designed by Dean Battaglia, featured a large, intricate track. Starting with a high option at fence 1 away from the in-gate, riders then turned up the center line for a line coming back the opposite way. Jumps 4 and 5 were set as a two-stride changing direction, followed by a hedge-styled high option at jump 6 leading to a bending line to fence 7, the third high option. The course continued with another bending line from fences 8 and 9, changing directions before approaching a rolltop at fence 10, and finishing on the final high option oxer at fence 11.
The top 12 riders returned for the handy round, which was highlighted by four high options, longer set approaches for hand galloping, multiple rollbacks with tricky inside turn options, and a trot fence at fence 3.
Alfano’s most notable performance was aboard By the Way, Megan Odozynski’s nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Big Star. Returning to the handy round in the lead and as the last to go, Alfano rode By the Way to near perfection, securing the win with a total two-panel score of 371 and all of her individual scores over 90.
“He’s a bit new to us; we’ve only had him for a couple of months,” explained Alfano of By the Way. “This is maybe his third derby, so we’re still getting to know each other. We’re all really excited about his future as a derby horse. He also competes in the amateur divisions beautifully with his owner, so I’m pretty lucky to have a great string of horses.”
Alfano completed her banner week at HITS Chicago by also placing third on her seven-year-old Warmblood gelding by Cumytime Z, Ivy League, with a total two-panel score of 349. Jake Evans, riding Make A Splash LLC’s 12-year-old Zangersheide stallion by Ponsee V, Oh Hello, slotted between Alfano’s rides for second place with a total two-panel score of 364.5.
“We’ve been coming here for a long time, and it’s a great facility,” enthused Alfano. “The rings are beautiful, and they do a nice job with everything. It’s a fun town, and we enjoy coming here every summer.”
Grateful for the support from the show organizers, Alfano concluded, “A big ‘thank you’ to the horse show for putting these classes in the big rings. We really appreciate the effort they make to accommodate us, especially as we prepare for Derby Finals and other major events.”
Hunter derby excitement continued on Saturday afternoon with junior and amateur competitors vying for the top prize in the $500 The League Bit O’Straw 2’6” Hunter Derby and $500 The League Tiny Bit O’ 2’ Hunter Derby, both presented by Marshall & Sterling. Avery Roper from Hobart, Indiana, claimed the blue ribbon in the $750 The League Bit O’Straw 2’6” Hunter Derby with a strong performance on Samantha Roper’s 10-year-old Warmblood gelding by Casino Berlin, Caspen. The week’s derby events concluded with April Burke from Argyle, Texas, winning the $750 The League Tiny Bit O’ 2’ Hunter Derby on her own 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Chaleon, Kirby Lane.
For a full list of results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
