Erynn Ballard Lands Double Podium Win in $25,000 BarnWalkers Grand Prix
Kicking off competition this week for ESP Fall II was the $10,000 Bainbridge 1.40m Welcome taking center stage on the Derby Field. Thirty combinations readied themselves to contest Andy Christiansen’s 13-obstacle course. The eleven who advanced were led by Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Mullentine Shalom. The pair set the pace at 39.315 seconds.
Closing the class at the top of the leaderboard, Jad Dana (LBN) and Wyndmont’s ABC Quantum Cruise put in a speedy and clear jump-off time of 37.323 seconds. Following in second place was Diego Javier Vivero Viteri (ECU) and his own entry, Febvre De Lusse in 38.802 seconds without any faults. With a double-clear time of 39.315 seconds, Erynn Ballard (CAN) and Mullentine Shallom, owned by Ilan Ferder, rounded out the podium.
Competition continued Friday with the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Pilates Rocks. The highlight hunter event of the week was the first of two hunter derbies offered on Equestrian Village’s grass Derby Annex Field. The class was held in a “Hunt and Go” format, meaning the first portion of the course was judged as the classic round, while the latter half of the trip was scored as the handy phase. Reigning supreme with a combined score of 163 was Jenna George (USA) and Annette Friend’s Casual Water.
“My plan going into it was to get a nice gallop going and see everything a little bit off my eye. I wanted to be confident, to make sure there were no weak jumps, and keep him moving forward,” explained George. “I really hope to get to ride him in more Derbies in the future.”
Just one point behind was Kimberly Maloomian (USA) and her own, Finch Hatton, with a score of 162, while Faith Schuttemeyer (USA) bookended the podium with a score of 159 aboard Eychenhoeve Sales LLC’s Cygnus.
Saturday got underway with fourteen horse-and-rider combinations taking on the $5,000 IDA Development 1.35m Stake. Emerging victorious with a clear 36.659 round was Luis Fernando Larrazabal (VEN) aboard Belle De Muze, owned by Driss Ngadi. Taking home the red ribbon was Karime Perez Nunez (MEX) and Ilan Ferder’s Karienh2 with a clear 38.124 seconds, while Diego Javier Vivero Viteri (ECU) put in a clear 40.054 round to round out the podium aboard Sebastian Rodriguez’s Johnny Bravo MQ.
Wrapping up ESP Fall II’s hunter competition was the $1,000 Alexander Academic Access 2’6”-2’9” Hunter Derby. A total of ten combinations entered the ring to compete for top honors in the Derby. Riding to the top of the leaderboard was Mackenzie Katz (USA) with a combined score of 173, with her mount Crush. Astera Frydman (USA) and To The Moon and Back, owned by Sofia Meehan, were the runner-up finish, followed by Jenna George (USA) and Charisma, owned by Michelle Mintz, with a score of 162.
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