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Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy Win the $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby, Presented by Dietrich Insurance, at HITS Ocala for the Second Year in a Row

March 18, 2010

OCALA, FL --- The $10,000 Chronicle of the Horse/USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Dietrich Insurance, saw Jennifer Alfano and Jersey Boy, owned by SBS Farms Inc., take home the win for the second year in a row at HITS Ocala on Saturday night.

Alfano also won the USHJA International Hunter Derby at HITS Ocala in 2008 on Rockstar, and just two weeks ago won the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby aboard Fantabulous.

“I really enjoyed the course tonight,” said Alfano after Saturday night’s class. “It allowed the horses to go nicely and it gave us a lot of nice options on that field…I just gave it my all out there.”

Alfano and Jersey Boy have a lot of experience in Hunter Derbies, but this was the first win of the year for the eight-year-old.

A large crowd gathered on Saturday night, under the lights of the majestic Main Hunter ring, as 52 competitors looked to impress the two panels of judges on a course designed by Rian Beals, which featured many options for riders to choose from.

One of the highest scores in the first round came early in the class when Chase Boggio and Alamo, owned by Alexa Boggio, received an impressive first round score of 191 from the two panels of judges, which earned them the second place spot in the handy round. Kristen Bumpus and Hannah Curran’s Inspired, winners of the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby at HITS Ocala I and II, showed next earning a combined score of 169 from the judges which earned them a spot in the handy round alongside Boggio.

Two trips later, Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Oare’s Luigi, ridden by Kelly Farmer, received a score of 184, good enough for fifth in the round, as more impressive scores followed. Hunt Tosh on Lone Star, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wheeler, received a total score of 190, placing them third, and Taylor Ann Adams on Sarah Robin’s Rio’s Splash received a score of 167 which would get them into the handy round, as well. Just two trips later, Tiffany Cornacchio-Morrisey earned a score of 170 aboard Kate Goodman’s Maui and the 10th place spot coming back for the handy round.

Up next was Alfano, of Buffalo, New York, on the first of her three rides for the evening, Jersey Boy. They earned a combined first-round score of 184 from the judges, which put them in fourth heading into the handy. Alfano later showed Extraordinary, owned by Helen Lenahan, earning 167 points, and then returned to the ring once more aboard Meredith Lipke’s The Specialist, earning a score of 170. All three of Alfano’s mounts would qualify to come back for the handy round, putting her in position to dominate the second round of the class.

Samantha Schaeffer and Garfield, owned by K & S Show Services received a score of 182 for sixth, and Shawn Cassidy on Kelly Tropin’s Eastwood received 174 points, putting the pair in seventh going into the handy round.

The top score of the first round belonged to Mr. & Mrs. Earnest Oare’s Rosalynn, who received a total score of 193 with Kelly Farmer in the irons, to put the pair in the lead going into the handy round.

The top 12 competitors from the first round returned for the handy course, as the energy of the crowd continued to grow. Starting the second round was junior rider Taylor Ann Adams and Rio’s Splash. An unfortunate knock down would leave the pair in tenth.

Alfano returned next aboard Extraordinary and scored 177 moving them all the way up from tenth to second place, overall. Kristen Bumpus and Inspired showed next, but the third fence came down, resulting in an 11th place finish.

Tiffany Cornacchio-Morrisey, who made the trip from Palm Beach to compete in Ocala this week, showed next aboard Maui and earned a score of 168 which would move the pair up to fifth place overall. Alfano returned aboard The Specialist, and showing consistency, received a score of 170 in the handy, which would be good enough for fourth, overall. Junior rider Samantha Schaeffer and Garfield showed next, earning 150 points and finishing sixth, overall.

The showdown for the win was heating up, as the first of five remaining horses entered the ring. Up next was Kelly Farmer showing Luigi, the first of her two mounts in the second round. A little bad luck and a score of 108 would put them in ninth. Alfano followed immediately after aboard Jersey Boy, and the team was on top of their game. Taking all the options, they scored an impressive 192 points, which would put them well into the lead and on their way to capturing the blue ribbon for the second year in a row.

Hunt Tosh and Lone Star made a gallant effort, but again, it was fence three that came down, giving them a score of 114 and placing them in eighth. Chase Boggio showed next aboard Alamo. Boggio has been a steady performer this season at HITS Ocala, placing in the top of nearly every $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby throughout the circuit. Unfortunately, this was not to be their night as they were called off course in the handy, placing 12th overall.

There was only one horse left who could overtake Alfano and Jersey Boy for the lead, and that was Rosalynn and Kelly Farmer who returned with the high score of 193 from the first round. The crowd was on their feet until an unlucky rail at the third fence would give them a score of 114 and seventh place overall.

Alfano finished the evening with first, second and fourth place honors, and raved about her winning mount, Jersey Boy: “He does really great in the handy,” said Alfano. “We went into the handy in fourth, so we had some ground to make up."

Following Saturday night’s featured Hunter Class, HITS Ocala crowned the winner of this week’s Arenus Tack Room Competition. Arenus Representative Sandy Edgar judged the Arenus Tack Room Competition during Week V and selected Kimberden Farm, owned by Dennis Mitchell and Kim Burnett, as this year’s recipient. “Kimberden’s landscaping was simply superior,” commented Edgar. “The palm trees they planted around their stabling tent were really impressive. There were quite a good amount of well-appointed tack rooms at the show grounds, but I really had to select Kimberden as it was so well decorated and showed great attention to detail.”

The fun continued on Sunday as families, exhibitors, and spectators were treated to a full day filled with fun activities as the Purina Mills Kid’s Day accompanied the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Children from the surrounding area, as well as HITS young competitors, enjoyed a beautiful day at HITS Ocala with a bounce house and slide, cupcake decorating compliments of Winn Dixie, the Ponies and Puppies Young Artist Competition, book signings by leading children’s authors Sharon Miner and Barbara Van Tuyl, live music by the Brion Kenyon Band and a mini-petting coral complete with miniature donkeys and horses provided by Judy’s Tack Shop. Prior to the Grand Prix, spectators were treated with a performance by the Ocala Irish Step Dancers, which included Pipe and Drum’s John Earle on bagpipe and violins playing classic Irish music. Purina Mills’ sponsored rider, Stacy Parvey-Larson of Hidden Acres Dressage got the crowd clapping and cheering her on in a special freestyle dressage exhibition on Linda Woltz’s Hanoverian stallion Benidetto. After the Grand Prix, Purina Mill’s sponsored a special exhibitor party at the VIP Tent to celebrate another successful week at HITS Ocala complete with karaoke and great food!

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