The 2024 Summer Series, presented by Arion Sellier, returned to Equestrian Village after a two-month hiatus to welcome horses-and-riders to the ESP Summer II horse show. The competition showcased hunter derby competitors in the Derby Field Annex on Friday during the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), presented by Parlanti, with Brooklyn Castellano (USA) and her own, Chillas Z, taking top call.
The class saw seven competitors over the phase-combined track. Castellano and Chillas Z were second to last to go, laying down a beautiful round for a score of 155. The duo overtook Chase Spranklin (USA) and Nosy Parker SCF, owned by Enjoy the Ride LLC, who went second in the class and scored an overall score of 145. Ashley Glica of Wellington, FL, rounded out the podium with Leigha Puentes’ F-Neat Freak thanks to an overall score of 140.
Friday also featured jumper competitors on the main Derby Field for the 1.40m Open Jumper Stake, sponsored by Bainbridge Companies. A total of 12 combinations navigated the first round, with 7 advancing to the jump-off. Going first in the shortened track, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) piloted Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili, owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC., to a flawless round, tripping the timer at 37.13 seconds to lay down the only clear in the jump-off. Just off the pace, Canada’s Frankie Chesler and Ibalius SMH, owned by Sher-Al Farm Inc., secured themselves the second place position with a four-fault time of 38.139 seconds. With a four-fault time of 38.497 seconds, USA’s Luke Jensen claimed the third-place title aboard Meadowvale Cruise, owned by Wyndmont.
Competition kicked off Saturday morning with 13 competitors facing off in the 1.35m Open Jumper Stake, sponsored by Elite Horse Transport. Of the 13 pairs, only eight advanced to the jump-off with four producing clear rounds. Alannah Wagstaff (USA) and Great Thing, owned by Mill Pond Farm LLC., emerged as the winners after stopping the clock in 39.082 seconds. Just behind the winning pair was Nataly Leibovitz (ISR) and Kiss Me, owned by Nataly Leibovitz and 3 Graces Dressage, with a clear time of 40.897 seconds while Juan Manuel Gallego (COL) rounded out the podium with a time of 41.632 aboard Niagara D’ive Z, owed by Gabriela Salazar Martinez.
Hunters showcased their talent in Saturday’s $1,000 2’6”/2’9” Hunter Derby (Hunt & Go), sponsored by ProElite. Securing the blue ribbon was USA’s Faith Schuttemeyer with Eyckenhoeve Sales LLC’s Cygnus, with a total score of 172. Joscelyn Richards (USA) came in a close second with a score of 153 with Sky Equestrian Sales LLC’s Remember Me while Jillian Fratkin (USA) scored 152 with Guardian, owned by Maren Stuart, for third place.
Competition concluded on Sunday with the $25,000 Keyflow USA Grand Prix, but not before USA’s Luke Jensen galloped to victory aboard ABC Quantum Cruise in a competitive jump-off.
With eleven of the nineteen pairs advancing to the jump-off, the class was sure to leave no stone unturned. Pulling out all the stops and emerging victorious, Jensen and his mount of less than six months, ABC Quantum Cruise, owned by Wyndmont, put in the fastest clear round with a time of 38.193 seconds.
With three of her four entries advancing to the shortened track, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) was able to finalize the deal, securing both the second and third-place ribbons. The red rosette went to Vanderveen and her mount, Cilestro Z, owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc., with a clear time of 38.676 seconds. Vanderveen also secured the yellow ribbon with a time of 38.767 seconds aboard her mount, Bull Run’s Ruah, owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc.
The 2024 Summer Series will continue next week with ESP Summer III from August 22 through August 25. For upcoming prize lists and schedules, please click HERE.
ESP Summer II Photo Gallery
