Jennifer Alfano guided Jersey Boy to the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby victory at the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic. Photo By: Anne Gittins.
Moreland Hills, OH – July 17, 2013 – Jersey Boy is a name that has become synonymous with hunter derby wins across the nation and the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic saw him in action last week when he took the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby victory. Jennifer Alfano also rode to the top of the leader board throughout their stay at the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic taking the High Performance Championship, as well as the Grand Championship with Jersey Boy. In the Pre-Green 3’3″ Hunters, Alfano guided Candid to the championship, and the first place finish in the $1,000 Pre-Green Incentive.
Jersey Boy dominated the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Saturday, July 13. With Jennifer Alfano in the irons, the pair came out on the top, with beautiful rounds and perfectly cleared high options. Their scope and pace brought them to the forefront of the competition with ease. Jersey Boy took the victory with ease, while Rose Hill captured the fourth place and Maggie May earned the eighth place.
“Jersey Boy is definitely back, “Alfano said. “He was really good the first round and he jumped great. I was thrilled with him.”
Alfano’s win this year marks the sixth consecutive year that she’s won the USHJA International Hunter Derby at Chagrin Valley, five out of those six wins coming with Jersey Boy. Alfano was all smiles at the end of their stay in Chagrin Valley as Jersey Boy was honored with the High Performance Championship and Grand Championship.
SBS Farms, Inc. continued to steal the spotlight in the hunter ring as Alfano piloted Candid to the High Pre-Green 3’3″ Hunter Championship last week. They were awarded the three first place ribbons over fences, as well as the blue ribbon in the under saddle. It was Candid’s spectacular performance in the $1,000 Pre-Green Incentive Stake that caught the judges’ eyes. They were awarded the first place for their picturesque round, and also took the third place finish in the $5,000 National Hunter Derby.
“I have only had Candid a couple of months, but I love him. I am having so much fun with him, and I am really excited about him. He’s a really nice horse, and he keeps getting better and better. I love how consistent he is, and we are definitely going to do the Finals during the Bluegrass Festival in August.”
“He is really brave at the jumps, but when I first got him he was a little bit nervous with the horse show atmosphere – the golf carts, water trucks and tractors and all that. He really, for the most part, has gotten over that and has really gotten used to all of the action. I couldn’t be happier with him,” shared Alfano.
Alfano also guided Helen Lenahan’s Me Again to good ribbons in the Low Pre-Green 3′ Hunters. They were awarded the third place in the Pre-Green Incentive Stake, as well as taking the third and second place in the Pre-Green Hunters. The pair came back even stronger for the second week of competition, with Me Again snatching the win in the Pre-Green Incentive Stake and taking top honors throughout the Low Pre-Green 3′ Hunter division.
The two year partnership of Alfano and Billie Steffee’s Maggie May has continued to blossom since the fateful day at the Chagrin Valley Hunter Jumper Classic when they were united, and they returned to defend their success from last year’s High Pre-Green 3’3″ Hunter division. They posted consistent rounds in the First Year Green Working Hunter, riding to two thirds and the fourth over fences, as well as the third place in the handy round during the first week. Their success continued Tuesday and Wednesday as they earned the First Year Green Working Hunter Reserve Championship when they sealed their victory with a win in the handy.
Jessica Litfin and Cenzington 002, owned by Doreen Toben, rode to the top of the Low Adult Jumper leader board last week. She eventually captured the division’s championship with speedy rounds. Litfin took the second place in the Stephen A. Communale Low Adult Jumper Classic, as well as the second place in a Low Adult Jumper class.
Alex Trolli and Del Piero took the first place finish in the Children’s 15-17 Hunters , as well as rising to the challenge the second week to take home the blue ribbon in the under saddle and a third and two fourths over fences. Jennifer Basile and Rasputin, owned by the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, earned good ribbons in the Adult Amateur 36 and Over Hunters.
SBS Farms will take a few weeks to rest and refresh before the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show in Lexington, KY. Alfano will travel to Saugerties to show Candid and a few Baby Green horses, but she is anxiously awaiting the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in August.
Based out of Buffalo, NY, SBS Farms’ Susie Schoellkopf and Jennifer Alfano run one of the foremost show hunter training operations in the country, and travel nationwide to compete in the nation’s most prestigious horse shows. SBS Farms, Inc. continues the proud tradition of the Saddle and Bridle Club as one of the top show stables in the northeast. Schoellkopf is also the Executive Director of the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, which houses both The Buffalo Equestrian Center as well as SBS Farms. Built in 1922, the 160-stall facility is a historical landmark, with its unique English Tudor and gothic style architecture. For more information on SBS Farms and the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, please visit www.thebtrc.org.
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