Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy secured the victory in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with an impressive 348.5 point total. Photo By: Rebecca Walton/Phelps Media Group.
Wellington, FL – April 1, 2013 – After a great circuit in Ocala, Jennifer Alfano and SBS Farms made their way to Wellington for the final week of the 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival. Alfano could not have asked for a better week, taking home multiple tricolors, and topping off the week with a victory gallop around the derby field aboard Helen Lenahan’s Miss Lucy for the 2013 $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
The talented 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare took to the stage and went right to the top of the leader board. The pair vaulted to the top rankings on day one, taking the fourth place honors in the classic round with an overall score of 187 points. Miss Lucy continued to shine on Sunday, when she galloped around the grass derby field, catching the judges’ scrutinizing eye during the handy phase of competition. With Alfano in the irons, the pair navigated all of the inside turns and took all of the high options, receiving scores of 88.5 and 89, with 6 and 7 handy points for a round two score of 198.5. These efforts went right to the top, leading them to the final victory gallop with a final score of 348.5 points.
“Miss Lucy is so reliable you can always count on her to give 110%,” smiled Alfano. “She is actually a little more reliable than Jersey Boy, because you never have to wonder. With him, he has his moments. She is one of those horses that tries to do everything right all the time.”
Earlier in the week, Alfano showed several of her mounts in the hunter divisions to prepare for the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby. Miss Lucy captured the reserve championship ribbon in the High Performance Hunters, riding to an array of top ribbons. This was Miss Lucy’s first week back since the eighth week of the Ocala series, and she came back with finesse. Tom Wright of Uphill Farm assisted Alfano with the training duties for the final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, helping her rise to the top with her talented mounts.
Alfano also piloted Timber Ridge in the USHJA International Hunter Derby. The two went into the second round in sixth place, but then dropped below the top 12 for the final outcome. Timber Ridge also competed in the Regular Conformation Hunters earlier in the week to prepare for the derby. Owned by Shane George, Timber Ridge is living up to his reputation and raking in the ribbons in the conformation divisions.
On the first day of showing at WEF, Timber Ridge and Alfano achieved a second place ribbon, while attaining a fourth in the handy round. They then went on to attain first, second and fourth place ribbons on the second day of the division. They fell just shy of the championship, but Alfano didn’t hesitate to take the championship aboard the beautiful grey Rose Hill.
On her third mount of the week, Alfano attained the championship in the Performance 3’6″ Working Hunters with Rose Hill, affectionately known as “Rosie.” To start off her week in Wellington, Alfano and Rose Hill, owned by Sharon O’Neill, rode perfect courses. With a strong pace and consistent fences, the pair achieved a first place ribbon and two second place ribbons, sealing her Performance 3’6″ Performance Working Hunter Championship.
“She jumped beautifully over the courses, and the new atmosphere didn’t faze her all,” said Alfano of Rose Hill. “She is so easy and fun – she is the kind of horse that everyone wants in their barn.”
After WEF, the team at SBS will now continue to the Camden Spring Classic, Kentucky Spring and then the Devon Horse Show. After such a fantastic winter circuit in Ocala, and concluding their tour with their victory in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, there is no question that spring and summer will see more tricolors from SBS Farms, Inc.
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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