Alfano Captures USHJA International Hunter Derby

By Jessica Nemzoff

SBS Farms' Jersey Boy and Jennifer Alfano added another hunter derby win to their resume after topping the 54 horse field in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at HITS V Ocala Winter Finals on March 13, 2010. Alfano, SBS Farms' rider and trainer, also took home second place honors aboard Helen Lenahan's Extraordinary, and finished fourth aboard Meredith Lipke's The Specialist.
 
Alfano and Jersey Boy not only captured the win in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at HITS V, but also secured themselves the lead in the 2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby Series standings, just as they did last year. In 2009, the duo led the country's 2009 USHJA International Hunter Derby Series standings, and finished second in the $100,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals in Lexington, KY. Leading up the 2009 Finals, Alfano and Jersey Boy climbed to the top of the standings by winning prestigious derbies such as the $50,000 ASG Software Solutions/USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL and the $25,000 Chicago Hunter Derby of Antioch, IL.
 
Commenting on the evening's success as well as the value of hunter derbies to the equestrian sport, SBS Farms' director and trainer Susie Schoellkopf said, "There were 54 horses in the class and the stands were full - that kind of enthusiasm and support is a really good thing for the sport. The derbies are different and fun; there are certain horses that do them beautifully, and they are a nice change for the professionals. The derbies are essentially the Grand Prix of the hunters."
 
Finishing in second behind hunter derby veteran Jersey Boy was hunter derby newcomer, Extraordinary. Making his hunter derby debut with Alfano in the irons for Helen Lenahan, Extraordinary came back 11th after the first round, but moved into second after putting in a "brilliant handy round," Schoellkopf said. Alfano also piloted Meredith Lipke's The Specialist to a fourth place finish; both Alfano and Schoellkopf agreed, "he was fabulous, and he jumped really well in the handy." The Specialist also earned good ribbons with owner Meredith Lipke in the Amateur-Owner Hunter 36 & Over division.
 
Earlier in the week, SBS Farms had numerous successes. Alfano guided both Jersey Boy and Accomplice to reserve championship honors in the Regular Working Hunters and Second Year Green Working Hunters, respectively. Sharon O'Neill's Rose Hill, a five-year-old gray mare out of Rox Dene by Popeye K, finished first and second in the Pre-Green Hunters.
 
Madison Brayman came in fourth for the USEF Hunter Seat Medal aboard Archibald Cox's Serenade. Molly Osier also competed in the Low Children's Jumpers aboard SBS Farms' Lady Liberty, finishing in second place.

Photo © 2009 Lili Weik