Kelley Farmer sat at the top of standings going into the second round, but Alfano knew that Jersey Boy would shine in the handy with his true hunter ability and finesse. That is precisely what the duo did. Alfano guided Jersey Boy to a second round score of 195 points to move from fifth to first with a cumulative 362 points.
The pair led the victory gallop with ribbons flying in the wind, a sure indicator that they are ready to take on the competition in Lexington in only one short week. Jersey Boy also nabbed the High Performance Hunter Championship with three first and one third place finish over fences, and the second for their efforts in the under saddle.
Alfano continued her winning ways into the Green Conformation Hunters during Equifest II, riding her own Candid to the division’s championship. She won the Pre-Green 3’3” Hunter Championship aboard Brent, owned by Bernadette Mulliken, but added the icing to the cake with the young horse when they earned the Pre-Green 3’3” Incentive. Mulliken took the championship with Brent shortly after in the Amateur-Owner 3’3” Hunters.
Counting Stars, recently purchased by Kim Calamos and trained by Lynn Jayne, saw great success in the First Year Green Working Hunter division with Alfano in the irons. They took the First Year Green Working Hunter Championship, while Alfano also snatched up the Pre-Green 3’ Hunter Championship with Social Hill, owned by SBS Farms, Inc. The championships only continued to amount as Alfano and Corasonne, owned by Mulliken, wrapped up the second week of competition with the Performance 3’6” Hunter Championship.
During HITS-on-the-Hudson VI, Alicia Heberle trained the SBS Farms, Inc. team to continue the winning streak. Alex Trolli was the Antares 15-17 Children’s Hunter Champion with Del Piero, owned by Doreen Toben. Trolli took the top call during the Classic, as well as winning two Children’s Hunter classes with Hey Sailor.
With the 2014 USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships on everyone’s minds, it is time that SBS Farms, Inc. pack their tack trunks and head to the Kentucky Horse Park. Alfano will have a strong contingent at the championships, especially with Jersey Boy fresh off of his recent victory.
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.
