Rain or shine, the show must go on! Despite less than ideal weather conditions after four consecutive weeks of sunny skies, the $77,700 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Brook Ledge Horse Transportation, took place in the Main Hunter Ring and saw 29 entries compete for the second largest international Hunter Derby purse offered in the country this year. The rain delayed the start but riders were able to relax in the Legend Lounge and enjoy a breakfast sponsored by Loretta Patterson and Accolade Farms. The cut off score after the Classic Round was 160.5 set by Chances Are, owned by Artillery Lane, LLC and ridden by Gregory Prince of Sherborn, Massachusetts. Their Handy Score of 102 for a combined total of 262.5 would see them finish in twelfth place overall. Rebecca Patterson's Vecchia Murano, ridden by Amanda Forte of Glenmoore, Pennsylvania followed Prince after earning a first round score of 161. An overall second round score of 115 for a combined total of 276 saw them finish in eleventh place overall. Julia Curtis of Villa Rica, Georgia and her own Rocoso followed Forte in the Handy Round after earning a first round score of 166. Their second round score of 179 for a total of 345 saw the pair move into eighth place overall. Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, Alabama in the irons of Barbar Risius' Longstreet followed Curtis in the Handy Round order after earning a Classic Round score of 167.5. Their second round score of 177.5 for an overall score of 345 would have them finish in ninth place overall. Kelley Farmer had eight horses in yesterday's Derby and had four return for the Handy Round. Farmer's first ride was in the irons of her own Need I Say. "I bought him to be a Derby horse. He won two in Pensacola and was sixth in $100,000 in Ocala," commented Farmer. "He's a great pinch horse and can jump no matter what the conditions," she said. "If I ride him earlier in the class I can always try something different with him that I might be able to use on my later rides," she continued. "He has a tremendous amount of ability and is so nice to ride," she added. The pair earned a second round score of 194 and combined with their Classic Round score of 169, their combined total of 363 would find them moving up to finish in sixth place overall. Farmer followed that round with Amanda Hone's Publicized after earning a Classic Round score of 170.5. "Publicized is one of my greenest," commented Farmer. "He's a very fancy First Year horse and has only shown six times," she said. "I was proud of him that he jumped the Derby and overcame the weather," she added. Publicized and Farmer earned a Handy Round score of 132 for a total score of 302.5 and would finish in tenth place overall. Fleur De Lis Farms' Bowie, ridden by Courtney Calcagnini of Bartonville, Texas, followed Farmer and Publicized after a first round score of 173. Their Handy Round score of 179 for a total of 352 would see them finish in seventh place overall.
