Jennifer Alfano and Me Again (E.Riden/Phelspsports.com)
Alfano clinched the win on the breathtaking Great Meadow of the 19th-Century Country Village aboard Me Again, a Dutch Warmblood owned by Helen Lenahan. The American bred gelding, out of Cardento and bred by Hays Investment Corporation, is only five years old and is just competing in his second year as a pre-green horse.
"He was unbelievable. All along we thought this was going to be a great derby horse," Alfano said. "He's brave, scopey and fearless, which he showed here today."
The Derby at the Genesee Country Village & Museum presented a beautiful venue that one must see in person to fully appreciate - and that is unlike what most pre-green hunter horses have ever experienced.
"For a young horse to walk out on that field and go like he did I think is amazing," Alfano said.
The expansive field with slightly graded terrain, ideal grass footing and a beautiful course set by Bobby Murphy served as the perfect setting for the inaugural Derby at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, the hopeful first of many hunter derbies to come at the 19th century living history museum.
"I think with word of mouth, this is going to get huge," Alfano said. "I think this is going to be one of these places that they're going to have to turn people away because that field is unbelievable. It's beautiful and it rode great. "
"I think this is going to be one of these places that they're going to have to turn people away because that field is unbelievable. It's beautiful and it rode great." - Jen Alfano
Henri De Rivel also donated bridles to each of the top 12 finishers in Saturday''s derby. Earning one of those bridles and giving Alfano and Me Again a run for their money were Rachel Clawson and Sox Appeal, owned by Kelly Waples. The pair came back into the second round sitting in the second place position and a second round score of 81 plus three high option points helped them maintain that position. Rounding out the top three were Jennifer Dahlman and her own The Other Brother.
In front of a full crowd of spectators, Alfano led the pack from beginning to end with the highest score in the first, classic round and the overall highest cumulative score. She and Me Again's high scores not only earned them the winner's share of the prize money; they rode away with a generous donation of products from Shapley's Superior Equine Grooming Products and a brand-new, meticulously crafted saddle and bridle from the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsor, Henri De Rivel.
As one of the nation's leading hunter riders, Alfano will return to The Derby at the Genesee Country Village & Museum Sunday with two of her top mounts, Jersey Boy and Maggie May, for the $35,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.