Abigail Albrecht and MTM Flashdance (Phelps Media Group)
The Washington Hunter and Jumper Phases that ran Friday also drew quality riders. The Jumper Phase, which ran in the Derby Field, was a test of efficiency while maintaining level-headedness. The bank was incorporated into the course, which was a challenge for some equitation horses. The Hunter Phase then brought the horses back to the perfection of the steady hunter-type ride.
Abigail Albrecht and MTM Flashdance came out on top in the ASPCA Maclay after their jumping round and flat testing. They also earned fifth place overall in the Washington. MTM Flashdance was imported just weeks ago and is already starting off his North American career with style. The gelding, who is owned by MTM Farm, is already proving to be one to watch.
"He is very smart," said Albrecht. "He thinks so fast and is always on top of his game. He has a great stride and personality, and he is so loving. He doesn't quite know what he is doing out there yet, so it is a lot of hard work to show him."
Albrecht has high hopes that her partnership with MTM Flashdance can grow into something great. She has never had a horse that she could take to equitation finals, and she might finally have her ticket to get there.
"It's just his inexperience we have to work on," explained Albrecht. "I went to USEF Pony Finals when I was younger, but haven't gone to an equitation final yet. He probably won't be ready this year, but I'm hoping for next year. One of my other horses is for sale, and I'm hoping once he sells I can buy MTM Flashdance. I'm hoping to keep this one for a long time."
MTM Flashdance and Albrecht will continue to show at Sumer in the Rockies to build on the horse's greenness in the show ring. Trainer Kelly Lorek is helping the pair through the process.
At the top of the Washington overall standings for was Kelli Cruciotti. Cruciotti rode Monterrey, her partner at the 2013 ASPCA Maclay Finals where she placed second. Friday they received a score of 88 in the Jumper Phase and 77 in the Hunter Phase. These two outstanding scores put 8 points between her and the second place finisher Abigail Weiland.
Monterrey is a favorite for Cruciotti because of heart, opinion, attitude, and presence in the show ring. According to Cruciotti, when she first bought him, he could be difficult at times to get in the ring. But he has now come full circle with his progress.
"He is an awesome horse to be around and work with," said Cruciotti. "I'm really blessed to be able to ride him. He is a competitor: he expects you to do your job as much as he is going to do it. I've had times where I've made a mistake and he gets mad. Sometimes it seems like he wants to win more than I do. He has a huge opinion, which I love. His personality in the barn is also hilarious."
Both phases of the Washington require responsiveness from the horse and effectiveness from the rider. Cruciotti and Monterrey aced this test.
"The different phases are a great test of versatility for the horse," said Cruciotti. "In the Jumper Phase they have to be neat and tidy and within the time, and the Hunter Phase is more consistency and pace and stride. I like having both, and I love going from ring to ring. It's a great challenge of versatility. You go up (to the Derby Field) and your adrenaline is running, and then you have to come down (to the Olson Family Main Hunter Ring) and be so calm. The Jumper Phase really suited him - we had to go up and down the banks and hills and he is phenomenal at all that."
Placing second in the ASPCA Maclay and third overall in the Washington was Jamie Morris with Samsonite. This 15-year-old junior rider has just stepped up to the 3'6" this year, and she is starting off strong with the help of her trainer Rebecca Johnson. Samsonite is a "been there done that" type of horse with abundant equitation experience. He is leased from Katya Schwab.
"He is really brave about all the jumps, which is very nice," said Morris. "I feel really confident and safe on him. He is always there for me and is really honest if I make a mistake. I know that he will help save me or get me out of trouble if I need him to, but he's not just the easy push button horse that does everything you tell him. I'm not just handed the win every time I've worked really hard with him. It's been really fun."
According to Morris, this is only her third Maclay class ever, and it had the stiffest competition yet. She was very pleased with Samsonite's performance in both classes and is looking forward to seeing where their season leads them.
Results: Summer in the Rockies II - Friday, June 13
(Number/Horse/Owner/Rider)
ASPCA Maclay
1. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht
2. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris
3. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland
4. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel
5. 858/Capiche/Rylee Shufelt/Rylee Shufelt
6. 582/Papparazzi/Serenity Farm/Abigail Grace Kelley
7. 740/Levitation/Marnina Seller/Marnina Seller
8. 970/Rocket Man/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff
Washington Overall
1. 588/Monterrey/Kelli Cruciotti/Kelli Cruciotti
2. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland
3. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris
4. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel
5. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht
6. 603/Commander In Chief/Jan Beavers/Grace McMurry
Washington Hunter Phase
1. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland
2. 588/Monterrey/Kelli Cruciotti/Kelli Cruciotti
3. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht
4. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel
5. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris
6. 751/Afrojack/Donald Stewart/Annabelle Regan
7. 607/Arthur/Brooke Weiss/Meghan Felts
8. 603/Commander In Chief/Jan Beavers/Grace McMurry
Washington Jumper Phase
1. 588/Monterrey/Kelli Cruciotti/Kelli Cruciotti
2. 962/Chronos/Brianna Peddicord/Brianna Peddicord
3. 823/Dragon/Redfield Farm/Abigail Weiland
4. 726/Samsonite/Katya Schwab/Jamie Morris
5. 799/Amore Mio/Melanie Lathrop/Melanie Lathrop
6. 603/Commander In Chief/Jan Beavers/Grace McMurry
7. 961/Whisky/Grace Thiel/Grace Thiel
8. 868/MTM Flashdance/MTM Farm/Abigail Albrecht
Junior 3'6 Htr
1. 508/Limbo/Sophia Depumpo/Sophia Depumpo
2. 916/Lucky Jack/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta
3. 818/McGraw/Kimberley Quinn/Katie Mc Donnell
4. 880/Baloubet K/Roderick Kyle Dewar/Katey Kozeny
5. 969/Premonition/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff
6. 90/Verbatim/Serenity Farm/Kelli Cruciotti
7. 740/Levitation/Marnina Seller/Marnina Seller
8. 663/Shenanigans/Lexi Mulkey/Lexi Mulkey
Junior 3'6 -Handy
1. 508/Limbo/Sophia Depumpo/Sophia Depumpo
2. 880/Baloubet K/Roderick Kyle Dewar/Katey Kozeny
3. 590/Verbatim/Serenity Farm/Kelli Cruciotti
4. 740/Levitation/Marnina Seller/Marnina Seller
5. 663/Shenanigans/Lexi Mulkey/Lexi Mulkey
6. 818/McGraw/Kimberley Quinn/Katie Mc Donnell
7. 969/Premonition/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff
8. 916/Lucky Jack/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta
Junior 3'6 Htr U/S
1. 969/Premonition/Lindsay Gersoff/Lindsay Gersoff
2. 508/Limbo/Sophia Depumpo/Sophia Depumpo
3. 818/McGraw/Kimberley Quinn/Katie Mc Donnell
4. 590/Verbatim/Serenity Farm/Kelli Cruciotti
5. 995/Estes Park/Arden Mc Reynolds/Arden Mc Reynolds
6. 607/Arthur/Brooke Weiss/Meghan Felts
7. 663/Shenanigans/Lexi Mulkey/Lexi Mulkey
8. 916/Lucky Jack/Grace Albritton/Colleen Acosta
Junior 3'3" Hunter O/F
1. 943/Mtm Retro/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold
2. 562/Peroni/KNW Farms LLC/Kendall Whitt
3. 890/Socrates/Allison Zimmerman/Allison Zimmerman
4. 605/Wesley/Haley Fleming/Meghan Felts
5. 530/All Tuckered Out/Mackenzie Kline/Mackenzie Kline
6. 893/Cartina B/Kamryn Steel/Kamryn Steel
7. 728/Benedicto/Jamie Morris/Jamie Morris
8. 944/Hashtag MTM/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold
Junior 3'3" Hunter Handy
1. 530/All Tuckered Out/Mackenzie Kline/Mackenzie Kline
2. 605/Wesley/Haley Fleming/Meghan Felts
3. 944/Hashtag MTM/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold
4. 562/Peroni/KNW Farms LLC/Kendall Whitt
5. 893/Cartina B/Kamryn Steel/Kamryn Steel
6. 890/Socrates/Allison Zimmerman/Allison Zimmerman
7. 943/Mtm Retro/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold
8. 728/Benedicto/Jamie Morris/Jamie Morris
Junior 3'3" Hunter U/S
1. 562/Peroni/KNW Farms LLC/Kendall Whitt
2. 943/Mtm Retro/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold
3. 605/Wesley/Haley Fleming/Meghan Felts
4. 944/Hashtag MTM/MTM Farm/Kaitlyn Arnold
5. 890/Socrates/Allison Zimmerman/Allison Zimmerman
6. 893/Cartina B/Kamryn Steel/Kamryn Steel
7. 530/All Tuckered Out/Mackenzie Kline/Mackenzie Kline