Maddrix and Shutterbug
After earning the leading first round score of 94 with Missy Nolan's Life is Good as well as a first round score of 91 with Shutterbug, the competition looked to be geared for a Maddrix win. After returning with Shutterbug in the Handy round and earning a total of 94 points, with three handy rounds to go, there was still a chance that Life is Good may take the win.
However, as the last to go in the handy round, Life is Good had a refusal at fence three which resulted in a second round score of 44, which moved Shutterbug to the winning position with a combined score of 185 while Life is Good dropped to tenth place overall with a combined score of 138.
"The trap jump just came up dead wrong and he looked to take the step out and I looked to put it in and he just stopped," commented Maddrix.
Maddrix and Shutterbug lead the victory gallop in yesterday's $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
"Shutterbug was awesome," said Maddrix. "I haven't had him long-I just got him in Conyers. He is a warm blood coming seven and has done a lot of jumper classes," Maddrix said. "That was the first time in the Handy that he went like a hunter and his first Derby win! He was awesome, he turned well, was quiet and jumped amazing," he said.
"Joe [Carnicum] did a great job with the course," commented Maddrix. "It was really fun and gave you a lot of options with inside turns and allowed you to separate yourself from the crowd. The course was pretty perfect being very technical, yet providing options."
A first round score of at least 78 was the magic number for those seeking a Handy opportunity. After turning in a first round effort with a total score of 78, Isabella Rand's Silver Stone, ridden by Lauren Marcinkoski of Hardeeville, South Carolina was the first to go in the Handy round and scored a 62. Their total score of 140 would see the pair finish in ninth place overall.
Charles Harfield's Hidden Creek's Tango, ridden by Christina Jason of Aiken, South Carolina followed Silver Stone. Their first round score of 79 and second of 81 would see the pair finish in fifth place overall with a total score of 160.
The third horse to return was Sophia Stouse's Elder, ridden by Livia Steffee of New Orleans, Louisiana. Their first round score of 79.75 combined with their second round score of 80 would see the pair finish in seventh place overall with a total of 159.50 points.
Unikat, owned by Amy Yoder of Seneca, South Carolina and ridden by Carlos Aramburo of Red Banks, Mississippi, placed eighth overall with combined scores of 79.75 and 78 points, respectively.
DS Holdings, LLC's DSH Anka, ridden by Whitney Owens of Windcrest, Texas followed in the Handy round and turned in a score of 79.75. Combined with their first round score of 80, the pair would finish in sixth place overall with a score of 159.75.
Petrossian, owned and ridden by Whitney Miller of San Antonio, Texas had a first round score of 80.5. However, they were eliminated in their second round and subsequently placed twelfth overall.
Isabel Coleman of New Orleans, Louisiana and her own Antwerp placed third overall after earning a first round score of 81 and second round score of 84 for a total of 165 points. Coleman was also the recipient of the Kastel Denmark Hunter Style of Riding Award.
Lynn Seithel of Wadmalaw Island, South Carolina and her own Versace earned scores of 83 and 44, resepectively and their total of 127 would see the pair finish in eleventh place overall.
Julie Curtain of Woodstock, Georgia and Jennifer Munday's Samaritan, returned for their Handy round after earning a first round score of 89. Their second round score of 76 gave them a grand total of 165 points which earned them fourth place overall.
Frankie Owens of San Antonio, Texas piloted DS Holdings Carrida to a first round score of 84 and second round score of 81. Their overall total of 168 would see the pair finish in second place overall.