Molly Sewell and EL Raymond (Phelps Media Group)
"He never lets me down. I think we've been in the top four of every derby that we've ever done - usually winning because that's what Raymond does," Sewell laughed following her victory.
At 17 years old, the Warmblood gelding is owned and regularly competed in the Adult Amateurs by Leslie Campbell and can still out jump and outshine horses half his age, as he did on Sunday.
Sewell and EL Raymond went early in the order over the Joseph Carnicom-designed course to earn a score of 90 plus four high option points for a 94. That score would hold up through the entire first round as the best in the class. Sitting in second going into the handy round were Emma Kurtz and VIP Z on a score of 92, while Lilly French and Candor rounded out the top three on a score of 91.
As the top 12 returned for the handy round in reverse order of their standings, it was Addison Piper and Billy the Kid, owned by Cory Olson, who made the biggest jump up the ranks. The pair came in to round two in seventh place on a score of 84.5, but seamless round utilizing great handiness and all four of the high options would earn them a score 88 and shoot them to an overall total of 172.5. That total would end up being good enough to capture the third place award.
Heading into the top three contenders, French and Candor, owned by Redfield Farm, were the first to return. They gave a second solid performance, earning a score of 89 for a two round total of 180, which would put them ahead of Piper and Billy the Kid by 7.5 points.
"This is only my second hunter derby on this horse," 15-year-old French said. "He's only 7, and he just started doing the 3'6, so now we're doing the 3'6 juniors. He's the scopiest horse out there. He's never bucked. He's never done anything wrong, and he has the sweetest personality. You can just stand in his stall, and he'll just play with you for forever."
Following French's impressive performance, it all came down to Kurtz and VIP Z and Sewell and EL Raymond. Kurtz returned next, but a disappointing refusal at the trot fence dropped them from second to 12th with an overall total score of 136.
Sewell and EL Raymond returned next, picked up an immediate and direct canter to the first jump and went straight to another score from the judges of 94. Together the pair's dual scores of 94 would give them a 188 total and clinch their victory.
"He was really, really good," Sewell said. "He was kind of dull in the schooling area so I thought 'oh come on, Raymond. Wake up.' I don't know why I ever doubt that he's going to wake up and jump flawlessly and beautifully. He was so high over everything and so smooth. He didn't touch one jump; he was just right on it."
EL Raymond, whose name stands for Everybody Loves Raymond, is extremely well loved in the barn and around the horse show, where Sewell says he has quite the fan club.
"He just brings us a lot of joy - the whole barn," said owner Leslie Campbell. "He's got a huge personality and all this talent. He's just a treat. He's really a gift."
Campbell forewent showing EL Raymond in the Adult Amateurs this week in order to save the horse for the derby with Sewell, and Sewell will return to the derby ring on him again during the Bluegrass Festival Horse Show.
Riders competing in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies held throughout the Kentucky Horse Show series are eligible for leading rider bonuses awarded to the leading professional, junior and amateur riders and generously sponsored by Hallway Feeds.
While Sewell is not necessarily contending the bonus this year, French says she may give it a go now that she continues to do well in the derbies.
"Originally I was just trying to enjoy it, but then I came down here, and I was like, 'oh, I actually can do well, so I'll just keep doing it,'" French said. "Whatever happens, happens; it wasn't like a 'at-the-end-of-the-year-you're-going-to-be-top-5 thing.' That wasn't a goal for me; the goal for the year was just to get to know him and make the best out of whatever happens. Now I'm going to keep doing the derbies as much as I can."
While Sunday marked the conclusion of the Kentucky Summer Horse Show, hunter/jumper competition at the Kentucky Horse Park continues on Tuesday with the start of the Kentucky Summer Classic.
Results - Class 605, USHJA NATIONAL HUNTER DERBY
Order Entry # Horse Name Rider Name Score Score 2 Total Score
1 369 EL RAYMOND MOLLY SEWELL 94.000 94.000 188.000%
2 1487 CANDOR LILLY FRENCH 91.000 89.000 180.000%
3 750 BILLY THE KID ADDISON PIPER 84.500 88.000 172.500%
4 1757 LPF LOST SHAKER OF SALT CALLIE SCHOTT 87.000 84.500 171.500%
5 685 CONVERSE EMMA ROBERTS 85.000 86.000 171.000%
6 1371 CALIPO 39 WINN ALDEN 83.500 85.000 168.500%
7 98 SUBTIL JENNA VANERSTROM 80.000 83.000 163.000%
8 832 MTM DO RIGHT DIDI MACKENZIE 89.000 72.000 161.000%