Cassie Kahle and Diario were victorious in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Blue Rock Classic. (Rebecca Walton/PhelpsSports.com)

Littlestown, Pa. - Cassie Kahle's winning performances at the Blue Rock Classic continued on Friday when she kicked-off the day with a one-two finish in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Swan Lake Horse Shows. She led from start to finish aboard Great Span LLC's Diario, earning scores of 94 in both the classic round and the handy round. Her second mount, Nino Nacho, owned by Redfield Farm, followed in a close second with two scores of 92.

Thirty-nine entries turned out for the day's highlight event. The first round required riders to canter into a second ring and jump four fences, and also featured four high options with bending lines and combination. A tie for 12th place meant that 13 horse and rider combinations were invited back for the handy round. There were multiple tight rollbacks as well as a trot jump. After jumping the course riders had to hand gallop down the long side to two markers before walking out of the ring.

Kahle and Diario stole the show, earning scores of 94 in both rounds by jumping all four high options. Their handy round included neat turns, making a very tight slice to the trot fence. They also showcased a beautiful hand gallop to wow the judges and secure their win.

"Diario is pretty easy and a very, very handy horse," said Kahle of the 7-year-old warmblood. "The first round was fun. We went in two different rings. A lot of horses got a little bit lost or a little bit spooky, but he was really good and focused. The second round, we planned to stay a little bit conservative. There were a few inside turn options, but it caught a couple horses by surprise. I ended up doing one of the inside turns, because he was feeling really good and he was really good about it. He's a super, super sweet horse and he carries himself really well."

Diario's barnmate Nino Nacho took home the second place honors with Kahle, also producing an excellent handy round for a score of 92. "I was conservative with Nino," admitted Kahle. "He was the first horse I did the course on. Several people did the inside turns, and I thought I would just let him go around nicely. We just imported him about a month ago. He's still fairly new to the hunters and the derbies, but he's such a sweet horse to deal with."

Kahle has been competing in all of the rings at the Blue Rock Classic, earning the Grand Hunter Championship and the Welcome Stake victory on Thursday. On Friday, she went between rings still wearing her shadbelly as she competed for Redfield Farm.

"I've been riding for Emil for about three years now, and it's been a great partnership so far," she explained. ""I've probably shown about 14 or 15 in this show. It's a smaller show, which I love about it, but there is not a whole lot of time for a wardrobe change. I'm keeping busy, that's for sure!"

The third place award in the  $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby went to amateur rider Samantha Schaefer aboard Classified with scores of 90 and 91. Sandy Ferrell and Shadowplay placed fourth with two scores of 87. Amber Harte's scores of 85 and 86 with Stateside were good enough for fifth place, while Taylor Willever and Levianto rounded out the top six with scores of 88 and 80.

The Swan Lake Horse Shows feature USHJA National Hunter Derbies throughout the year, allowing exhibitors to showcase their talented mounts in the prestigious event and gain experience over varied tracks.

"The derbies are great here," noted Kahle. "You get the chance to go in two different rings, and the jumps are nice and welcoming. I've done quite a few young horses in the derby and it's always a really good first experience for them."

The action at the Swan Lake Horse Shows will continue to Saturday throughout the day, including during the $25,000 Blue Rock Classic Grand Prix, which kicks off at 4 p.m. in the Main Grand Prix Ring.

Find more about the Blue Rock Classic online at www.swanlakehorseshows.com. 

RESULTS:  $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

1         502 - DIARIO                              CASSANDRA KAHLE
2         220 - NINO NACHO                   CASSANDRA KAHLE
3         368 - CLASSIFIED                      SAMANTHA SCHAEFER
4         765 - SHADOWPLAY                 SANDRA FERRELL
5         558 - STATESIDE                        AMBER HARTE
6         937 - LEVIANTO                        TAYLOR WILLEVER
7         338 - LA PATRON                       JILL SHULL
8         936 - IRRESISTIBLY SLICK     BRETT SHEAR-HEYMAN
9         818 - ROCKAWAY                      MEGAN YOUNG
10       535 - UBORA                              CASEY MENNA
11       329 - LUSSO                                MEGAN YOUNG
12       668 - MEMPHIS                          BRIAN SHOOK

Chelsea Babcock and Da Vinci won the $2,500 Blue Rock Classic Jumper Derby. (Rebecca Walton/PhelpsSports.com)

Chelsea Babcock and Da Vinci Claim $2500 Blue Rock Classic Jumper Derby Win

Chelsea Babcock has had a successful and busy summer traveling and competing on her own in the northeast for the first time. The Palm Beach Atlantic University senior entered the ring after Olympian Joe Fargis rode Honolulu 111 into a first-place position with a time of 63.501 seconds in the $2,500 Blue Rock Classic Jumper Derby at the Swan Lake Horse Shows.

The amateur rider locked in the time to beat at 57.115 seconds atop her 8-year-old mount, Da Vinci. The remaining four riders were unable edge out her lead of over six seconds, allowing her to secure the win.

"I knew this would be a really good course for him," Babcock said about Da Vinci. "He's really fast and has a big stride. I can leave the strides out, which we did in most lines on this course. He turns really well too, so that makes for pretty quick speed rounds."

Da Vinci is her favorite horse to ride in the speed rounds, but not only because of his haste.

"He's a great speed horse," Babcock continued. "He's my favorite horse to do in the speeds because he is so quick and competitive. He loves to win and always tries so hard."

Babcock had never competed at the Swan Lake Horse Shows until this summer. She made her first appearance in the 2016 St. Christopher's Horse Show that took place May 11-15. She secured two second-place finishes, as well as a fifth atop Da Vinci with double clear rounds in the NAL Junior Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and Low Junior Amateur-Owner Jumpers. The three ribbons earned her the division's championship title.

"This speed derby was awesome," Babcock said about the class. "I love that this is a regional standard show, because I can move my High Amateur horse up into the Welcome and the Grand Prix. It's a great opportunity for me and really why I chose this horse show."

The Florida native plans to graduate next year and is using this summer to help her decide her future in the horse industry.

"I am graduating college next year," Babcock explained. "So this is a test run to see if I will dive fully into the horse industry when I graduate. I was riding with Kristen Vanderveen at Bull Run Jumpers all winter."

Fargis and Honolulu's time of 63.501 seconds edged out Mary Lisa Leffler with to claim second place. Leffler settled for third with a time of 63.642 seconds aboard Amon De Diamante'.

On Saturday, Exhibitors and spectators can enjoy Swan Lake Horse Show's generous hospitality during the night's karaoke party, which kicks off at 6 p.m. after the $25,000 Blue Rock Classic Grand Prix.

Find more about the Blue Rock Classic online at www.swanlakehorseshows.com.

RESULTS: $2500 Blue Rock Classic Jumper Derby

1    977 - DA VINCI    CHELSEA BABCOCK    0   |  57.115
2    693 - HONOLULU 111    JOE FARGIS    0   |  63.501
3    631 - AMON DE DIAMANTE'    MARYLISA LEFFLER    0   |  63.642
4    690 - QUALI QUANTI    KATIE SWINDLER    0   |  63.92
5    546 - DELISIMO    TRACY MAGNESS    0   |  64.877
6    432 - CENTO PER CENTO CG    RILEIGH TIBBOTT    0   |  65.015
7    247 - SHUTTER    TRACY MAGNESS    0   |  66.673
8    913 - MAC    JENNIFER BRENNAN    4   |  68.252