Bridgehampton, NY - Danielle Cooper, 19, of Oyster Bay Cove, NY, and Kosta captured the $25,000 Carolex Show Jumping Derby at the Hampton Classic Horse Show on Sunday morning.

The top 30 horses from Friday's $10,000 Sotheby's International Realty Welcome Stake qualified for the Derby. A total of 11 horse-and-rider combinations made it to the jump-off, but only the top three negotiated double clears. Tori Corts went first on Ultimo Van Ter Moude and set the pace with a clear round in a time of 36.176 seconds. The next two riders had rails and then it was time for Cooper to test the Guilherme Jorge designed course.

"I watched the first one go and she was fast and clear, so it was a good gauge for me," said Cooper. "My plan was just to go fast and clear. There was one purple jump that is at an angle and normally I knock it down, but I was lucky and this time I left it up. We hit the last jump too, but it managed to stay in the cup and not roll out. He was great."

Luck and planning seemed to work as the pair's fault free time of 34.246 seconds put them on top with seven more competitors to ride. Karen Polle and Cachette Z had the next clear and threatened Cooper's lead, but they just missed, crossing the timers in 34.492. There was no change in the standings as the remaining five riders all incurred faults. Cooper finished first, Polle was second and Corts took third place.

"This is definitely my biggest win at the Classic," said Cooper. "He was perfect."

The win in the Carolex Derby also gave Cooper and Kosta the Amateur-Owner Jumper 1.40m Championship title.

The Hampton Classic Horse Show is one of the most prestigious horse shows in the nation and features competitors at every level from young children in leadline to Olympic veterans. The Classic continues through Sunday when it culminates with the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix and FEI World Cup Qualifier.

For those who can't make it to the show grounds, WVVH-TV, the official Long Island television station of the Hampton Classic, is broadcasting up to five hours of competition and highlights each day during the Classic. These broadcasts can also be seen online at www.wvvh.tv.

Hampton Classic Horse Show, Inc. is a 501.c.3 charitable corporation. It benefits Southampton Hospital and has contributed more than $1.5 million to the hospital since it began.

For more information on the Hampton Classic Horse Show, please visit the Hampton Classic website at www.hamptonclassic.com or call (631) 537-3177.

ENDS