Katie Cooper and Sandlot Top $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Quentin Fall Classic

Press source Phelps Media Group – Jennifer Brennan and Mac Win $2,500 Quentin Fall Classic Open Speed Stake

Littlestown, Pa. – Sept. 2, 2016 – A last-minute entry into the anticipated $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby division proved to be a triumphant decision for Katie Cooper and Sandlot, owned by Cherry Knoll Farm of West Grove, Pennsylvania. The duo earned top honors with a two-round score of 172.5 points to edge out the nearest contender by a point in the Quentin Fall Classic on Friday.

The first class of the day was underway at 8 a.m. in the Annex Ring at Swan Lake Horse Shows. Cooper and her 9-year-old mount entered the arena for the first round in the seventh-slot, jumping every high option available to receive a score of 86 points, giving them a 6-point edge heading into the handy round.

„We’ve been working together for about four years,“ Cooper explained. „Sandlot is very special to me. He’s my favorite all-time horse. He’s really coming into his own. I recently started to do a couple derbies and he seems to be taking to it quite well.“

The Dutch Warmblood came off a three-week vacation to compete in the derby. After taking a couple jumps Thursday, Cooper entered Sandlot in the money class that afternoon.

„Sandlot felt great,“ Cooper shared. „He’s classically a fantastic jumper. He has amazing form. As long as I get him in the vicinity of the jump, he’s a winner.“

She continued, „He likes an understanding ride and a little bit of softness, which I love. He takes you to the jumps. He takes you anywhere in the course, really. He’s powerful and a fantastic jumper. My plan today was to let his talent do the work and ride him the best I could.“

The Lancaster, Pennsylvania native did not only earn the ribbon, but also an embroidered backpack from Noble Outfitters.

„I’m very excited about the backpack,“ Cooper smiled as she held it up proudly. „I love practical things. Any time I win something practical, its a big win for me. I’m thrilled.“

The Caves Farm trainer had a one-point edge over her closest competitor, Alexandra Panetta.

„I’ve known Katie for years,“ Panetta said. „She has brought that horse [Sandlot] along and has done an amazing job with him. I thought she rode awesome and her horse jumps so well.“

Panetta and Gray Street were the first pair of the day to take on the derby course, setting the bar high for competitors that followed with a first-round score of 82.5 points.

After a fantastic handy round that earned her a score of 89 points, she took over the lead with a two-round total of 171.5 points. Cooper was the final rider in the handy round and earned a score that just edged out Panetta to take over the lead.

„I was very proud of my child,“ Panetta laughed as she gave her 7-year-old Oldenburg a big pat on the neck „I thought he was great in the first round. The second round, I just rode him the best I could and he jumped everything well. I was really proud of him.“

Panetta and her grey gelding have been building upon a partnership that began two years ago. After seeing Gray Street in a video taken in Germany and receiving a friend’s approval, Panetta imported the horse. Since then, she’s witnessed him grow from 15.3hh to 17.1hh, has worked him up through the ranks and has a goal of showing him in the First Year Green Working Hunters in 2017.

„It was a really fun course,“ Panetta expressed. „He’s done a few derbies and he was totally game. He’s really brave and the kind of horse that will try anything. If I put him in a jumper class, he would try it! It may take us 20 minutes, because he’s slow, but he’d try.“

She continued, „It’s really fun showing here. It’s nice for me, because I have an opportunity to do things I don’t always do. I know that the course is nice, the footing is nice and the jumps are nice.“

Sharing her sentiments, Cooper added, „I live very close, only about 45 minutes away. It’s so convenient to show here. The footing and the grounds are great. The jumps are nice and you know your horse will have a nice outing.“

The 2016 Quentin Fall Classic will continue through the weekend. On Saturday, September 2 Swan Lake Horse Shows will feature the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic, $1,000 NAL/WIHS/M&S Adult Amateur Hunter Classic and $1,000 NAL/WIHS/M&S Children’s Hunter Classic.

RESULTS – $2,500 USHJA NATIONAL HUNTER DERBY
1 SANDLOT / KATIE COOPER / 86; 86.5; 172.5
2 GRAY STREET / ALEXANDRA PANETTA / 82.5; 89; 171.5
3 ADVENTURE / MATTHIAS HOLLBERG / 80; 83; 163
4 VALIANT / MELISSA MARSHALL / 72; 80; 152
5 BOSSA NOVA / JULIE OLIVER / 59; 90; 149
6 TORY BURCH / RACHEL PEKALA / 66; 0; 66
7 MEMPHIS / CAROLINE FLOOD / 64; 0; 64

Jennifer Brennan and Mac Win $2,500 Quentin Fall Classic Open Speed Stake

The $2,500 1.30m Quentin Fall Classic Open Speed class wrapped up Friday’s action at the Swan Lake Horse Show, and it was Jennifer Brennan and Shannondell Farm’s Mac who bested the field with their quick effort to earn the win.

The early leaders, Matthias Hollberg and Caroline Quanbeck’s Silou Des Trourelles, set the time to beat at 70.84 seconds.

„Silou Des Trourelles usually does the Junior Jumpers, but his rider couldn’t make it to the show“ Hollberg explained. „I know the horse more from the ground than in the saddle, but he was a good boy today. He was right on and wanted to jump around fast and clean, so that was great. He comes out quiet every day; he’s a nice quiet chap and a friendly guy.“

Brennan and Mac unseated the duo with their efficient round, stopping the clocks in 69.36 seconds to take over the lead.

„We’re hoping to make Mac’s debut in the grand prix tomorrow,“ Brennan said. „We didn’t want to undo him today by going too fast, but he has such a big step and is so naturally fast. We were tidy and rode direct, and it worked out. He is very brave, and today was fun. It was a great win and a great place to win at.“

Brennan, who has ridden Mac for about two years, said his owner saw the big gelding in a field, loved him and purchased half of the big gelding when he was just 3 years old.

„Mac is super, super talented and very sensitive,“ Brennan explained. „He’s really starting to come together now as an 8-year-old. The partnership aspect is very important with him; he has to trust you. He’s very hot and sensitive, and he’s gigantic, so you would think he would be cold. He’s an odd combination of gigantic and sensitive, but he’s a fun guy. It’s been very rewarding starting from little jumps and getting to this point and putting it together.“

In addition to her blue ribbon, Brennan also took home fourth place on another mount, Dwight, who is also owned by Shannondell Farm. Although their time of 70.03 seconds was fast enough for second place, an unfortunate knockdown put them in fourth with 4 faults. The duo slid in behind Mary Lisa Leffler and Patty Foster’s Hope Town, whose clear time of 71.63 seconds would earn them third.

Brennan, who is based in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, said she loves living close to the showgrounds and having the opportunity to show at Swan Lake.

„We love coming here,“ Brennan said. „It’s super peaceful here, and I’ve always liked that. The footing is fantastic, and the staff has always been really kind and helpful.“

Earlier in the day, during the $1,000 1.30m Open Jumper, Miranda Scott and her own Quick Latinus rode away with the win after turning in a double-clear effort. Their jump-off time of 39.95 seconds would hold for the lead, leaving Hollberg and Courtney Ramsay’s Czechmate in second and Scott’s other entry, Melanie Roy’s Montoya, in third.

The action at the Swan Lake Quentin Fall Classic will continue on Saturday with the highlight $25,000 Quentin Fall Classic Grand Prix.

Find more about the Quentin Fall Classic online at www.swanlakehorseshows.com.

Source: Press release