Kelley Farmer and Mindful Take Fourth Consecutive Derby Win

Today served as a day of firsts at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) as the venue hosted their inaugural $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the first $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix of the series. Kelley Farmer and Kensel, LLC’s Mindful took the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby in fashionable form, which is Mindful’s fourth consecutive derby win. Jordan Coyne and her own Cascada topped the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix. Tryon Spring 5 continues with competition tomorrow highlighting the „Saturday Night Lights“ $50,000 Tryon Grand Prix beginning at 6:30pm and the $50,000 WCHR Open Hunter Classic starting 1pm on Sunday, May 17. The Tryon Spring Series continues through June 7.

Kelley Farmer and Mindful led from start to finish in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby with an overall score of 380.5 to best the class of 20 entries. Farmer and Mindful laid down their usual smooth and crisp rides to earn a 181 in the first round and a 199.5 in the second handy round.

„He absolutely tries his heart out. He wants to win that ribbon as much as you do when you go into the ring,“ commented Farmer about her successful relationship with longtime partner, Mindful. „He knows his job and he’s just a total class act.“

The duo took each of the high options during their handy round, greatly improving their final score with the additional points awarded for their decision to do so. Mindful, a true competitor in the ring, made the difficult rollback turns and large options look simple and easy.

„We’re trying to save him for Derby Finals in Lexington, KY, later this year. This weekend will help to prep for Devon next week. We learned in Florida this past season that he just loves to work. We tried to give him time off, and he wasn’t happy. He wants to be ridden and wants to win as much as anyone out there,“ said Larry Glefke, Farmer’s trainer.

Farmer had an extremely successful night piloting three other horses in the class to top ten finishes. She placed third aboard Derby Hill’s Point Being, fifth aboard Avatar Real Estate LLC’s Dalliance and seventh aboard Glefke, Hill & Kensel LLC’s In Private. Farmer currently has six mounts entered in Sunday’s $50,000 WCHR Open Hunter Classic, which was the reason her team made the trip to TIEC this week.

„We always feel like when there is a support of our sport, it’s our job to be here competing,“ she explained. „We don’t see that kind of money and support for our sport very often and when it is there, we are big believers in whether you have to travel or not, when someone finds a way to support the sport like that, whether it be a derby or a classic, you need to be there.“

Final Results for $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
1. Mindful, Kelley Farmer, Kensel, LLC: 181/199.5/380.5
2. Sterling, Liza Boyd, Pony Lane Farm: 172/205/377
3. Point Being, Kelley Farmer, Derby Hill: 180/183.5/363.5
4. Any Given Sunday, Hunter Holloway, Hays Investment Corp: 153/203/356
5. Dalliance, Kelley Farmer, Avatar Real Estate LLC: 162/193/355
6. Poker Face, Jennifer Bliss, Harris Hill Farm, LLC: 165.5/187/352.5
7. In Private, Kelley Farmer, Glefke, Hill & Kensel, LLC: 171/175/346
8. Allawishus, Daniel Geitner, Kathryn Mittauer: 153/187/340

Jordan Coyne and Cascada Win First $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix of the Season at TIEC
Jordan Coyne, 23, of New Port Richie, FL, had two excellent trips aboard Cascada in the inaugural $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at TIEC to take home a well-deserved win. Coyne and the 2007 Rhinelander mare (Christiano x Carmina) are new to the 1.45m level and Coyne was pleased with her mare, as she entered the class looking to gain experience and came out with an unexpected win.

„We just got her in November so I’m still figuring her out. She’s coming along really nicely. We showed in Ocala [FL] over the winter, starting in the Mediums and then moved to the Highs and we finished in the High Amateurs there,“ explained Coyne. „This was her first real 1.45m track, and I am just really happy with her.“

The class of 13 entries saw six clear rounds, moving riders towards a competitive jump-off where Coyne ultimately put in the fastest clear round, finishing in 39.965 seconds. The Guilherme Jorge course tested riders in all of the right places, and Coyne believes the series will continue to be a growing success at TIEC.

„This was a perfect track for this class. I thought it wasn’t too big but it was technical and you really had to pay attention the whole time to what was coming next. I thought for the class, it was perfect,“ she commented. „I’m so glad they’re offering this class. It’s a great to have it here, and we’ll keep doing the Under 25 Grand Prix throughout the rest of our stay. She obviously likes it and maybe some of the High Amateur Classics too.“

Cascada’s impressive performance today has given Coyne confidence that the mare is ready to tackle some of the bigger tracks the duo will face as their season continues this year. As the relationship between the two is still budding, their win today felt like an extraordinary accomplishment for Coyne.

„I went in knowing that I wouldn’t be disappointed if we dropped a few rails because like I said, this is her first real class at this level and I was going more for miles than anything and when I finished the last jump and realized I was clean I was just ecstatic. Completely above all of my expectations.“

Bryn Sadler took both second and third place in the class aboard Bon Giorno in 41.378 seconds and Mullentine Imperial in 42.104 seconds respectively.

Final Results for $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix
1. CASCADA, 2007 Rheinlander mare by Christiano x Carmina
JORDAN COYNE, Jordan Coyne, 0/0/39.965
2. BON GIORNO, 1999 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Acacio 948 x Bon Ami
BRYN SADLER, Showcase 81, LLC: 0/0/41.378
3. MULLENTINE IMPERIAL, 2005 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Corland x Mullentine Highland Imp BRYN SADLER, Showcase 81, LLC: 0/0/42.104
4. I LOVE LUCY, 2005 Slovakian Warmblood mare by Corrado II x Laura
HUNTER HOLLOWAY, Hays Investment Corporation: 0/8/37.964
5. TITUS 2:11, Holsteiner gelding by Coleman x Putina
JARED PETERSEN, Derek Petersen: 0/12/43.204
6. JAGGER, 2002 Westphalian gelding by Baldini II
CLAYTON RUSSELL, Greer Hindle: 4/72.121
7. CORALINA, 2006 Holsteiner mare by Calato x Giant Tschica
HAYLEY WATERS, Dana Waters: 4/73.047
8. CASSEVEL, 2007 Holsteiner gelding by Cassini II x Tamara IX
HUNTER HOLLOWAY, Hays Investment Corp: 8/74.018

For more information on TIEC and a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com

Source: Press release