Mandy Porter Takes Grand Prix, Missy Froley Tops Hunter Derby in Central CA Series

It was a nail-biting competition in the CWD Wine Country Grand Prix Saturday afternoon in the beautiful Fairway Field Grand Prix arena. With 17 competitive horse and rider teams and a course from Brazillian course designer Marina Azevedo, it was sure to be a great class.

Mandy Porter and Coral Reef Follow Me II win the CWD Wine Country Grand Prix. Photo by Alden Corrigan

The first round contained 16 efforts, including a line from a vertical to a vertical – oxer – vertical triple combination across the diagonal. The final four obstacles were on the rail by the Lounge, with a line to an oxer – vertical combination, then finishing over an oxer towards the in-gate.

Each combination had a unique experience and set of trials around the course. A few of the teams’ strides became flat and had obstacle three down, a vertical headed toward the berm, and the following fence four, the oxer at the end of the arena. The triple combination tested many pairs as well, as is expected when there is so little room for error.

“The course was fair for the group, but I am surprised with the results,” said Azevedo. “There was not one spot in particular that was difficult in the course, each rider had their own difficulties.”

Guy Thomas and Jonkheer Z take second in the CWD Wine Country Grand Prix Photo by Alden Corrigan

 It wasn’t until Guy Thomas aboard Jonkheer Z, who came in 10th in the order, produced a four fault score, which maintained the lead going into the second half of the class. Mandy Porter and Coral Reef Follow Me II came in two horses after Thomas to secure the win with the only clean round.

The riders also were surprised with the results, having walked the field with more confidence than what was produced.

“Walking the course, I thought that there would be more clean rounds,” said Porter. “It probably rode how it walked, but I didn’t think it was tricky or difficult when we walked.”

Mandy Porter and Coral Reef Follow Me II win the CWD Wine Country Grand Prix. From left: Humberto Gandara, Gwendolyn Sontheim, CWD Representative Genoa Capito and Susan Hellman with Mandy Porter aboard Coral Reef Follow Me II. Photo by Flying Horse Photography

Second place finisher, Guy Thomas, also thought the course was fair.

“I thought it was a very good course,” said Thomas. “Marina is one of the best, she never sets traps or goofy challenges, but unfortunately we didn’t get a jump off.”

Place	Number	Horse	Rider	Faults	Time
1	105	Coral Reef Follow Me II	Mandy Porter	0	81.154
2	202	Jonkheer Z	Guy Thomas	4	77.162
3	244	Milano	Mandy Porter	4	78.434
4	326	Colin	Michelle Kerivan	8	83.686
5	218	Osophia	Kevin Winkel	8	77.69
6	443	Venice B	Daniel Zilla	8	78.454
7	455	Lady Capital	Hannah Loly	8	80.893
8	125	Adamus	Leslie Wright	9	82.667
9	240	WT Ca Pow! (7)	Mandy Porter	12	80.701
10	563	Zandor	Matias Fernandez	12	80.838
11	313	Pasilla	Sarah Ballou	12	80.929
12	134	Conejito	Carol Wright	18	83.153

Missy Froley and Double Play celebrate their victory. Photo by Alden Corrigan

The USHJA National Hunter Derby Presented by Asuncion Valley Farms kicked off the weekend’s festivities with 40 starters in the class and a complimentary wine reception during the Derby in the West Palms Lounge. The gorgeous course was created by designer Mike Gallaway and took the riders and their mounts on a nice track around the big grass field.

It was an impressive two rounds, with strong derby riders facing off for the top placings. Missy Froley and Gail Morey’s Double Play topped the field with a score of 186, just one point ahead of John French (who had been in Kentucky for the National Horse Show all week) and Meadow Farm’s Soldier, who came in second. Nancy Free and Catherine Antonelli’s Heir Apparent rounded out the top three with a score of 175.5. Just behind them in fourth with 175 points sat John French and Meadow Farm’s Maritime and in fifth with 174 points was Nicole Dicorti Bush and Misa Kokka’s Ucello.

Missy Froley and Gail Morey’s Double Play win the USHJA National Hunter Derby Presented by Asuncion Valley Farms. Photo by Alden Corrigan

USHJA National Hunter Derby Presented by Asuncion Valley Farms Results:

Place	Number	Horse	Owner	Rider	Score
1	189	Double Play	Gail Morey	Missy Froley	186
2	554	Soldier	Meadow Farm LLC	John French	185
3	505	Heir Apparent	Catherine Antonelli	Nancy Free	175.5
4	553	Maritime	Meadow Farm LLC	John French	175
5	117	Ucello	Misa Kokka	Nicole Dicorti Bush	174
6	427	Duck Duck Goose	Amy Bean	Nicole Bourgeois	170
7	410	Tivoli Z	Laura Hite	John French	169
8	559	Bay Lane	Noelle Wolf	John French	168
9	340	Askarii	Lauren Burke	Lauren Burke	144
10	497	Rutherford	Michelle Filanc	Philip Cillis	134
11	578	Victoria’s Secret	Tiffany Sandor	Lauren Burke	131
12	529	Catalina	Lori Johnston	Alanna Snowden	111.5