The Old Salem Farm Fall Classic, Week III of the Fall Series kicked off with full hunter, jumper and equitation divisions. Young professional Alexandra Hird (USA) from Frenchtown, New Jersey, locked in her first victory of the week in the $1,000 1.30m Open Jumper Stake, presented by Voltaire Design while Holly Orlando bested the over-fences portion of the combined Performance Hunters 3’3” and 3’6” division.
Alexandra Hird on Adare Ya To. Photo by SEL Photography.
A total of 39 combinations lined up to contest Nancy Wallis’ $1,000 1.30m Open Jumper track, with well-known names such as McLain Ward and Peter Lutz making their series debut alongside those who have competed over the last two weeks. In an extremely competitive class, 18 entries produced double-clear rounds, but none could catch Hird. She and the Veritas Farms LLC’s 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse entry Adare Ya To (Chacoa x Cool Calm Scarlett) flew through the timers in 28.057 seconds, topping the second-place finisher by almost a full second.
“We had a very nice school in the first round, and then I really put the gas pedal on for the jump-off,” Hird explained. “I got moving quite forward at the beginning of the course, and there were a couple of tricky elements but overall, it felt great.”
“I really enjoy riding on the grass here at Old Salem,” she continued. “We competed in the grand prix during the first week of the series and that was one of the biggest tracks we have jumped, so we just took a small step back today and I think the round was an excellent confidence-builder for both of us.”
Left to right: Veritas Farm team Stephanie Presuto, Juliet Matinho, and Travis Bikowitz, with Amanda Terbrusch and Alexandra Hird on Adare Ya To. Not pictured but an integral part of the team is August Torsilieri. Photo by SEL Photography.
Hird plans to finish out the week with the $10,000 Old Salem Farm Classic on Saturday before heading to Tryon.
Ilan Bluman (COL) slid into the second place position with Cap Diamond D’Hof Ten Bos. He and Elle Haymond’s 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion (Diamant De Semilly x Loretta) produced a fault-free effort in 28.971 seconds. Previous class winner Jordan Coyle (IRL) rounded out the top three on Centriko Volo, an 8-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Centadel x Dolcetta), owned by Celtic Park LLC.
Final Results – $1,000 1.30m Open Jumper Stake, presented by Voltaire Design
1 ADARE YA TO: 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding by Chacoa x Cool Calm Scarlett
ALEXANDRA HIRD(USA), Veritas Farms LLC: 0/0/28.057
2 CAP DIAMOND D’HOF TEN BOS: 2008 Belgian Warmblood stallion by Diamant De Semilly x Loretta
ILAN BLUMAN(COL), Elle Haymond: 0/0/28.971
3 CENTRIKO VOLO: 2012 Oldenburg gelding by Centadel x Dolcetta
JORDAN COYLE(IRL), Celtic Park LLC: 0/0/28.993
4 EXCELLENT: 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Cicero Z Van Paemel x Royal Queen
PETER LUTZ(USA), Bosch Sport Horses: 0/0/29.002
5 CHICAGO HOF EVERSEM Z: 2008 Zangersheide gelding by Con Spirito R x Guernica De Safray
PETER LUTZ(USA), Swede Ventures LLC: 0/0/29.580
6 ARISTOT: 2010 Selle Francais gelding by C Indoctro II x Laristote
ILAN BLUMAN(COL), Elle Haymond: 0/0/30.130
7 QUIDAM MB: 2005 Oldenburg gelding by Quid’s Rubin x Honey Moon
ADRIENNE STERNLICHT(USA), Starlight Farms, LLC: 0/0/30.164
8 HOLLERNO: 2012 KWPN gelding by Baltic VDL x Ivalerna
PETER LUTZ(USA), Libertas Farm LLC: 0/0/30.608
9 GIDORA S: 2011 Warmblood mare by Elvis Ter Putte x Webora S
GRACE C BUSCH(USA), Grace C Busch: 0/0/30.617