Lexington, Ky.—Nov. 4
Looking for the COTH Commentary from the flat phase and Round 2? CLICK over to here.
ROUND 1 COMMENTARY
Here’s the final standby after Round 1 of the ASPCA Maclay Final:
118 Jordyn Rose Freedman
129 Madison Goetzmann
36 Annabel Revers
72 Paige Matthies
44 Alexandra Worthington
95 Coco Fath
166 Grady Lyman
29 Ellie Ferrigno
16 Abigail Brayman
169 Cooper Dean
121 Alexandra Pielet
73 Natalie Stoyko
75 Daisy Farish
27 Samantha Cohen
41 Taylor St. Jacques
155 Madeline Schaefer
161 Hannah Doherty
20 Tanner Korotkin
142 Elizabeth McKim
160 Yasmim Rizvi
6 Emma Crosbie
69 Natalie Jayne
139 Chloe Wilkenfeld
17 Katherine Dash
116 Caroline Passarelli
These 25 riders will return at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4 for the flat phase, then the judges will pick a group of them to jump in Round 2. We’ll be live-blogging throughout the flat phase and Round 2 to bring you all the up-to-date news. Scroll down for the round-by-round commentary of Round 1.
Jordyn Rose Freedman in the lead of the ASPCA Maclay after Round 1. Photo by Ann Glavan
We’re here in Lexington, Ky., yet again for the ASPCA Maclay Final, where 177 of the country’s top junior riders aspire to win one of the most elusive equitation titles.
We’ll try and post every 10 riders or so, with updates on how the course is riding, who has done well, who hasn’t, etc. Please don’t expect an account of every rider’s trip, but we’ll try to keep you up-to-date! Scroll down to see the most recent posting.
Disclaimer: We’re providing this as a service to those who are interested, and we’re just recording our observations. We’re not judges, just reporters who have watched the Maclay Finals in their entirety for the past 15 years. You may not agree with our notes, and that’s fine—we’re not putting them out there as the authoritative word, but as information for those interested. That said, read on!
RIDERS 1-10
Emily Williams started us off with a very nice, forward-ridden round. She had a hard run at the last jump, but was very precise and determined in her negotiation of the track. Camille Leblond got deep to Fence 3 and had some obvious pace adjustments, but no major errors. Luke Rajan ran into trouble at the triple, having an awkward jump in and a rail there, but he finished up well. Adelaide Toensing had a solid round with just a few swaps and a few distances just off the mark. Taylor Griffiths had a lovely ride up the first line, but her horse got a bit wide-eyed and wiggly up the verticals-to-combination line. He then got a bit keen toward the end of the course and she had to make some obvious adjustments. Emma Crosbie had a lovely, solid round. Brooke Brombach got a shade deep to the triple bar, then had a refusal at the triple combination. She finished up fine. Rawleigh Harris rode very forward and determinedly, but lacked a bit of the polish and subtle adjustments that the judges will be looking for. Devin Seek got deep the Fence 1 and had it down. She finished well though. Maverick Helmer’s horse looked quite keen and a bit strong, but he managed it well. He had a few hard rubs, but rode with a lot of poise.
RIDERS 11-20
Jessica Sanders got a bit deep to Fence 1 then had to work to get the five strides to Fence 2. She then had two refusals at Fence 3 to end her day prematurely. Catalina Peralta had quite a nice round, with no major errors. Jenna Van Pelt’s horse spooked at the far end of the ring and she had to circle on her way to Fence 4. She then circled again before the triple bar, which counted as her second stop and led to her being excused from the ring. Tessa P. Brown had a refusal at Fence 6, the vertical after the one-stride. She finished up fine. Lielle Rhodes had a swap in the first line and a few rubs, then a rail in the triple combination. Abigail Brayman had a really nice round, with very well-ridden turns. She turned inside from Fence 9 to 10. Katherine Dash had a nice, solid round. Emma Wujek rode very nicely and just had a few inconsistent distances. Addison Howe had a rail at Fence 3 and a few hard rubs later, then another rail and a break to the trot on the way to the last fence. Tanner Korotkin had a really lovely round, with very accurate turns and a lovely consistent pace.
RIDERS 21-30
Devon Thomas had a nice, solid round with no major errors. Devon Weigers had a stop at Fence 3 and then another at Fence 6 to end her day. Lanie Walkenbach had a refusal at the triple bar, but finished fine. Juliette Joseph had a bit of a sticky ride up the first line, and a few rubs, but finished with a nice gallop to the last oxer. Sophia Silveira turned in a solid round. Jennifer Staniloff’s horse has a huge, lopey stride and a lofty jump. She makes a few obvious adjustments here and there, but has a nice round. Samantha Cohen had a very nice round with no major errors. Abigail Grace Kelley had a hard rub at Fence 1 but then a nice round, with some decisive, forward riding. She did have a bit of a haphazard turn from 9 to 10, with a cross-canter. Ellie Ferrigno turned in quite a slick round with well executed inside turns and a nice, consistent pace. Jordi Gray’s horse got a bit tense and wiggly in a few spots and she had some rubs, but she rode well.
Ellie Ferrigno. Photo by Ann Glavan
RIDERS 31-40
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Addison Piper had a rail in the one-stride and a few longish distances. Grace Boston rode very well but had a rail in the one-stride. She made some very nice turns. Emma Ellis had some rubs but was solid. Ava Stearns had quite a nice round, with slick inside turns and a very consistent rhythm to the pace. Rachael Davis had a bit of a long distance to Fence 9 and lost her pace on one turn. George H. Morris says she rides “a little behind for me.” Anabel Barnett’s horse got green and wiggly to a few fences and had a rail. Annabel Revers rode the first line beautifully and had a very nice trip after that with a crisp, forward pace. “Excellent,” says George Morris. Savannah Andrews got deep to Fence 1 then had a nice trip on a very round-jumping horse. “She’s getting the job done,” said Anne Kursinski. Tessa Queirolo had a bit of trouble getting up the first line, but went on to have a solid round with no major errors. Caitlyn Sheffer’s horse almost trotted on the way to Fence 3 then got very spooky up the line with the one-stride. She finished fine, but the horse looked quite impressed throughout the course.
Annabel Revers. Photo by Ann Glavan
RIDERS 41-50
Elizabeth Nestor had a rail at Fence 3 and then another at 6. Taylor St Jacques has all eyes on her, as the winner of the Dover Saddlery/U.S. Hunter Seat Medal and the WIHS Equitation Classic this fall. “She sets her pace, but effortlessly,” said George Morris. St. Jacques rode a very lovely round, with all the style and subtlety that helps her win so much. We’ll see her ride again for sure. Morris and Kursinski noted how balanced and centered she was. “Discretion and execution,” Morris said. Briley Koerner had a solid round with no errors, but her adjustments aren’t as seamless as they could be. Clea Caddell got deep to Fence 4 and had a rail there, but finished up fine. Alexandra Worthington got the first line done very nicely. Her horse jumps absolutely adorably, and she has a nice position. She rides boldly to the last oxer. “Look at that. Beautiful,” said Morris. Jessica West’s horse got a little looky to the third fence and lost momentum, then stopped at Fence 6. She regrouped and finished, but the horse was quite tense and nervous. Sara McCloskey had a refusal at the triple bar but regrouped and finished fine. Sophia Pilla had a nice, solid round with no errors. Alexandria Beneson has a horse with a big white face. He’s a bit tense, though, and pulls a rail at 1 and then is a bit hesitant off the ground in a few places. Rylee Shufelt has a nice, solid round with just some cross-canter.
Alexandra Worthington. Photo by Ann Glavan
RIDERS 51-60
Sarah Turri doesn’t have her horse in front of her leg as much as she could and has to really ride up to a few of the fences. Ada Rohan had a nice solid round. Breanna Bunevacz had a nice, solid round with no major errors and a nice, forward pace. Lolly McLellan rode a very nice round. Dominique Gonzalez had a few inconsistent distances. Carter Anderson’s horse took a strong dislike to Fence 6 and ducked out abruptly. She finished up fine. Lauren Lindner had a nice solid round. Abigail Lefkowitz’s horse looked overwhelmed and stopped twice at the first fence. Hailey Johns’s horse also stopped at Fence 1 and then refused to go forward for a bit, eliminating them. Bay Noland-Armstrong’s horse has a big, lofty jump, but she rides very precisely and nicely with a good pace. Sophia Davies’ horse got a bit worried and swapped off a few times and got wiggly, but she completed fine.
And that brings us to our first break, with 60 riders having gone.
FIRST STANDBY
36 Annabel Revers
44 Alexandra Worthington
29 Ellie Ferrigno
16 Abigail Brayman
27 Samantha Cohen
41 Taylor St. Jacques
20 Tanner Korotkin
6 Emma Crosbie
17 Katherine Dash
53 Breanna Bunevacz
59 Bay Noland-Armstrong
43 Ava Stearns
43 Briley Koerner
53 Lolly McLellan
12 Catalina Peralta
49 Rylee Shufelt
2 Maverick Helmer
18 Emma Wujek
21 Devon Thomas
32 Grace Boston
37 Savannah Andrews
RIDERS 61-70
Sophie Silviera had a very uncooperative horse and had two stops at Fence 1. Rachel McMullen had a very deep distance to the last oxer and went through it a bit. Meghan Knapic had a nice solid round on a very cute horse. Sophie Lang has been blogging for the Chronicle! Her horse is a bit backed off, but she gets him going. She’s weak to a few fences and hangs up over the triple bar a bit, but finishes well. Jordan Allen rides very nicely, but is a hair slow in pace. Emma Kurtz has quite a lovely round. Kate Abajian had a really solid first three fences followed by a bit of a deep spot to Fence 4. The rest of her round was quite smooth. Anna Robson’s horse made quite an effort at the triple bar but otherwise had a nice trip. Natalie Jayne turned in quite a nice trip, with an authoritative, forward pace. She took a hair of a flyer to the last oxer, but made it look pretty good. Sarah Boral’s horse is one of those taking an exception to approaching Fence 1, and her day at the Maclay ends without jumping a fence.
RIDERS 71-80
Sydney Hott’s horse stopped at Fence 1 and then again at Fence 3. Paige Matthies had quite a lovely round, and I expect we’ll see her ride again. Natalie Stoyko had a beautiful trip as well. Isabelle Song’s horse got wiggly and crooked in the lines and she caught a long one to the last. Daisy Farish had a really lovely round. Havilande Hendrix’s horse stopped very abruptly at Fence 3 and then stopped again. Brooke Morin had a very nice round. Nina Columbia had a bit of an awkward Fence 1, but had a nice rest of the trip. Katrina Tiktinsky rode well. “She’s a horsebacker. She’s relaxed, she’s effective,” George Morris said. Haley Redifer had quite a nice round, with some cross-canter but a nice consistent pace.
Paige Matthies. Photo by Ann Glavan
RIDERS 81-90
Claire Stockard had to chase her horse a bit to the first few fences and had a rail at Fence 1, then had a stop at Fence 4. Claire Archer had a nice round, though her turn to the last oxer was a bit unbalanced. Emery Volkert had a rough ride up the first line and a few other sticky fences but finished OK. Laila Klinsmann had a nice round with just a few inconsistent distances. Alexis Ortiz’s horse jumps quite big and round, but they have a rail at Fence 4, then an awkward jump at the triple bar that caused her to circle. She finished up fine. Mackenzie Hogan had two stops at Fence 1 to end her day early. Abigail Tinsley’s horse got looky up the first line, then stopped at Fence 4. She regrouped, but had a rail in the in-and-out. She finished fine. Mackenzie Altheimer caught the first-fenceitis that seems to be going around, and had a quit there. She jumped it fine on the second approach, but then had a rough fence at 3. She finished the course fine. Olivia Combs’s pace was a bit slow and she had a rail at Fence 4. Ashley Eklund had a stop in the in-and-out, and then a few sticky fences.
RIDERS 91-100
Nicholas Pongracz gave his horse a nice, positive ride and had a solid round with just a few bobbles. Caroline Ellis had a really nice, solid round. Stella Buckingham had a nice solid round on an adorable chestnut. Kierstin Antoniadis had a nice positive ride up the first line, but then had a very deep distance to the vertical at 11. Coco Fath had a really lovely round; I’m sure she’ll ride again tomorrow. Grace Spiegel had a quit at the triple bar then regrouped and finished up fine. Kathryn Hall had a nice, solid round. Trinity Hammerschmidt rode very nicely and accurately. Irene Elise Powlick had a few inconsistent distances and rubs, but an otherwise solid round. Madison Busey had a rail at Fence 1 and a few sticky fences up the first line. Then she stopped at the in-and-out, and on her second attempt fell off.
RIDERS 101-110
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Ellie Morehouse had a few deep distances and a rail, but finished well. Abigail Holloway had a rail at Fence 1 then the horse spun quickly on the way to Fence 3. She regrouped and finished. Charlotte Meyers had a nice round with no major errors. Logan Tomaselli was a bit under-paced in a few places and deep to the last oxer. Mary Katherine Hargreaves had a few inconsistent distances but a pleasant round. Emma Callanan had a hard rub at Fence 9 and the rail came down. Ella Bostwick added a stride in the line from 1 to 2, then got going and finished up well. Kaitlyn Lovingfoss had a rail at Fence 1 and a deep distance here and there, but was quite good. Abigail Poss’s horse got a bit wandery in the lines but she rode well and finished fine. Jessica Stone had a get-it-done attitude up the first line and rode with a nice forward, consistent pace with no major mistakes.
RIDERS 111-120
Mimi Gochman was having a lovely round but caught a really deep distance into the triple combination. Madison Mitchell’s horse was quite tense and they had a rail, but she rode tactfully. Emily Perkins’s gray horse jumps adorably. She has a few rubs, but an otherwise quite nice round. Lily Walton got very deep to Fence 1 but had a nice rest of her trip. Caroline Passarelli had a really nice trip! Her horse swapped off after the last jump, though. Annalise Reed sadly had two stops at the fourth jump. Jordyn Rose Freedman rode beautifully up the first line and then had a lovely rest of the trip. Avery Erickson misjudged the distance to Fence 9 and the horse stopped, then had another stop there to end their day. Natalie Templeton had a nice, consistent round.
THE SECOND STANDBY
118 Jordyn Rose Freedman
36 Annabel Revers
72 Paige Matthies
44 Alexandra Worthington
95 Coco Fath
29 Ellie Ferrigno
16 Abigail Brayman
73 Natalie Stoyko
75 Daisy Farish
27 Samantha Cohen
41 Taylor St. Jacques
20 Tanner Korotkin
6 Emma Crosbie
69 Natalie Jayne
17 Katherine Dash
116 Caroline Passarelli
52 Breanna Bunevacz
114 Emily Perkins
59 Bay Noland-Armstrong
66 Emma Kurtz
33 Ava Stearns
42 Briley Koerner
53 Lolly Mc Lellan
12 Catalina Peralta
78 Nina Columbia
RIDERS 121-130
Alexandra Pielet had quite a nice round. Erika Jakobson had a nice, solid round with no major mistakes. Owen McWilliams got a bit deep to Fence 4 his horse drifted to the left over some jumps. He rode very elegantly, however. Augusta Iwasaki’s horse backpedaled on the way to the vertical at 6 after the in-and-out, but she rode him very positively and they jumped it. She finished up fine. Raleigh Hiler was quiet to 1 then had to ride up the line, then finished up with a nice rhythm. Sophee Steckbeck got deep to 1 and 2 and had rails there, then had a nice second half of her course. Madeline Vorhies was just a bit inconsistent in distances but had a nice, solid round. Hope King had a rail at the second jump and was a shade deep to the last oxer. Madison Goetzmann rode a really accurate, precise round with lovely turns and a great, consistent pace. She did have a hard rub in the triple combination. Madelyn Porter had trouble getting to the first jump, but once she got going, went well.
RIDERS 131-140
Ava Ellis’ horse peeked at the ASPCA wall at Fence 6 and propped, then stopped again, ending her day. Katie Schell rode positively up to Fence 2, but then had a miscommunication at Fence 3 and came off over the horse’s head. She pulled the bridle off on the way down, but her horse very sensibly just started walking out of the ring and was caught quickly. Alexa Aureliano was fine with a few rubs. Morgan Tabler was very sticky to Fence 1 but then got going. She had a hard rub at Fence 9, but finished up fine. Nicolas Gamboa had a rail at Fence 1 with his adorable dark gray, then had an awkward jump out of the one-stride. Katie Pelzel had two refusals early in the course to end her day. Miles Holman came off when her horse stopped at the C element of the triple combination. Amanda Pennington had a really nice, consistent round with a lovely pace. Chloe Wilkenfeld had a really nice round. Ally Archer had a lovely first line, but were a tad underpaced to the triple bar and hung up over it Then she had a stop at B of the triple and fell off.
RIDERS 141-150
Ivey Burns rode very positively and had a nice round other than a quiet distance to the ninth fence and a rub there. Elizabeth McKim had a really solid round with no major flaws. Emma Fletcher had a rail at Fence 1 but then kicked on and finished up nicely. Tess Lenihan’s horse got a bit snarky on the turn to Fence 4 and then stopped at the triple bar, but she finished fine. Rebecca Morris had a nice, consistent round. Caroline Weaver had the first fence down, but regrouped and finished up well. Isabel Harbour had a rail at the first jump and the horse had a few awkward efforts, but she finished up OK. Sydnie Ziegler had a few rubs and a rail at 9, but rode very positively. Adam Edgar rode with a lot of polish and had a lovely, flowing pace. Isabella Bleu Baxter had a nice, steady round with no major mistakes.
RIDERS 151-160
Emma Catherine Reichow had a nice, solid round. Lauren La Clair’s horse was quite looky coming into the ring and was tense, then ground to a halt at the triple bar twice. Sophia Calamari had a horse with a lot of energy on her hands. She rode him tactfully, but it wasn’t the smoothest trip. Michael Williamson had a hard rub at Fence 3 and then a rail at Fence 9, but had a lovely last fence. Madeline Schaefer had a lovely, consistent ride with a very steady pace. Abbygale Funk had a round that was a bit hectic in places, but no major errors. Sophie Transou had quite a nice, consistent round. Emily Raich had a stop at Fence 4, but carried on and finished well. Melissa Deryn Foster rode very positively on a horse making big jumping efforts (with his tongue hanging out!). Caroline Michele Dugas had a nice, consistent round with no major flaws.
RIDERS 161-170
Hannah Doherty had quite a nice round with a nice rhythm to her pace. Jaden Olson was having a nice round but had a rail at 6 and then a few hard rubs. Fallon O’Connell (she was the Chronicle’s One To Watch!) had a rail at Fence 6 and was a bit slow to a few of the fences but finished up well. Brian Moggre’s horse quite did not like the Maclay stone wall panel at Fence 6 and stopped. He jumped it on the second approach and Moggre rode well for the rest of the course. Yasmin Rizvi rode very nicely, with a rub behind at 9. Grady Lyman’s horse looked very eager and had a lovely bouncy canter and she had a fantastic round. Aubrienne Krysiewicz-Bell had a few tight distances. Elli Yeager’s horse has an adorable little canter to it. She started out well but then had a stop at the triple bar. Cooper Dean had an absolutely lovely round with just a swap at the last oxer. Josey Walker’s horse just got a little crooked and peeky at a few places, but she rode well and tactfully.
RIDERS 171-177
Sophie Gochman had a very nice, consistent round. Sam Walker was having a really lovely round just found the last jump weak and went through it. Brianna Gonzalez’s horse took exception to the Maclay wall and stopped twice, ending her day. Katie Ray had a stop at the triple bar and a few inconsistent distances. Aristea Santoro had a rail at Fence 1, then a stop at A of the triple and a stop and fall at B of the triple. Giavanna Rinaldi’s horse spooked at the Maclay wall but she kicked on and got him over it, then had a long spot to the last. Alle Durkin had quite a nice, consistent round. Caroline Bald had a rail at Fence 1 and then quite a long sport at the triple bar but finished well.
