Wellington, FL – September 19, 2021 – Isabel Beltran of Jupiter, FL, and IMB of Jupiter LLC’s Sazerac captured the win in ESP September’s highlight hunter class, the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Equiline. The class took place on Friday at Equestrian Village and marked a special occasion for the duo as it was their first derby win together.

The ESP Summer Series has nearly concluded, but two more weeks remain. The ESP Florida State Fall and Region 3 ASPCA/NHSAA Maclay Championship will take place September 23-26, followed by the Rita & Irish Flynn Memorial from October 1-3, 2021. The ESP Fall Series will start October 7 with ESP October. To view the ESP Summer Series Prize List, please click HERE.

“Usually we compete in the Junior Hunters together, but this was our first derby win, so it’s really exciting for us,” shared Beltran. “The course was really fun, especially the handy. In the first round, I was really consistent and as one of the first to go I set the tone for the whole class. He’s also a really cute jumper and is always tight over the jumps. Trot jumps are my worst enemy too, but my trainer told me to ‘do nothing when I get there and it’ll be there’–and it was!”

Beltran and Sazerac were the fourth pair to test the classic round, designed by Lewis Pack (USA), and received a high score of 86, which held the top position throughout the first round. Although she was nervous about the trot jump in the handy round, Beltran and Sazerac scored another 86 to earn a cumulative score of 172 and secure their victory. 

Thanks to an impressive handy-round score of 89, Carlo Graziana of Wellington, FL, was awarded second place with Elissa Pincus’ Bage de Laume. Earning a first-round score of 82, the pair ended the class just off the winning score with a cumulative score of 171. Rounding out the top three was Meredith Gallagher of Haines City, FL, and Jodokus, owned by Jane Fennessy, with scores of 78 and 90 for a total of 168. 

“Wellington is our home, so we’re here now through the Winter Equestrian Festival. We went to Junior Hunter Finals this summer, which was also a first for both of us, and then did the summer shows in Kentucky. This will be my last year competing as a junior, so I’m really hoping to qualify for Junior Hunter Finals again and improve our performance there,” concluded Beltran about her future plans.

In the Amateur-Owner 3’3”/3’6” Hunters, sponsored by Vita Flex, Jennifer Speisman of Wellington, FL, piloted her own Totality to the championship honors. The duo earned three first-place results, along with a second place and third place, to secure the highest number of points on the overall scorecard. Reserve honors went to owner-rider Louis Delsignore of London, Ontario, and Fandiamo, who just barely missed the top spot by a handful of points.

Stephen Lengyel of Wellington, FL, rode Carolyn Teneyck’s Formal Attire to the championship tricolor in the USHJA 3’ Hunter division, presented by Perfect Products. Over the course of five classes, the pair received three second-place ribbons and two fourth-place ribbons. Silent Knight HB, ridden by Andrew Lustig of Jacksonville, FL, and owned by Hidden Brook Stables, secured the reserve championship after earning a variety of placings first through sixth in four of the division’s classes.

The Junior 3’3”/3’6” Hunters, sponsored by #1 Education Place, saw Kat Fuqua of Atlanta, GA, and her own Grand Remo ride away with victory in the division after earning three blue ribbons and two red ribbons. Elle Moreno of Wylie, TX, captured the reserve championship honors aboard her own Vayrie Cool.

To view the prize list for the 2021 ESP Summer Series, please click HERE.

To view the prize list for the upcoming 2021 ESP Fall Series, please click HERE.

To learn more about the safety protocols and procedures at the horse show, please click HERE.

Photo credit ©Anne Gittins Photography. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release with proper credit.