WILLIAMSBURG — Samantha Schaefer and Frasier are no strangers to winning in Traverse City. They’ve come to this venue nearly every year together and have taken home many big wins in their five years as a pair.
On Friday of week two of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, they added another major victory to their Traverse City record in the $31,100 Elk Rapids Marina CSI3* Two Phase.
“He comes here and has a whole other gear,” Schaefer said of Frasier, a 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Carambole x Padinus). “I like the Two Phase for him because I can keep him packaged up for the first half and then my strategy for today was to be efficient and to take a shot without coming too undone for Sunday. I thought the strides and everything really suited him. I tried to be smooth and efficient and let everything fall where it may.”
The second phase resulted in a time of 30.38 seconds for Schaefer and Frasier, which proved to be the fastest of the double-clear efforts over Mauricio Garcia’s track. Coming up just behind was Abbygale Funk (USA) with In The Stars. David Oberkircher (USA) ended up third with Munin, with only about three-quarters of a second separating the top three.
“This is the highlight of my summer for sure,” Schaefer remarked about bringing home top results from Traverse City. “We bring a lot of horses here as a team, so I’ve saved him leading up for these couple weeks that he’s here. He feels really good and fresh. I didn’t necessarily think I was going to win today but it shook out and the course suited him.”
Iwasaki, Charisto double down in National Hunter Derby
Augusta Iwasaki has had some big life changes recently, but something that hasn’t changed is her ability to win. She kept proving herself a winner Friday of GLEF II in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby as she piloted Charisto, owned by Walkenbach Equestrian LLC, to the win.
“This horse has been really great today and I had so much fun,” Iwasaki said of her outing with Charisto, who she has been riding for only a short time. “We’ve been here a few weeks now so the horses have settled in, and they’re really nice horses so I’m lucky.”
The duo took the high score of 93 in round one, coming back in pole position for the handy round. They laid it down and matched that score, earning another 93 and taking the win on a total score of 186.
“He’s such a nice horse,” Iwasaki said of Charisto, a 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Casall. “The Walkenbachs own him so we’re very grateful to them for letting us have him here. He’s a great jumper and goes around great.”
Iwasaki also claimed second-place honors aboard Edith, a horse that has already taken podium placings in hunter derby action this summer with Iwasaki. Victoria Colvin placed third with Snoop.
Tyler takes 3 of top 5 in Jr/Am National Hunter Derby
Anna Tyler had a great day Friday of GLEF II, taking three of the top five spots in the $10,000 USHJA Jr/Am National Hunter Derby, securing the win aboard Your Welcome BC.
After consistent top finishes in the class this season, Tyler secured the top spot Friday by stringing together high scores in both rounds, pairing a 93 and a 92 for a combined total of 185.
“He has a great jump and a great personality,” Tyler said of her winning mount Your Welcome BC. “He’s always very competitive so it was fun to go around and have a good time on him. I love a good derby but I have great horses I get to ride so it’s a great opportunity to be here and have fun.”
Millstone makes winning memories with Cullighan
In the $2,500 2’6″ USHJA National Jr/Am Hunter Derby Presented by Fairway Farm, Claudia Millstone took one of the biggest wins of her riding career aboard Cullighan. Their fan section erupted over their win, celebrating and encouraging them in the prizegiving.
“He has a great cheering squad and he’s such a good guy,” Millstone said of Cullighan, a 14-year-old Selle Francais gelding by Diamant de Semilly. “I’ve had him for almost five years, and my trainer, [Tiffany Morrissey], has won multiple derbies on him but this was our first win. It was very exciting.”