Robert Sean Leckie and Easy Street HU Take the High Road for the Win in the $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Robert Sean Leckie aboard Easy Street HU, the team from Double Down Farm, LLC with Melissa Brandes and Paul Bennett of Blenheim EquiSports

Del Mar, CA – July 20, 2019 – With a stunning second round, Robert Sean Leckie earned a win in the Friday night $25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby aboard Double Down Farm LLC’s entry, Easy Street HU. Amateur rider Caroline Ingalls and her own entry, Concerto, took the reserve champion spot. Katie Taylor rounded out the top three with her trusty partner, L’Con Reyes, owned by Bravado Farms LLC.

The hunter event took place in the indoor arena under the lights, where course designer Thomas Hern Jr. created a gorgeous derby setting. While guests enjoyed VIP boxes and the intimacy of the indoor, the honorable John Roper and James Waldman adjudicated. The first-round welcomed thirty-one horse and rider combinations and the cut off for the top 12 who returned to show their handiness was 79.5 points.

Robert Sean Leckie and Easy Street HU

The handy round featured a number of different ways for competitors to show-off, including four high options, two fences that could be jumped in either direction, two combinations, and opportunities for tidy inside turns. Leckie and Easy Street HU came into the round in second place, but keeping a forward hunter pace, taking all four high options and demonstrating handy turns moved the pair into the winner’s circle.

Leckie was over the moon with his win. “Showing under the lights for the hunter derby tonight was really fun and exciting, and the courses were very well done. The handy track was smooth to ride and it was fun to be able to choose your own course in some places.”

VIDEO: Watch Winning Handy Round and Interview with Robert Sean Leckie

For his victory, Leckie takes home a pair of Roeckl Sports gloves and a pair of Tech Stirrups, as well as a Blenheim EquiSports pewter prize and ribbon. As the winning trainer, Leckie also received an embroidered tack room pillow sponsored by Blue Ribbon Blankets & Nick Byassee. The winning owner, Double Down Farms LLC, received a frame and photo gift certificate, sponsored by Balmoral Farm, as well as a HE Tex Sutton Forwarding Company sponsored equine air travel gift voucher.

Ingalls’ Concerto was awarded the Best Turned Out Award, sponsored by Makoto Farms. The groom, Jesus Huerta, was awarded a cash prize for his excellent work in keeping Concerto looking and feeling his best. For her top placing, Ingalls was also awarded The Plaid Horse Leading Amateur Rider Award. Finishing in sixth place, Clea Caddell was awarded the barnstyle High Scoring Junior Award with her teammate Cornelensky, owned by Spyglass Hill. 

Reserve Champions Caroline Ingalls and Concerto with winning groom Jesus Huerta and Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports

Clea Caddell and Cornelensky with Melissa Brandes of Blenheim EquiSports

Saturday night’s indoor highlight competition will feature the show jumpers with the $25,000 Markel Insurance 1.45m Grand Prix and $2,500 U25 Jumper Classic under the lights.

RESULTS

$25,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Place – Entry – Horse – Rider – Owner – Rd 1 Score / Rd 2 Score = Total

1. 426 – Easy Street HU – Robert Sean Leckie – Double Down Farm LLC – 89 / 93 = 182

2. 466 – Concerto – Caroline Ingalls – Caroline Ingalls – 90 / 89 = 179

3. 539 – L’Con Reyes – Katie Taylor – Bravado Farms LLC – 85 / 89 = 174

4. 419 – Collectible – Ilana Halpern – Nanci Dias – 87 / 86 = 173

5. 269 – C’est Moi – Sophie Simpson – Breanne Karanikolas – 81.5 / 90 = 171.5

6. 345 – Cornelensky – Clea Caddell – Spyglass Hill – 83 / 84 = 167

7. 379 – Verdict – Lindsey Schiefelbein – Lindsey Schiefelbein – 82 / 83 = 165

8. 413 – Landillo – Deebie Symmes – Deebie Symmes – 84 / 78 = 162

9. 336 – Esperance – Mickie Sage – Lucky Jack Farm LLC – 79.5 / 82 = 161.5

10. 192 – Casino Cash – Jamie Taylor – Marnell Sporthorses – 86 / 49 = 135

11. 382 – Prestige – Lindsey Schiefelbein – Lindsey Schiefelbein – 84.5 / 49 = 133.5

12. 412 – Shameless – Ilana Halpern – Alexandria Baker – 81 / 49 = 130

Photos by Captured Moment Photography

Blenheim EquiSports, an equestrian event management company based in San Juan Capistrano, CA, produces events in three locations: San Juan Capistrano, Del Mar and Las Vegas, NV. The events include 19 USEF “Premier” rated hunter-jumper shows featuring five FEI CSI events, including a Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ North American League event; the Markel Insurance 1.45m Jumper Series & Final, Developing Jumper Qualifiers & Championships, USHJA International & National Hunter Derbies, Pony Derby Finals, the Whitethorne Equitation Challenge, Medal Finals and more.