New York, N.Y. – Sept. 23, 2017 – On Saturday horses and ponies made their way through the shadowed paveways of Central Park into the show ring for their last day of competition at the Fourth Annual Central Park Horse Show which highlighted the hunters with the U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup, the $2,500 Junior/Amateur Classic and the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic after two days of jumper competition. Wollman Rink underwent another transformation as course designer Bobby Murphy replaced bright poles and gappy oxers with brush boxes and flower pots. It was the Towell family that once again dominated the day as Liza Towell Boyd won the U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup aboard Stella Styslinger’s O’Ryan, building off brother Hardin’s past two days of jumper success.
Thirteen riders jumped the first round with the top 12 riders called back for the second round. Liza and the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding came into the second round 1.5 points behind Jennifer Alfano, but delivered an incredible ride earning a score of 90 for a total of 176.5 to win by half of a point. Liza felt some pressure after Hardin won the U.S. Open $40,000 FEI CSX Speed Class, placed second in the $216,000 U.S. Open Grand Prix CSI3*, and earned the title of U.S. Open Leading Rider. Her student Stella Styslinger also won the $2,500 Junior/Amateur Classic earlier in the day, so Liza knew her father Jack would be happy no matter what which helped her to relax.
Last to enter the ring in the first round, Alfano and long-standing partner Miss Lucy, owned by Sharon O´Neill, overtook their competitors earning the highest score to lead and return as the final pair in the second round, but unfortunately finished just behind Boyd with a score of 176. Alfano and the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare made history in 2015 by claiming the inaugural $50,000 Duchossois Cup. Alfano suffered an injury a year and a half ago and just got back into the show ring after in the spring, already returning to her successful ways with Miss Lucy placing ninth in this year’s USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship.
Third went to Hunt Tosh and the Wheeler Family’s Patriot. Tosh and the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding have had a very successful summer including top finishes at the Blue Grass Festival and Aiken Fall Festival.
The U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup is held in memory of nationally known horseman Bruce Duchossois, vice president of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation, inductee into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame and recipient of the Equestrian Aid Foundation Luminary Award.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Liza Boyd – U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup winner
On the course:
“As always Bobby did a beautiful course. The jumps were fabulous. It was a nice flow. It was challenging enough, but in a ring this size I thought they did a really good job. You got to see the best out of the horses. I felt like he really jumped the last in and out really impressive [in the handy round] and I tried to show off a little bit to the last jump and get a nice gallop, but be reasonable.”
On the pressure for her at the Central Park Horse Show:
“I definitely felt a little pressure after Hardin did so well and Jen did so well and then Stella Styslinger, the owner of O’ Ryan, won today and I thought, ‘Oh gosh, I’m the only one who can mess this up.’ But then I also thought, ‘Well this is really good because Jack’s in a good mood, so no matter what happens he’s happy.’ It kind of made me say I’m just going to take a deep breath and enjoy the city and have fun. For us to be able to be here with only one or two horses and to really watch, hangout with our friends and take our kids around is really meaningful. I think it’s something that Bruce Duchossois would have wanted. I could seem him in the stands and I got a little teary eyed when they threw the cooler over. He is looking down and I’m really happy about this.”
On O’ Ryan:
“Jen and I are both on our steady eddies. I think it’s also good for people to see that older horses can keep going. Brunello did it, O’ Ryan’s doing it, Lucy’s doing it. We take good care of them and they can go and go. By this point they know what they’re doing. O’ Ryan is the perfect gentleman. You couldn’t find a kinder, sweeter horse and we try to just treat him as well as he treats us and enjoy every moment we have with him.”
Jennifer Alfano – U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup, second place
On Miss Lucy:
“Lucy was great. She loves it here. I brought her the first year they did the hunters here and she loves this kind of atmosphere. We’ve been together for a long time, so I’m comfortable on her and I thought she was great. The course rode really well. You got to see good horses go really well.”
On the injury to her knee:
“It’s still really tender. It’s a work in progress. A year ago today, I was on one crutch with a leg stabilizer and a sling.”
Hunt Tosh – U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup, third place
On Patriot:
“This is my second year with Patriot. This is my first year here. I called both of my friends here (Boyd and Alfano) to find out what horse to bring and what to expect in the class. An atmosphere like this is amazing to have all of the horses behave. It was a beautiful class.”
Becky Gochman – Hunter classes sponsor
On the Central Park Horse Show:
“I think to involve the community in New York City is just such a great melting pot and a great city that should be celebrated. I think the hunters should be celebrated and I think by including them and having the top riders here that it’s just been an amazing.”
RESULTS
U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / 1st Round / Total
1. O´ Ryan / Elizabeth Boyd / Stella Styslinger / 86.5 / 176.5
2. Miss Lucy / Jennifer Alfano / Sharon O´Neill / 88 / 176
3. Patriot / Hunt Tosh / The Wheeler Family / 85 / 174
4. Mythical / Scott Stewart / Gochman Sport Horse LLC / 86 / 169
5. Memorable / Maria Rasmussen / Over Fences Farm LLC / 87 / 168
6. Sandlot / Katie Cooper / Cherry Knoll Farm Inc. / 82 / 164.5
7. Cayambe / Alexis Taylor-Silvernale / Camille Leblond / 79 / 163
8. Lordanos / Hannah Isop / Postage Stamp Farm LLC / 80 / 162
9. Kensi / Kristy Herrera / Emily Cherney / 78 / 158
10. Carnaval Elite / Ben Phillips / Whish LLC / 70 / 150
11. Celtic Fire / Erica Quinn / CF Partners / 84 / 139
12. Stateside / Morgan Ward / Claire Beth Nogay / 60 / 135
Junior/Amateurs and Ponies Kick off Hunter Day
Coinciding with her trainer’s success, Stella Styslinger rode her own 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding to victory in the $2,500 Junior/Amateur Classic. Styslinger was first in the ring and set the pace with an impressive score of 83 which became uncatchable.
The ponies kicked off the afternoon with the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic where 10-year-old Annabella Bozzuto rode Robin Bozzuto’s Our Song to the top with a score of 78. The pony riders were able to select their own songs to ride to and Bozzuto selected Coldplay’s “Adventure of a Lifetime” because she said that it describes her experience.
The final day of the Rolex Central Park Horse Show on Sunday will offer free entry and host a family day with dog agility, pony rides, hobby horsing and more.
FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Stella Styslinger – $2,500 Junior/Amateur class winner
On Cassanto:
“My horse was very well prepared. I was a little nervous walking down into the ring because it’s such a surreal atmosphere, but once I jumped into the first jump my horse reassured me. I love New York City so being able to do another thing I love – riding…I really enjoyed all of it.”
RESULTS
$2,500 Junior/Amateur Class
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Score
1. Cassanto / Stella Styslinger / Stella Styslinger / 83
2. Category / Camille Leblond / Camille Leblond / 79
3. Cakebread / Anna Rossi / Anna Rossi LLC / 78
4. Mythical / Scott Stewart / Gochman Sport Horse LLC / 77
5. Felicci / Caroline Kellogg / Caroline Kellogg / 76
6. Caprice / Sofia Antico / Peter Edgar / 74
7. Constantin Fz / Layla Kurbanov / Olivia Sbrocco / 73
8. Carnaval Elite / Ben Philips / Whish LLC / 72
9. Luxe / Ellie Mcintyre / Ellie Mcintyre / 68
10. Sochi / Lee Kellogg Sadrian / Lee Kellogg Sadrian / 65
$1,000 Pony Hunter Class
Place / Horse / Rider / Owner / Score
1. Our Song / Annabella Bozzuto / Robin Bozzuto / 78
2. Valor / Baylee Mckeever / Gochman Sport Horse LLC / 75
3. Secret Mission / Peyton Jelinek / Jelinek Jumpers / 74
4. Anderin´s Momento / Ella Bikoff / Ella Bikoff / 73
5. Elegance / Zola Thompson / Zola Thompson / 72
6. Mr. Foxtrot / Lucy Thornhill / Lucy Thornhill / 71
7. Wellen Gold Charm / Stephanie Garrett / E. Lauren Newmeyer / 70
8. Chaconne / Katie Mcintyre / Jill Shulman / 69