March 6, 2026, Myakka City, FL. Mark Bluman (COL) and S&L Eyes 4U delivered an impressive, blazingly fast round in the $32,000 DNA Wild 1.45m FEI Welcome Speed. The pair stopped the clock in 56.64 seconds, 1.3 seconds faster than second-place finishers Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Cornwall BH, who claimed victory in the $32,000 Everglades Equipment Group 1.45m FEI Welcome Speed during Week 2.
Bluman’s time proved significantly quicker than much of the field, who had times over 60 seconds, with third-place finisher Philip McGuane (IRL) and Coronado posting a 59.29, and fourth-place David Blake (IRL) aboard Gucci des Embruns finishing in 59.60. Bluman credited both the fair course design and his mare’s talent for their winning performance.
“It was a super fair course for the number of riders in the class,” Bluman says. “There were several lines where you had options, which is what you like to see in a speed class. Some riders did an extra stride, others left one out. I actually ended up doing a double-stride leave-out to the last fence. I didn’t plan it, but I caught the vertical before the final fence a little forward and just kept going, and she responded beautifully. The course rode really nicely.”
The talented eight-year-old is relatively new to Bluman’s string, but the pair’s early results have already proven encouraging.
“This mare belongs to Sam and Libby Edelman from SNL Farms,” Bluman says. “They purchased her at the start of her seven-year-old year, and she spent last season in Europe developing with our partner there. I went to Spain in November to watch her compete and got on her afterward, just to get a feel for her and decide whether we should bring her to Florida. I really loved the ride and told them we needed to bring her here.”
Today’s victory was even more notable as it marked the pair’s first international competition together, with the mare still relatively new to the international stage.
“This is actually my first international show with her. She’s mostly been jumping national classes, but she’s been incredibly consistent, top ten in every class she’s done and only one rail since arriving in the States. She’s a real winner, I have big hopes for her. No matter what division she ends up in, I think she’s always going to be competitive. It’s great to have a horse like that in our string.”
Bluman and S&L Eyes 4U will return to the ring tomorrow to contest the Grand Prix. “We’re looking forward to the Grand Prix tomorrow,” Bluman says.
$32,000 DNA Wild 1.45m FEI Welcome Speed: Order of Finish
| Place | Rider | Horse | Faults | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Bluman (COL) | S&L Eyes 4U | 0 | 56.64 |
| 2 | Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) | Cornwall BH | 0 | 57.94 |
| 3 | Philip McGuane (IRL) | Coronado | 0 | 59.29 |
| 4 | David Blake (IRL) | Gucci des Embruns | 0 | 59.60 |
| 5 | Luis Pedro Biraben (ARG) | Vasco 109 | 0 | 60.82 |
| 6 | Diego Perez Bilbao (ESP) | CMD Scarlet | 0 | 61.65 |
| 7 | Steven Bluman (ISR) | Chice Lotti M | 0 | 62.83 |
| 8 | Isabel Coxe (USA) | Alicia Santa Rosa | 0 | 64.14 |
| 9 | Scott Keach (AUS) | Havane de Cuvry | 0 | 65.48 |
| 10 | Joey Wolffer (GBR) | Rockstar | 0 | 66.99 |
| 11 | Taylor St. Jacques (CAN) | Hopefull Menjoulet | 0 | 68.12 |
| 12 | Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) | ConBlue | 0 | 71.18 |
| 13 | Cristina Padilla León (PUR) | Kirado | 4 | 71.25 |
| 14 | David Cameron (AUS) | Chriszi | 8 | 66.67 |
| 15 | Diego Perez Bilbao (ESP) | Jumper d’Oase | 8 | 70.18 |
| 16 | Juan Pablo Gnecco (COL) | Runaway VD Withoeve | 11 | 78.72 |
| 17 | Sarah Segal (USA) | Tom Hanks | 16 | 68.08 |
| 18 | Joey Wolffer (GBR) | Pipaline van’t Zomerhof | 16 | 74.85 |
Ten-Year Partnership Pays Off as Guanciale and Blue Harbor Win the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Padd-Tack.com
While Keri Lee Guanciale and Blue Harbor have consistently delivered impressive rounds and leaderboard finishes throughout TerraNova’s Winter Series, the pair finally secured the top spot in today’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Padd-Tack.com. Guanciale also secured fourth place aboard her second mount, Quintero.
“Blue Harbor has been with me for 10 years,” Guanciale says. “He was originally imported to be my Grand Prix horse, and as he’s stepped down in his career, he’s really found his place as my derby horse. He’s 19 this year, so every round I get with him feels like a blessing, I’m just grateful he’s still out there doing it with me. I know him very well, and because of his jumper background, I know he can handle all the inside turns. Quintero, on the other hand, is still a bit green, so I ride him a little more conservatively while I’m very game on Blue Harbor.”
Guanciale praised the course design, noting that the track allowed riders to showcase both precision and thoughtful decision-making throughout the round.
“It was a very straightforward and inviting course,” Guanciale says. “The lines rode beautifully, and I really liked the high options. I ended up taking a few inside turns where the smaller option actually set up better for the track, but overall it was a great riding course.”
Guanciale returns to TerraNova each winter circuit, bringing Blue Harbor back to compete again this year. “I brought Blue Harbor here last year as well, and we absolutely love TerraNova,” Guanciale says. “We wish we could stay longer.”
Their victory follows several strong performances over the past few weeks. Guanciale and Blue Harbor finished second in last week’s $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Bridleberry Leather Co., won by Betsy Aliffi and Talk To Me. The pair also claimed third place during Week 1’s $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by SWFL Camping.
$5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Padd-Tack.com: Order of Finish
| Place | Rider | Horse | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keri Lee Guanciale | Blue Harbor | 72 | 87 | 159 |
| 2 | Krista Lynn Hodgkin | Fanlehane Valentino | 77 | 81 | 158 |
| 3 | Libby Rothfuss | Lorado Van Het Kleitehof | 68 | 69 | 137 |
| 4 | Keri Lee Guanciale | Quintero | 46 | 86 | 132 |
| 5 | Mackenzie Barnes | Cleveland Rocks | 44 | 84 | 128 |
| 6 | Mackenzie Barnes | Sheriff Coffee | 45 | 80 | 125 |
| 7 | Eve Tacheny | Graffiti Grey | 64 | 44 | 108 |
