January 5, 2024, Myakka City, Florida. Now in its fifth year, the Sarasota Winter Classic debuted the first of two weeks of hunter and jumper competition at TerraNova Equestrian Center. Since its inception, the Sarasota Winter Classic has sought to provide a boutique experience not commonly found at large-scale events. That vision has grown as the series has evolved and found its new home at the spectacular TerraNova Equestrian Center.
The $20,000 Grand Prix of Sarasota took center stage Friday afternoon in the picturesque Lakeside Arena and staying true to form, Wednesday’s $5,000 1.40m Welcome Stake winners Marylisa Leffler (USA) and Zaza Z (Zandor Z x Cocaine Z), a 13-year-old Warmblood mare, produced a repeat victory.
Samuel Parot (CHI) set the challenge for the remaining field as the second to enter the arena and the first to produce a clean effort across Marina Azevedo’s (BRA) technical track with Buga Z (Chester Z x Quality Queen Z), Parot’s own 14-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. Shortly after, Leffler and her multi-time winner Zaza Z, owned by Rolling Acres Farm, set out to continue their successful streak as the second to navigate without fault.
Of the original 13 horse-and-rider combinations, only two more would join Parot and Leffler for the jump off. Jens Filippusson (BEL) cleanly cleared the timers aboard Igor, and Vicente Guillen (VEN) challenged the leaders aboard Evolene de Carles.
Parot had an unfortunate rail as the first to return for the short track, which left the door open for the remaining three contenders. Still in incredible form from their Welcome win, Leffler and Zaza Z wasted no time around the track as they shot through the timers, at a slower pace than Parot, but without fault, in 35.846 seconds. Under pressure, the pair proved to be the only duo to put forward a second top effort and topped the leaderboard of the $20,000 Grand Prix of Sarasota.
“Marina’s courses always seem to suit Zaza because she usually has an inside turn there that you don’t necessarily see at first, but it’s there,” Leffler said. “From fences one to two I thought I was just a little wide, so I decided after the black oxer that I wasn’t going to do the inside turn. Since this was her [Zaza] first grand prix back, I just aimed to go double clean after Samuel had the rail down.
“This gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of our season,” she admitted. “She feels on her game and happy. She lives a pretty good life; as long as you have her Nickerdoodles ready before and after her class, she’s a happy girl.”
Parot and Buga Z earned the reserve honors as the fastest four-faulter of the remaining combinations on a finishing time of 32.846 seconds. Guillen’s time of 34.559 seconds with a single rail qualified him and Evolene de Carles (Kannan x Rafale de Carles), the Tranquility Farms’ 9-year-old Selle Francais mare, for the final position of the podium trio.
As the sun set, the afternoon was capped off with a gourmet exhibitors’ party featuring cocktails and catered delights.
Marylisa Leffler and Zaza Z Win the $5,000 1.40m Welcome Stake
On the first day of competition at the 2024 Sarasota Winter Classic, the $5,000 1.40m Welcome Stake set the stage for Friday’s contenders. Luck struck a third time for Rolling Acres’ Marylisa Leffler at TerraNova Equestrian Center as Leffler won her third Welcome Stake since the event’s arrival at the venue. As one of only four to return to contest Azevedo’s short course, Leffler’s longtime partner Zaza Z showed no signs of breaking stride as the pair cleared the timers with 1.39 seconds to spare from the closest challenger.
“I didn’t want to go fast, but she really only has one speed,” Leffler laughed, referring to the mare’s time of 33.74 seconds. “Anything at a special venue brings out the best in her. The flags and the atmosphere get her adrenaline going.”
With Zaza Z having enjoyed several months off at the end of the year, Leffler felt the track was well-suited for her return performance.
“I thought it was a great first course back for her,” she explained. “We are only in the first week of January so you don’t want to overbuild, and I think it was just the right level of challenging.”
Allen Nabors and Dutch Valley Sporthorses’ 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Master Clinton DVE (Clinton x Diona V/D Wezelse Heihoeve VM), had a fault-free round in 35.13 seconds and earned second. Nabors’ student, Morgan Ashby, earned third as the only other double-clear rider aboard Eliza Derstine’s 14-year-old KWPN gelding Kilkenny Ecco (Kilkenny Jasco x Cevita Z).
Jennifer Alfano and Pendleton Win the $5,000 The Estates at TerraNova USHJA National Hunter Derby
Earlier on Friday, top hunters were showcased in the $5,000 The Estates at TerraNova USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Laughlin Tanner Group at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. Next Chapter LLC’s Jennifer Alfano took home first and second place for the morning’s feature event. The National Hunter Derby was open to all levels of riders and included a $1,000 Junior-Amateur bonus as part of the series’ increased focus on upcoming riders.
After receiving scores of 93 and 94 in the classic round, Alfano sat comfortably on top with Kathy Chiaf’s two mounts, Southside of Heaven (Cabardino N x Cascade) and Pendleton (Thunder VD Zuuthoeve x Tserpe S), respectively. While Alfano maintains that both are exceptional derby mounts, Chiaf’s 8-year-old Warmblood gelding, Pendleton, put forward his best efforts in the Bill Worthington-designed handy phase for a spectacular second-round score of 96 to take the lead by one point with a finishing score of 189.
“I have had Pendleton for three years now,” Alfano said. “We bought him for Kathy Chiaf to compete in the amateurs, and he has just turned into a fabulous horse. Anytime I am able to do a special class like this with him, I’m excited.”
She continued, “He’s a beautiful jumper, and his form is so correct every time. He keeps a great expression going around the ring. He’s really just one of those horses that everyone loves.”
The win is a back-to-back victory for Alfano at the Sarasota Winter Classic. “I love this show,” she gushed. “There is for sure not a more beautiful facility, and Bill Worthington does a fabulous job. We have a wonderful time here every year, so I love supporting it.”
Chiaf’s 7-year-old Hanoverian gelding, Southside of Heaven, secured the second-place finish with a combined total of 188 points, while Alexandra Panetta and her own 11-year-old Westphalian mare, Camembert (Conen x Primera), came in third with 149.
Competition will resume Saturday, January 6 with a special spotlight on the young and amateur riders as the first of many Junior/Amateur and Child/Adult classics begins.