Iwasaki and longtime partner Small Love earn a nine-point victory in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby to close her first Traverse City season as a professional
Augusta Iwasaki finished her first professional season in Traverse City on a high note, winning the final National Hunter Derby of the season, the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Her win came aboard Small Love, a horse that’s very special to Iwasaki and her family.
“She was so great,” Iwasaki noted of “Honey.” “She had last week off and she was jumping especially well today. I’ve been riding her for over five years now. She’s the best horse ever and we love her so much. She goes out there and she wants to win. I love that about her.”
Now 13 years old, Honey helped Iwasaki ride to scores of 92 and 90, taking the win by a total of nine points. The Hanoverian mare earned the title of Platinum Performance Horse of the Week for her win. Sabrina Miller and Celebration finished second, while Adelle Alletto claimed third aboard Dream Worker.
Iwasaki holds many major titles from past classes in Traverse City, but this season felt special as she approached it as a trainer, coaching other students to top results alongside her parents and the team at Makoto Farm.
“It’s been so fun,” she said of her new role. “Everyone I am training is so awesome. They’re so talented, they’re so fun to work with, and I just had an awesome time. It’s different from what I’ve done in the past but it’s been so special for me.”
She believes there’s no better place to spend a summer and prepare for the various finals that lie ahead in the fall season.
“We love it here,” she remarked of Traverse City Horse Shows. “It’s always so awesome, especially going into the indoor season to feel all our horses going so great. They all love it here so much. It’s really special, and we had a great time here this summer.”
In the GGT-Footing 3′ Green Hunter division, Blonde Ambition took championship honors with Jef Lauwers aboard for Jamie L. Jarvis. The pair won every over-fences class, the under saddle, and were second in the 3’ Green Hunter Stake. El Porvenir Zara was named reserve champion and 3’ Green Hunter Stake winner with Iwasaki in the irons for owner Elle Gibbs.
With just one day before the American Gold Cup, five-star athletes will take on the $62,500 American Gold Cup CSI5*-W Winning Round on Saturday, and two-star athletes will contend the $62,500 Horseflight American Gold Cup CSI2* Grand Prix.
Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App and HippoData for FEI results.
