Augusta Iwasaki Takes Home a One-Two Finish in USHJA National Hunter Derby
Six-year-old Ever So Clear earns Platinum Performance Horse of the Week honors after a standout derby victory.
It’s not often a 6-year-old wins a National Hunter Derby, but with Augusta Iwasaki aboard, Ever So Clear proved ready for the challenge. On Friday of Traverse City Spring IV, Iwasaki piloted the talented young horse to victory in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Hunter Holloway.
Finishing just behind Ever So Clear was Edith, a more experienced and quite steady partner for Iwasaki, taking the red rosette.
“He’s so talented and game to do anything,” Iwasaki noted of Ever So Clear, owned by Ava Peck. “I was really impressed by him today. He was really handy and he just jumped amazing.”
Their first-round score of 92 gave them the lead heading into the handy round, and they sealed the deal with an 89.5 coming back for the handy round.
“It’s just such a quality horse, to be honest,” she remarked about why he was the standout winner on the occasion. “He jumps beautifully and moves across the ground beautifully. It’s a super nice feeling.”
Iwasaki was equally pleased with her second-place mount. Edith earned the highest handy score of the class, a 90, but finished just behind Ever So Clear overall. Ella Endzweig placed third aboard Contara.
“Edith has been great,” she said of the Jami Jensen-owned entry. “I started showing her at the beginning of this spring circuit and she’s been so fun. I’ve been doing her a lot in the 3’9″ Greens and the derbies. She did the international derby a few weeks ago. She’s super fun in a class like this.”
Friday hunter derby action is well received by all competitors across the show grounds, and Iwasaki and her mother, Liz Reilly, especially love the opportunity it gives them to showcase various horses.
“My mom and I love doing these derbies; we do them every week,” Iwasaki commented. “It’s a great way to get your younger ones doing more derby courses. It’s also great for those horses that are really good at jumping 3’6″ but can’t quite do the international derbies. It’s awesome that they have them every week.”
Iwasaki has been a regular in Traverse City for several years, and her fun extends beyond the horse show, getting to enjoy what the area has to offer.
“I love it here; I tell everybody it’s my favorite place to be in the summer,” she said. “My parents recently got a house up here and I am building a farm up here with Ava Peck. We just love it. The show is great, the horses love it, and the town is also awesome.”
Ever So Clear was also named Platinum Performance Horse of the Week for his big win Friday.
Lillooet Is the Gift That Keeps on Giving for Kristen Mohrhardt
A horse once campaigned by daughter Sydney now carries Kristen Mohrhardt to derby victory.
Later in the day, the GGT Footing Ring hosted two hunter derbies for junior and amateur riders. In the Hoof & Paw 2’-2’3” Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby, Kristen Mohrhardt celebrated a meaningful victory aboard Lillooet.
“‘Lilly’ is the most special horse because she was my daughter Sydney’s 3’3″ junior hunter and then 3’6″ junior hunter,” Mohrhardt said of the 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare. “I had taken some time off. Thankfully my daughter is the sweetest girl you’ll ever meet and she has gifted her to me. Now I have the best ride.”
The pair rode to high scores in both rounds, but Mohrhardt credited consistency—and a warm-up round earlier in the day—for making the difference.
Mohrhardt said what made the difference was, “Putting in the time back at home with our trainers. This morning I did the 2’3″ class which was very similar in the turns and track, so going into it I knew what kind of canter I needed. It just made for the perfect ending.”
Though the scores were close heading into the handy round, Mohrhardt improved on her first-round score to finish on a total of 161 and secure the victory.
“You can’t overthink it,” she said about the key to riding a confident handy round. “There are more turns and you have to be tidier, whereas when you have a long run your brain has a lot longer to think, and you have longer to pull or do things you’re not supposed to do.”
The Mohrhardts are local to Traverse City, so they’ve seen firsthand how Flintfields Horse Park has grown and matured over the years.
“Every single year the amount they put into the show is incredible,” she shared. “You see improvements every year and I can’t say you do at all other shows. It’s the first thing we do when we get here – we drive here and point out everything that’s new and it makes us excited for the season. It’s amazing.”
Lucie Mae Benson took second place in the Hoof & Paw 2’-2.3” Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby aboard Straight Shooter, while Julianna Hillestad was third with Soul Love.
In the $1,000 USHJA National 2’6” Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby, Caitlyn Bert took top honors with Samwise on a final score of 171. Emersen Roodvoets took second place with Nikko Z, and Camille Badler was third with Eragon.
Saturday brings two international classes in the Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel International Ring, the $31,100 Two Phase and the feature event of the week, the $116,500 Traverse City CSI4* Grand Prix. Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
