Victories for Ayers and Serio Highlight Thursday at Saratoga Classic II

The Saratoga Classic II Horse Show continued on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at White Hollow Farm with Jeffrey Ayers taking home the Grand Hunter Championship and Christina Serio speeding to a win in the $5,000 1.35m Welcome Stake. The week’s competition features a $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby on Friday as well as a $25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix and the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships on Saturday with classes wrapping up on Sunday, June 23.

Serio and Discovery-O, owned by Derbydown, were double clear in 43.889 seconds for victory. Alice Cassidy rode her own Ace of Spaces, a 10-year-old German Sport Horse gelding by Discar, were second with a clear jump-off ride in 47.472 seconds. David Tromp rode Dubai Z, an eight-year-old Zangersheide gelding by Dakar VDL owned by David Tromp Show Stables Inc. to third place. They had four faults in the jump-off and finished in 44.452 seconds.

“It was a very fun class. The course was good and was just challenging enough,” she said. “We love Saratoga. We love the town, and we just love coming here. It was definitely a good show to put on our list, and our clients were happy about coming.”

While Serio spends most of her time coaching students or showing client horses, there is one special horse in her barn who is all hers—Discovery-O. The 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding came to her as a four-year-old out of the VDL Auction in Wellington, Florida, and has become her horse of a lifetime. Discovery-O has jumped to the CSI4* level with Serio, but after an injury about four years ago, he’s been slowly coming back.

“Hopefully we can start to do some smaller grands prix,” said Serio, who runs Derbydown LLC in Kennett Square, PA, with her mother Louise Serio. “FEI would be amazing if it happened again in the future, but if not, I just want to do what I can with him and enjoy my horse. He’s been incredible. He always puts 110% into everything. He’s very kind and friendly. He has always wanted to please and always wanted to be a winner, so he’s been amazing to bring along.”

It's been a few years since Discovery-O has jumped 1.30m, so Serio is undecided about competing in more classes this week. “I’m thrilled with today, and if that’s what I go home with then I’m happy with that,” she said. “He knows me, and I know him. He’s a very confident horse, and that makes me confident. I just adore him. He’s a part of our family, and he’s my best friend.”

Westport Takes Top Honors In The Hunters

Ayers and Gerald Camera’s seven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Westport (Clinton Jack) took to the winner’s circle to collect the Grand Hunter Championship, after three wins as well as second and third places in the Green/High Performance Hunter combined division gave them the most points in the professional divisions.

Ayers is familiar with White Hollow Farm after judging at Saratoga Horse Shows multiple times, but this was his first time showing and bringing clients.

“The whole Saratoga area is fun to be in,” he said. “There’s a lot of restaurants and shopping. It’s a lovely horse show with great footing and a nice schooling area. It’s convenient in a lot of ways. Everything is easy and professionally done.”

Westport was previously shown by Geoffrey Hesslink and came to Ayers’ barn last December.

“The owner and I both liked the horse, and we went down to try him and bought him. He’s been doing mostly the Green Conformation Hunters. He was circuit champion at World Equestrian Center – Ocala over the winter,” said Ayers, whose business EquiVentures Sport Horse Sales is based in Sellersville, PA. “He’s a very good mover and a very good jumper. He is still a little bit green, and I’ve only had him for seven months. We’re still getting tuned into one another.”

Ayers is planning to ride his top horse, Cartel, in the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championship on Saturday and will stay busy coaching several amateur and junior clients.

Saratoga Classic II Horse Show Highlights

Friday, June 21
$10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Saturday, June 22
$25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championship

Sunday, June 23
President’s Cup Equitation
$1,000 Non-Pro Hunter Derby
Grand Hunter Champion awards

Looking for horse show photos? Visit official photographer Jess Windhurst Photography
at www.JessWindhurst.com to view all of your show proofs!

For more information on the Saratoga Horse Shows, visit www.saratogahorseshows.com.

About Saratoga Horse Shows

Now in its 26th year, Saratoga Horse Shows will offer nine USEF-rated competitions on the 2024 show calendar, along with an additional seven schooling show dates. Managed by Southbound Saratoga Management Group and held at White Hollow Farm in Stillwater, New York, Saratoga Horse Shows is situated on more than 100 acres and located eight miles from downtown Saratoga Springs. With eight large arenas featuring state-of-the-art drainage and all-weather performance footing, permanent and tented stabling, and turnout paddocks, it is the ideal place to show during the spring and summer months. Visit www.saratogahorseshows.com to learn more.