New York, N.Y. – Sept. 23, 2017 – On Saturday horses and ponies made their way through the shadowed paveways of Central Park into the show ring for their last day of competition at the Fourth Annual Central Park Horse Show which highlighted the hunters with the U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup, the $2,500 Junior/Amateur Classic and the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic after two days of jumper competition. Wollman Rink underwent another transformation as course designer Bobby Murphy replaced bright poles and gappy oxers with brush boxes and flower pots. It was the Towell family that once again dominated the day as Liza Towell Boyd won the U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup aboard Stella Styslinger’s O’Ryan, building off brother Hardin’s past two days of jumper success.
Thirteen riders jumped the first round with the top 12 riders called back for the second round. Liza and the 15-year-old Holsteiner gelding came into the second round 1.5 points behind Jennifer Alfano, but delivered an incredible ride earning a score of 90 for a total of 176.5 to win by half of a point. Liza felt some pressure after Hardin won the U.S. Open $40,000 FEI CSX Speed Class, placed second in the $216,000 U.S. Open Grand Prix CSI3*, and earned the title of U.S. Open Leading Rider. Her student Stella Styslinger also won the $2,500 Junior/Amateur Classic earlier in the day, so Liza knew her father Jack would be happy no matter what which helped her to relax.
Jennifer Alfano and Miss Lucy
Last to enter the ring in the first round, Alfano and long-standing partner Miss Lucy, owned by Sharon O´Neill, overtook their competitors earning the highest score to lead and return as the final pair in the second round, but unfortunately finished just behind Boyd with a score of 176. Alfano and the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare made history in 2015 by claiming the inaugural $50,000 Duchossois Cup. Alfano suffered an injury a year and a half ago and just got back into the show ring after in the spring, already returning to her successful ways with Miss Lucy placing ninth in this year’s USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship.
Hunt Tosh and Patriot
Third went to Hunt Tosh and the Wheeler Family’s Patriot. Tosh and the 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding have had a very successful summer including top finishes at the Blue Grass Festival and Aiken Fall Festival.
The U.S. Open $50,000 Duchossois Cup is held in memory of nationally known horseman Bruce Duchossois, vice president of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation, inductee into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame and recipient of the Equestrian Aid Foundation Luminary Award.
Liza Boyd and O’ Ryan
Junior/Amateurs and Ponies Kick off Hunter Day
Stella Styslinger and Cassanto
Coinciding with her trainer’s success, Stella Styslinger rode her own 10-year-old Holsteiner gelding to victory in the $2,500 Junior/Amateur Classic. Styslinger was first in the ring and set the pace with an impressive score of 83 which became uncatchable.
The ponies kicked off the afternoon with the $1,000 Pony Hunter Classic where 10-year-old Annabella Bozzuto rode Robin Bozzuto’s Our Song to the top with a score of 78. The pony riders were able to select their own songs to ride to and Bozzuto selected Coldplay’s “Adventure of a Lifetime” because she said that it describes her experience.
Annabella Bozzuto and Our Song
The final day of the Rolex Central Park Horse Show on Sunday will offer free entry and host a family day with dog agility, pony rides, hobby horsing and more.
View the original article on Phelps Sports.