Liza Towell Boyd and Gigi Manigault’s Walk-Off had a spectacular time in the $50,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular during Week 6 of the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit.

Only Amanda Steege and Lafitte De Muze earned more points from the judges to secure the victory on February 20 in Wellington, Florida.

Boyd came into Round 2 in 10th place on a first round score of 86.66, but her high score of 91 in the second round shot her into the lead, to be beaten by only Steege later in the class. Following Boyd in third was Geoffrey Hesslink and Bond, owned by Shadowfax Equestrian, LLC.

Steege, who has shown Laffite De Muze four years in a row in this class, planned to ride a smooth first round, knowing he would rise to the occasion and jump with amazing style. She made a solid plan for the second round, then went a completely different direction after watching the rounds before her.

“Liza [Boyd] and I walked together, and we were not planning on doing some of the inside slices we did,” said Steege of her plan for Round 2. “As we were watching people go and do the turns, the judges seemed to reward it, so I actually phoned a friend. I called Tom Wright, who was sitting in the stands, literally when I was standing at the in-gate and I asked him what he thought I should do. He helped me formulate a plan that we thought would be the best for Lafitte, and I was happy I was able to follow the plan and make it work.”

Boyd ascribed feelings of admiration of Lafitte De Muze for her mount, Walk-Off, the 7-year-old gelding that recently made his hunter debut and took home reserve champion in the 3’6” Green Hunters during WCHR week to qualify for the class. “My horse is honored to be second to Lafitte,” Boyd said. “I think he just idolizes the horse."

Liza and Walk-Off trot in for the victory gallop.

“[Walk-Off] is quite green,” continued Boyd. “Actually, when we went to jog today, I realized he’s a ‘COVID baby’—he doesn’t know how to jog! With him being green, in the first round I rode a little bit cautious, and the second round when I was in tenth place, I thought I’d just go for it. He really stepped up to the plate and did all the inside turns. He proved to me that he’s going to be a real derby horse in the making.”

Riders earning champion or reserve champion in the 3'6" and higher rated WCHR hunter sections qualified for the $50,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular, with additional riders qualifying based on points if the qualified riders chose not to compete or were pre-qualified. In addition, riders also qualified based on their 2020 standings in the WCHR national awards programs.

The class, a two-round hunter classic, was scored by three panels of two judges, including Chris Wynne and Mary Lisa Leffler; Rachel Kennedy and Sissy Wickes; and Mark Jungherr and Tom Brennan.