Liza Boyd and Cassico
Once again, Liza Boyd showed everyone how the Handy Round could be ridden when she and Cassico leapfrogged up the standings to place third in the $311,740 Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship. She couldn’t quite catch good friend Hunt Tosh, who guided the Wheeler Family’s Cannon Creek to the victory, and second-placed Sam Schaefer riding Caristo.
Over Alan Lohman and Danny Moore’s hunter track, Liza capitalized on the tight turns and handy options. The 12-effort course had horses and riders taking a tour of the Rolex Arena, including over a trot jump and four high options.
This was Hunt’s first time back in the winner’s seat at the Championships since his win in 2010 with Lone Star.
“It’s really cool to see that he has another horse as cool as Lone Star because Lone Star was a horse of a lifetime, and that doesn’t happen very often,” said Liza, commenting on Tosh’s mount. “When I saw [Cannon Creek] jump it was so much like Lone Star and it gives me hope that maybe I can find another Brunello in 10 years.”
Liza and Rebekah Warren’s Cassico took home the third-place ribbon and $26,435.55 in prize money. The pair entered the ring for the Handy round in eighth and quickly moved up the leaderboard with a 571.5 overall. The only rider to win the Championship on the same horse three years in a row, Liza is no stranger to the top of the class.
“This is my fourth time being third, and it was the most fun. On the podium, I was so excited. These medals, thank you guys; it made third almost as fun as winning,” Boyd said. “It’s fun for us Hunter riders because we don’t get this opportunity and this is the Olympics for us, so it’s a big deal.”
New this year was a special award in memory of Finally Farm’s late groom, The Alberto Ramirez International Hunter Derby Groom’s Award. Alberto was a mainstay in Liza and Brunello’s multiple USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship wins, and the USHJA honored his memory alongside his friends with this new award that was presented posthumously to him on Saturday evening.
