Nina Alario and Ella Cate Duke Win on Derby Day at Desert Circuit 8

Thermal, Calif. – Friday is derby day at Desert Circuit, and on February 27, the day belonged to Nina Alario and Ella Cate Duke. Alario piloted While Away to the win in the $15,000 Burrtec Waste & Recycling USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, and Duke took the top spot in the $15,000 Zeppelin Farms USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur aboard Understudy.

“[While Away] is just the nicest horse I’ve ever had,” said Alario. “She has a very slow cadence – just naturally slow like you want in a hunter – but she is so light. I always say it’s like riding a ballerina. She has always been an amazing show horse. She goes in the ring, and she knows. She just brings it.”

The 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, owned by Middlepath Farm LLC, certainly brought it on Friday, earning scores of 90 and 89 for a winning total score of 179. Second place went to Jordan Gilchrist who earned a score of 177.5 (89.5 and 88) aboard Point Luck, owned by Deana Crawford. Scores of 87 and 90 for a 177 total gave third place to Marisa Metzger and Kessina, owned by Laurie Jueneman.

Course designer Lynn Mullins set the track in the Main Hunter Ring at Desert International Horse Park, and it was one well-suited to Alario and While Away.

“I love Lynn Mullins’ courses,” said Alario. “The beginning just gave us time to get a feel for the ring, and then the handy, there were some very good inside turn options. Both my horses I rode, especially [While Away], were right there to let me pick the first option on all the handy turns. Then we finished with a nice gallop to the gate. It’s always fun!”

Alario and While Away have achieved numerous national hunter derby wins in their roughly four years together, but today, the mare’s primary role is competing in the 3’ Amateur-Owner Hunters with owner Elizabeth Robbins.

“I only show her in the derbies when it doesn’t conflict with the division,” concluded Alario. “So, this was the only one we did this circuit, but we made it count!”

In the $15,000 Zeppelin Farms USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, Duke similarly made her time away from school at the University of Oregon count. She rode her partner of five years, Understudy, to scores of 87 and 85 for the win with an overall score of 172.

Second place went to Abby Morris and her own Chillman with a score of 169.5 (84.5+85), and Kathy Nolan and her Just Because took third with a 168.5 total score (85.5+83).

“I don’t think I had ever done a hunt and go derby before. So, I really liked the format,” said Duke, who trains with Shelley Campf. “I started off the course just trying to be super smooth. It’s kind of [Understudy’s] first real day showing here because he just drove down on Monday. So I was just trying to be smooth and calm. Then, once I realized he was being perfect, I kind of picked up the pace for the handy and tried to gallop around and stay tidy.”

In speaking of the horse that has also carried her to the USEF/Dover Saddlery Hunter Seat Medal Final, the ASPCA Maclay National Championship and the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championship, Duke continued, “He’s such a little sweetheart. He is a very lovely ride. He carries himself well. He jumps so smooth. He’s easy to stay with. He has a nice, soft mouth. He’s my dream horse to be honest.”

Duke is currently a sophomore studying communications and sports business and keeping busy balancing schoolwork with riding her 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

“Honestly, if you ask any of my friends, I’m almost never at school. Don’t tell my teachers that!” joked Duke. “I’m driving home a lot on the weekends to come help ride for Shelley and school [Understudy] as well. I’m definitely the type that cannot stay in college over the weekend. I have to come ride and keep myself busy.”

For full results of the $15,000 Burrtec Waste & Recycling USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Open, click here, and for all results from the $15,000 Zeppelin Farms USHJA National Hunt & Go Derby – Junior/Amateur, click here.