Last Updated on October 5, 2025 by adminahb
Jennifer Alfano and Ivy League ©Madison Coleman for Natalie Suto Photography
October 3, 2025 – Mill Spring, NC – Week three of the Tryon Fall Series presented by Coca-Cola saw no shortage of talent in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, with Hunter teams taking over the International Stadium Friday evening. As the final horse-and-rider team to tour the Seth Clayton (USA) track, Jennifer Alfano (USA) and her own Ivy League (Cumytime Z x Ibiza-S) scored a win, collecting a 372-point total. Fabian Herrera (USA), owner and rider of the 2012 Warmblood gelding Accelerator (Accelerator x Bazylia), earned second place in the derby with a total of 279 points. Jennifer Alfano also partnered with Meredith Lipke’s Paradigm (Carrico x Queensberry PJ), the 2012 Warmblood gelding, to score 279 points and a third-place finish.
“He’s been on a roll lately!” Jennifer Alfano said of Ivy League, who enjoyed a successful summer in the Hunter ring. “I bought him as a five-year-old, hoping to make him into a derby horse. He’s eight this year, and he’s really figuring it out,” she elaborated. “I’m really proud of him – he’s getting more and more consistent, and I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Riding three entries in Friday’s derby, Alfano had the chance to take different strategies on the course. “On ‘Ivy’, I played it a little bit safe and tried to have a nice, smooth [handy] round. It paid off!” she detailed.
“[Ivy League] is such an amazing jumper, I think that’s his strong suit,” Alfano noted. “He’s so beautiful in the air over the jumps, and people fall in love with him for that.”
With the International Stadium providing a new atmosphere for the Hunters, riders had the opportunity to expose their equine teammates to a fresh environment. “I appreciate [Tryon] putting the derby in the stadium. I know it’s a big effort for them, and I appreciate them taking the time to do it, because it’s great for us!” Alfano concluded.
Ashley Lovegrove Cruises to a $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Win
October 3, 2025 – Kicking off Friday morning with a win, Ashley Lovegrove (Southern Pines, NC) took Pinot Noir (CW Valente x Henry Jota Pady) to the top in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Teaming up with the 2017 Warmblood mare Bull Run’s Luminous (Valentino x Cleophatra), Kristen VanderVeen (Wellington, FL) captured second place with a total of 175 points in the derby. Ashley Lovegrove also captured third place with Coquito (Corporal VDL x Anthesia), Rosa Ronalter’s 2017 Westfalen gelding, completing the class with 173 points.
The 2016 Silla Argentino gelding piloted by Lovegrove collected the highest round one score of 91 points and secured the win with 94 points in the handy round. Commenting on her winning mount, Lovegrove shared that “he stepped up for me every place that I needed him to; it was a fun ride!”
Noting the handy round’s “handiness,” Lovegrove enjoyed the Archer “Skip” Bailey designed course and her goal in the handy was to “just to be as tidy as I could” and “I knew I could make some tighter turns and show off a bit with him.”
This win for Ashley Lovegrove helped contribute to their “great” week so far during Tryon Fall 3. She concluded by sharing her appreciation towards Tryon International for the “experience” and “opportunity”.
Learn more at www.Tryon.com.