Kenzie Smith and Sundown Shine in $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby at Lexington Spring Encore
Lexington, Va. – May 2, 2025 – Friday morning at the Virginia Horse Center brought the competitive energy as top hunter riders gathered for the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by the Simons Callagy Fund. In a field packed with talent at the Lexington Spring Encore, it was junior rider Kenzie Smith aboard Sundown who claimed the winning title after earning a combined score of 181 to top the leaderboard on Derby Day, sponsored by Triple Crown.
The class followed a Hunt-and-Go format, where riders seamlessly transitioned from the classic “hunt” phase to the handy “go” phase without leaving the ring. The opening portion featured a flowing bending line with high options on both the in and out elements, followed by a direct approach to a single fence across the centerline. In contrast, the handy section challenged riders with sharp rollback turns, a trot jump, and questions that rewarded bold inside tracks and accuracy. Fences were set at 3’ with high options at 3’5”, offering ample opportunities for riders to demonstrate brilliance and style.
Smith and Sundown, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright and trained by McKenzie Canard, impressed from start to finish. They wowed the judges with a forward, connected ride in the classic phase, scoring a 92, and followed it up with an equally polished and bold handy round that earned an 89 for a total of 181.
“Sundown was very good today,” said Smith after leading the lap of honor. “He listened really well after the trot jump, especially because it was a quick turn back on the oxer.”
Trainer McKenzie Canard shared more about the 15-year-old gelding’s journey to this win saying, “We brought him along kind of slowly. We got him when he was doing the 7 Year Olds in Florida,” she said. “His owner also rides him in the pleasure division, and he just stepped back up to the 3’3” this year. He really loves Kenzie, with her nice, small leg, he’s able to just keep flowing.”
Canard added, “Everyone who’s had him before says the same thing—he just loves having a kid. That’s when he really excels, and he’s really enjoyed having her.”
Second-place honors went to Elizabeth Naber aboard Toussaint for owner Judy Ulrich Miller. The pair laid down a smooth, elegant trip to earn an 89 in the classic and a class-topping 91 in the handy round for a total score of 180 following right behind the winning score. Maria Bishop Shannon and Silver Oak secured third place with scores of 86 and 90, totaling 176.
As a long-time attendee of the Lexington Spring shows, Canard also praised recent facility upgrades. “They’ve done a lot of improvements. All the rings have new footing, and they even put mats in all the stalls now,” she noted. “It’s been great even with the rain, we haven’t had any problems, and everything looks fantastic.”
With her first derby victory now under her belt, Smith and Sundown will be a pair to watch as the season continues. Their natural partnership and steady progression are a testament to thoughtful development and a strong team behind them.
The Lexington Spring Encore continues through Sunday at the Virginia Horse Center, with Saturday evening’s highlight event being the $25,000 George P. Ohrstrom Grand Prix. The Festival of Champions, presented by Attwood Equestrian, carries on with weeks of top-tier competition in both hunter and jumper rings.