Wondering who you should root for during Derby Finals? We've got you covered with some ones to watch and our staff favorites.

Saugerties, N.Y.—Aug. 6

Kelley Farmer went home Saturday night from HITS Saugerties with a bruised body—but not a bruised pride.

After taking an uncharacteristic fall from It’s Me in the handy round, Farmer literally “got back on the horse”—horses, in fact—and swept the top three positions in the $100,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, topping the class with Jane Gaston’s Baltimore. After performing a brilliant handy round that resulted in a class-best 197 score, she moved up from 10th to second with Kodachrome; she rounded out the top three with Point Being.

Traverse City, Mich.—July 30

To turn inside or not to turn inside?

That was the question on everyone’s mind in the handy round of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City.

Kelley Farmer wasn’t sure. She sat atop Kodachrome and asked Larry Glefke, “Yes or no?”

Upperville, Va.—June 11

Devon, Pa.—June 2  

"You'd better step back, Jack's going to go crazy," Louise Serio advised the group of people standing at the in-gate of the Dixon Oval watching Liza Boyd's handy round aboard Like I Said. 

Jack Towell was there, watching his daughter intently. And as she landed over the last, huge oxer, he jumped up and down, whooping and clapping, proving Serio right. "See, I told you. Crazy!" Serio said with a laugh.