Keri Rankin and the talented bay lead from start to finish over a big field.

Keri Rankin found her way to the top of the $10,000 ASG Software Solutions USHJA International Hunter Derby via Crossroads. She guided the elegant bay gelding to the blue in the class, held Feb. 27 during the Gulf Coast Magnolia Classic, Feb. 25-March 1 in Gulfport, Miss.

Rankin and Crossroads established their lead in Round 1 of the derby. Course designer Allen Rheinheimer built a flowing track of natural jumps that provided three 4′ options. “It was a great hunter course. I thought it was straightforward and allowed you to gallop around,” Rankin said.

A total of 48 professional, amateur and junior riders started the class.

The judging panel of Brian Lenehan, Scott Alder, Skip Thornbury and Meg Skaffgaard awarded Crossroads and Rankin a score of 179 for their first round, putting them ahead of the pack. Holly Shepherd and Ashbury were just behind (176.5), with Mary Eufemia and Unbelievable in third (173).

For Round 2, Rheinheimer built a true handy course, including a brush jump, a trot fence and a gate that the riders had to open and pass through. They finished with a hand-gallop over the last brush oxer.

Junior rider Leah Curtiss upped the ante by turning in a polished second round, scoring a 173 to set the pace with a 341-point total from the two rounds. Eufemia and Unbelievable picked up bonus points for brilliance, but their score of 168 left them just even with Curtiss with a total of 341.

Ashbury and Shepherd made it clear that Rankin would have to shine to win, scoring a 179 in Round 2 to put their total at 355.5.

Rankin and Crossroads were up to the challenge, negotiating the gate smoothly and finishing with a flourish over the last oxer. The judges rewarded them with a score of 182, giving them the clear lead with a 361-point total, much to the crowd’s delight.

Crossroads has traveled a bit, but he found his way back to Rankin and trainer David Pellegrini last year. Pellegrini bought the Danish Warmblood in 2006 from Jimmy Williams in Indiana. “He’d been in the jumper ring, but I thought he was a beautiful jumper, a beautiful mover and a very quiet horse. I thought he’d make a great convert into the hunter world,” Pellegrini said.

Richard Rinehart had been competing Crossroads (Carano—Klio) in the 5-year-old young jumper division, so the bay started his hunter career in December 2006 in the second year green division with Michael Tokaruk riding.

Crossroads caught the eye of trainer Rick Fancher, and his amateur student Mary Jane King bought him in early 2007. Crossroads did double duty in 2007, in the second years with Fancher aboard and the adult amateurs with King.

But Crossroads proved to be too big for King, so Fancher sent him back to Pellegrini in the spring of 2008. “I was thrilled when he came back to the barn,” Pellegrini said. “He’s absolutely the nicest horse I’ve ever been associated with.”

Throughout 2008, Crossroads competed in the regular working division with Rankin aboard. They earned championships both weeks of the Blowing Rock Charity (N.C.) and were third in the $25,000 Challenge of Champions Hunter Classic there. They were also second in the USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Kentucky National.

Junior rider Hayley Barnhill also showed Crossroads in the large junior, 15 and under, division and some equitation classes. In fact, he was her mount for the Washington International Equitation Classic Final (D.C.) and the ASPCA Maclay Final (N.Y.).

Rankin and Crossroads started 2009 with two championships and a reserve in the regular working division at the Gulf Coast circuit before their hunter derby win.