Manuel Torres and Christofolini H Take the Blue in the $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix
Culpeper, VA (August 20, 2016): Horses and riders turned out for the fourth week of competition at HITS Culpeper this season for a shot at victory in the $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix.
Manuel Torres, riding out of Waterford, Virginia, claimed the blue ribbon aboard Christofilini H, owned by Andrea Torres Guerreiro. Torres has consistently been in the top five in the Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper this season, most recently claiming third in the Week III $30,000 HITS Grand Prix and fifth in that week’s $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix.
Three advanced over the first round course set by Oscar Soberon of Mexico City to contest the jump-off, and All challengers would go clear over the shortened course in a race against the clock. First to return to the ring for the jump-off was Glenmoore, Pennsylvania equestrian, Callan Solem aboard VDL Wizard, owned by Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC.
Solem and her fiery, chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding took to the course no holds barred to lay down a cool, clear trip in 36.223, setting the tone for her competitors.
Following Solem was Debbie McCarthy Connor of Patterson, New York, and Zim, owned by Connor and Ebetino Jumpers. Connor and Zim placed fourth in the $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix during the first week at HITS Culpeper back in April.
Connor and Zim stopped the clock with all of the rails up, but their time of 41.395 would not be quick enough to edge out Solem or compete with Torres’ round. They ultimately took home the third place prize for their efforts.
The final trip to return to the ring for the jump-off was Torres aboard Christofilini H. They powered through the course, and laid down a lightning-fast trip. They clocked in with another fault-free trip in 35.368, pushing Solem’s round to second place and grabbing the blue-ribbon victory.
Although she would settle for second, Solem also took home fourth and fifth place, with the fastest of the four-fault rounds. She finished fourth with VDL Torlando, owned by the Torlando Group and fifth with Davidson, owned by Five Star Partners.
Show jumping continues at HITS Commonwealth Park this Sunday with the $30,000 Purina Grand Prix. HITS will also offer an additional back-to-back week of top-notch competition and prize money August 24-28 featuring two Grand Prix. For a complete schedule, click here.
Place
Horse
Owner
Rider
Prize
Rd. 1 Faults
JO Faults
JO Time
1
Christofilini H
Andrea Torres Guerreiro
Manuel Torres
$7,500
0
0
35.368
2
VDL Wizard
Horseshoe Trail Farm, LLC
Callan Solem
$5,500
0
0
36.223
3
Zim
Connor & Ebetino Jumpers
Debbie McCarth Connor
$3,250
0
0
41.395
4
VDL Torlando
Torlando Group
Callan Solem
$2,000
4
-
-
5
Davidson
Five Star Partners
Callan Solem
$1,500
4
-
-
6
NewCastle
Therese Bentley
Cian McDermott
$1,250
4
-
-
7
Synapse de Blondel
Pailott Equine Consulting, LLC
Alexa Lowe-Wiserman
$1,000
4
-
-
8
Cruising Altitude
Santa Catalina Farm
Manuel Torres
$750
8
-
-
9
Stella de Lannay
Windsor Farm Sales
Alexa Lowe-Wiserman
$750
8
-
-
10
Pernod
Alpha Omega Farm
Gavin Moylan
$500
8
-
-
11
Denali
Paula Pell
Sulu Rose-Reed
$500
16
-
-
12
De Grande
Kama Godek
Kama Godek
$500
16
-
-
(C) ESI Photography Manuel Torres and Christofolini H on their way to a $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix win.
(C) ESI Photography Manuel Torres and Christofilini H winning the $25,000 Brook Ledge Grand Prix
About HITS, Inc. HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.
While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York.