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CULPEPER,
VA (August
20, 2006)—Todd Minikus rode Pavoratti to
win Sunday's $40,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper
capping off a week of show jumping at the HITS
Winston National Horse Show. He negotiated the
fastest double-clear round on Jerry Dougherty's
challenging course.
Minikus
earned some valuable points with the win as every
grand prix at all HITS horse shows, including
HITS Culpeper and HITS Saugerties is a qualifier
for the United States Grand Prix League Finals.
The finals for the league will be held in Culpeper
on October 1, where $100,000 in prize money will
be on the line. The event is limited to the top
30 United States Grand Prix League horse/rider
combinations. "The fact of the matter is
that I really needed to get some points,"
said Minikus. "HITS offers that very nice
$100,000 class at the end of the year and it is
going to be nice to be a part of it. I wasn't
sure if I was going to have enough points to qualify,
coming in to today."
Grand Prix riders
have two more chances to earn points for the $100,000
USGPL Invitational Grand Prix. In Culpeper
on August 27 riders will vie for the top prize
in the $40,000 HITS Grand Prix. And on September
3 in Saugerties riders get one last chance in
the $50,000 Tavern
on the Green Catering Grand Prix.
Eight
horses advanced to the jump-off, with Minikus
stopping the clocks in the jump-off at 37.556.
Ironically,Minikus had the "last to ride"
position and before his round didn't think Pavoratti
would be fast enough to secure the triumph.
"I didn't have a real strategy,"said
Minikus. "Some of the horses that went clear
before me seemed like they were very fast. Pavoratti
is green and in no way did I feel he could
go as fast. But he surprised me and I am very
proud of my horse."
Minikus began competing
in Grand Prix classes with Pavoratti at
HITS shows in the spring. "I found him through
my travels and something about him sparked my
interest. He is very trainable and has made great
progress."
The
first to go in the jump-off were Tracy Magness
and Tarco Van Ter Moude. The horse/rider
combination had the first clear round in the jump-off
setting the Great American Time to Beat at 40.261
Next to go were Robert Kraut and Providence.
Jumps three and 7A proved troublesome leaving
them with eight faults and an eighth place finish.
Chris
Kappler and Copado surpassed the Great
American Time to beat with their clear round stopping
the clocks in 39.936. Ian Silitch and Escapade
were next and made it back to back clear rounds
with their time of 40.467. On the next trip, Evan
Coluccio and Champigny took over the lead
stopping the clocks in a blazing 39.194.
Allison
Robitaille and La Supra and Laura Linback
and Remember Me 9 each had four faults
in their jump-off round for sixth and seventh
place, respectively. Then Minikus took advantage
of his "last to ride" position to bring
home the win and $12,000 in prize money. Minikus
also won the $15,000 Open Jumper Prix on Friday
aboard his other Grand Prix horse Olinda. Olinda
had just one rail down in the $40,000 HITS Grand
Prix for an 11th place finish.
Show Jumping at HITS
Culpeper resumes at the Constitution Classic Horse
Show August 23-27. For more information about
show jumping at HITS Culpeper, as well as all
other HITS venues, call 845.246.8833 or visit
the HITS website www.HitsShows.com.
©Lili Weik Photography
06
CLASS
415. $40,000 HITS GRAND PRIX (Nt'l Std),
August
20, 2006
|
Placing
|
Horse
|
Rider
|
Owner
|
Prize
Money
|
Rd
1 Faults
|
JO
Faults
|
JO
Time
|
|
1
|
Pavorratti
|
Todd
Minikus
|
Todd
Minikus
|
$12,000
|
0
|
0
|
37.56
|
|
2
|
Champigny
|
Evan
Collucio
|
Alex
Carl
|
$8,500
|
0
|
0
|
39.19
|
|
3
|
Copado
|
Chris
Kappler |
Mr.
and Mrs. Ernest M.Oare
|
$5,200
|
0
|
0
|
39.93
|
|
4
|
Tarco
Van Ter Moude
|
Tracy
Magness
|
Mr.
and Mrs. John Bartko
|
$3,200
|
0
|
0
|
40.26
|
|
5
|
Escapade
|
Ian
Silitch
|
November
Hill
|
$2,400
|
0
|
0
|
40.46
|
|
6
|
La
Supra
|
Allison
Robitaille
|
Mr.
and Mrs. Bertram Firestone
|
$2,000
|
0
|
4
|
39.16
|
OTHER
MAJOR AWARDS AT CULPEPER INCLUDED:
HBO
Children's Medal: Kathleen Barkema
HBO
Junior Medal: Chaz Harpman, Manakin Sabot,
VA
Farnum
Adult Hunter (18-35): Perfect
Image, ridden by Katelyn Mancini and owned
by Kacy Jenkis, Arlington, VA
Farnum
Adult Hunter (36-40): Honor, ridden
and owned by Heather Deane, Manakin Sabot, VAFarnum
Adult Hunter (41 & Over): L'Alezon,
ridden by Betty Oare and owned by Mr. and Mrs.
Ernest M. Oare, Warrenton, VA
Adequen
Open Hunter: Keep the Faith, ridden
and owned by Katie Meagher, Virginia Beach, VA
M&S
Children's Hunter Classic: Newport,
ridden and owned by Alexandra Bowen, Reston, VA
M&S
Adult Hunter Classic:
L'Alezon, ridden by Betty Oare and owned
by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Oare, Warrenton, VA
M&S
Children's Jumper Classic: Checkpoint
Charlie, ridden by Kelley Crisp and owned
by Caitlin Crisp , Mankin Sabot, VA
M&S
Adult Jumper Classic: Namiro,
ridden and owned by Tracey Harmon, Glen Allen,
VA
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