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SAUGERTIES, NY (July 25, 2009)—Three Olympic riders shared four of the five top
placings in Friday’s $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson V in
Saugerties, New York.
Todd Minikus and Pavarotti were the best of 38
horse-and-rider pairs who challenged former Olympic course designer Olaf
Petersen’s first-round course and the eleven pairs that advanced to the
jump-off.
Friday was a banner day for Minikus, who not only took home
the blue ribbon and the $7,500 winner’s share of the purse but also placed
third aboard Sleepy P Ranch’s Presidente. The two placings in a field that also
included two-time Olympian McLain Ward and former Olympians Leslie Burr Howard and Nona Garson
certainly made the day feel even sweeter.
“Having eleven in the jump-off from a
38-horse start was a good number,” noted Minikus. “The jump-off just kept getting faster and
faster,” he added, and when McLain [Ward] came back for his jump-off round, I thought
it might be all over.”
Minikus was right to be concerned as Ward has been cleaning up this
season in Saugerties. This time; however, Ward would not prove fast
enough to beat either
of Minikus’ two horses and in the end, it was Minikus who blazed
over through the timers on Presidente in 35 seconds flat, almost a
half-second faster than the time Howard and Jeans
Glove Varnel would turn in, despite their enviable last-to-go position in
the jump-off.
Asked if he thought he
would still have enough “gas” to triumph again in Sunday’s $75,000 HITS Grand
Prix, Minikus smiled and said “Well, that is, of course, the question!”
In addition to the three Olympians clustered at the top of
the final rankings, last Sunday’s victors in the $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, Bill Lowry
and Rio Corde, gave it their best and
secured fourth place with their double-clear round in a time of 36.991 seconds. In all, seven of the eleven pairs that
returned for Petersen's challenging jump-off course would turn in fault-free rounds, thus forcing the clock to be the
final determiner for the day.
When asked about Friday's outcome, Course Designer Petersen
remarked “The first round was challenging enough—I was pleased that 11 horses cleared
the first round. And the jump-off itself was great—it was one of the
fastest rounds I have ever seen. The turns! What Todd and Leslie
did was amazing! I think we’ll see some really great horses for
Sunday’s Grand Prix—and I’m looking forward to a great class!”
The action continues
this weekend with a full schedule of classes,
featuring the $75,000 HITS Grand Prix on Sunday, July 26 to close out
the week. Starting on Monday, July 27, HITS will be hosting the $50,000
USEF Junior Hunter Finals followed by HITS-on-the-Hudson VI (July
29 - August 2), featuring the return of the $10,000 USHJA/Chronicle of
the Horse International Hunter Derby, the $5,000 Pony Commotion Classic
and the big summer finale,
the $125,000 Strongid C 2X
Grand Prix to close out the series on Sunday, August 2.
HITS, Inc. is a special events
management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse
shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS
produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982.
Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with
world-class hunter/jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New
York and Virginia.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.
Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.
©Lili Weik Photography
Todd Minikus and Pavarotti cruise over Olaf Petersen Sr.'s course in Friday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties.
©Lili Weik Photography
Todd Minikus is congratulated in the winner's circle after
their exciting win in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix. HITS' Tony Hitchcock and Lisa Engel present the awards.
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PLACING
|
|
|
OWNER
|
PRIZE
MONEY
|
RD 1
FAULTS
|
JO
FAULTS
|
JO
TIME
|
| 1 |
Pavarotti |
Todd Minikus |
Todd Minikus Ltd |
$7,500
|
0 |
0 |
35.000
|
| 2 |
Jeans Glove Varnel |
Leslie Burr Howard |
Leslie Burr Howard & Blenheim Farm |
$5,500
|
0 |
0 |
35.461
|
| 3 |
Presidente |
Todd Minikus |
Sleepy P Ranch LLC |
$3,250
|
0 |
0
|
36.376
|
| 4 |
Rio Corde |
Bill Lowry |
Winsor Farm Sales Inc |
$2,000
|
0 |
0
|
36.991
|
| 5 |
Miss Liberty 7 |
McLain Ward |
Overlook Farm |
$1,500
|
0 |
0 |
37.188 |
| 6 |
Rolling Hills Kolita |
Molly Ashe-Cawley |
Rolling Hills Farm |
$1,250
|
0 |
0 |
37.575 |
| 7 |
Rothchild |
McLain Ward |
McLain Ward |
$1,000
|
0 |
0 |
37.903 |
| 8 |
Twister |
David Tromp |
Beyaert Farm |
$750
|
0 |
4 |
39.098 |
| 9 |
3-M-Laredo |
Samuel Parot |
Samuel Parot |
$750
|
0 |
4 |
42.152 |
| 10 |
Credit Cruise |
Alexa Lowe |
Alexa Lowe/Windsor Farm Sales |
$500
|
0 |
8 |
37.911 |
| 11 |
Oliver |
Judy Garofalo Torres |
Higher Ground Farm |
$500
|
0 |
8 |
41.628 |
| 12 |
VDL Torlando |
Callan Solem |
Torlando Group |
$500
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
