Eduardo Menezes Wins $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Up-and-Coming Mount
THERMAL, CA (March 15, 2014) – Just six months ago, Coupido Mercedes Benz was showing in 1.30m classes, but he carried Eduardo Menezes to a win this weekend in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, topping a field of 34 to claim the blue. Menezes was pleased with the win as he prepares to take a stab at the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Lamborghini Newport Beach, this Sunday.
“Many of the horses showing on Sunday in the AIG Million didn’t compete today, so we had a young field of new partnerships. The course was definitely fair and it was a nice course to lead into the Million with.”
Marina Azevedo built Friday’s course before she takes the Strongid® C 2X™ to the next level on Sunday. “Today’s results were perfect considering the Million is Sunday,” said Azevedo. “It was nice preparation for the horses doing the Million, but it was also good for some of the younger horses that we saw today.”
Azevedo set 13 obstacles, including a double and triple combination, and saw 10 jump clear in the first round. Second to return, Ashlee Bond Clarke of Hidden Hills, California posted a clear round and set the Great American Time to Beat at 41.29 seconds with Little Valley Farm’s Chela LS. Carol Wright of Elk Grove, California took the lead two trips later aboard her own Conejito with a time of 40.73 seconds.
Christian Heineking of Hudson Oaks, Texas returned two trips later in the irons of Chakira for owner Isabelle Terry and, despite a rub at the last vertical, finished with no faults and stopped the timers more than a full second ahead in 39.47 seconds.
Menezes returned eighth and Coupido was fast, scopey and careful, leading no one to believe that Friday’s event was only the third grand prix ever for the eight-year-old gelding. A clear round in a time of 38.93 seconds put them on top to stay.
“I like everything about him,” said Menezes of the flashy gray Oldenburg. “He’s very elastic and I never feel him making a great effort over the fences.”
Heineking settled for second and Bliss Heers of Olivehain, California batted clean-up to finish third in 40.39 seconds with Bridgeside Farm, LLC’s Contendra. Wright was fourth and Bond Clarke capped the top five.
As grand prix competition wraps up at HITS Thermal, all attention now turns to the AIG Million and the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping. The AIG Million will take the stage Sunday at 2 pm as the culmination of the 2014 HITS Desert Circuit and will be available worldwide via live webcast, presented in cooperation with HRTV, iEquine.com and A Good Show. Tune in on Sunday at HRTV.com or iEquine.com. To view a printable order of go, click here.
©Flying Horse Photography
Eduardo Menezes and Coupido Mercedes Benz jump to the top spot in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, the day before the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix takes the stage at HITS Thermal.
©Flying Horse Photography
Eduardo Menezes and Coupido Mercedes Benz are presented with top honors, including a Horze Equestrian cooler, after winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis.
About SmartPak
SmartPak powers healthy horses and happy riders. The patented SmartPak Supplement Feeding System™ makes it easy for riders across the country to take the best care of their horses. Founded in 1999, with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements and medications to horses, the system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. For more information, visit SmartPak.com.
About Zoetis
Building on 60 years of experience as Pfizer Animal Health, Zoetis delivers quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostics products and genetics tests and supported by a range of services. They work every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant. Zoetis produces a comprehensive range of safe and effective products, including equine vaccines, dewormers and sedative analgesics, to help professionals and individual horse owners keep their animals healthy. Both veterinarians and horse owners know and trust the Zoetis will help their horses live longer, healthier lives. For more information, visit Zoetis.com.
$25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis
| Place | Horse | Owner | Rider | Prize $ | Rd 1 Faults | JO Faults | JO Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coupido Mercedes Benz | Carlos Hank Jr. | Eduardo Menezes | $7,500 | 0 | 0 | 38.93 |
| 2 | Chakira | Isabelle Terry | Christian Heineking | $5,500 | 0 | 0 | 39.47 |
| 3 | Contendra | Bridgeside Farms, LLC | Bliss Heers | $3,250 | 0 | 0 | 40.39 |
| 4 | Conejito | Carol Wright | Carol Wright | $2,000 | 0 | 0 | 40.73 |
| 5 | Chela LS | Little Valley Farms | Ashlee Bond Clarke | $1,500 | 0 | 0 | 41.29 |
| 6 | Semira De Saulieu | Charlotte Gadbois | Lane Clarke | $1,250 | 0 | 4 | 37.15 |
| 7 | Kiss The Sky | Horsemanship Unlimited | Lane Clarke | $1,000 | 0 | 8 | 39.06 |
| 8 | Udam | Jill Blunt | Jill Blunt | $750 | 0 | 8 | 39.45 |
| 9 | Axl Rose | Monarch International | Hannah Von Heidegger | $750 | 0 | 8 | 39.96 |
| 10 | Ziedento | St. Bride's Farm | Susan Hutchison | $500 | 0 | 19 | 63.30 |
| 11 | SIG Zuleika | SIG International, Inc. | Susan Hutchison | $500 | 4 | - | - |
| 12 | Cesar | Bridgeside Farms, LLC | Bliss Heers | $500 | 4 | - | - |