Patience Pays Off for ISHD Dual Star and Chapot in $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix
SAUGERTIES, NY (August 29, 2014) – Laura Chapot has almost every color grand prix ribbon at the entrance to her HITS Saugerties barn, except blue. She knocked on the door of a grand prix victory several times over the six-week spring and summer series, but finally got her win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis. Riding ISHD Dual Star, the victory was Chapot’s first grand prix win with the 12-year old Irish Sport Horse mare owned by Mary Chapot and her first of the 2014 HITS Saugerties Circuit.
“We’ve had a lot of nice finishes this year but getting that win together is special,” said Chapot, who had the ride when ISHD Dual Star jumped to third in the $100,000 Strongid© C 2X™ Grand Prix presented by Zoetis during HITS-on-the-Hudson VI. “I’ve had this horse for less than a year – we imported her from Cian O’Connor in Ireland before the Winter Circuit in Florida and things are starting to come together for us. I was so impressed with how quick and brave she was in the jump-off.”
While Chapot and ISHD Dual Star were in sync, focused and fast on Friday, they didn’t always jive. “I ride my horses to be independent and don’t manipulate them in the ring. They have to think for themselves,” said Chapot.
ISHD Dual Star’s newly found self-governance took some acclimating, but Chapot is starting to reap the benefits of her “thinking” horse. “She responded to my ride well and it showed today that as a pair, we are improving all the time,” she added.
Brave, energetic and a trier by definition, ISHD Dual Star was one of eight horses to advance past course designer Jerry Dougherty’s [Bokeelia, Florida] track. The test included two technical combinations – a triple and double – and intricate turns weaving their way across the expansive Strongid® C 2X Grand Prix Stadium.
Returning first over the short course, Ali Wolff [New Albany, Ohio] set the competitive Great American Time to Beat at 44.45 seconds. One trip later, Chapot returned with what appeared to be a fresh horse. ISHD Dual Star shaved more than three seconds off the time to beat and stopped the clock at 41.01 seconds.
“She gives me her all whether it’s the first or last jump of the day,” said Chapot. Try as they might, the five who followed could not catch the duo.
Wolff held on to second and Chapot also collected third with her and McLain Ward’s Quointreau Un Prince. Jonathan McCrea [East Windsor, Connecticut] and Candy Tribble’s Aristoteles V claimed fourth, while Tracy Fenney [Flower Mound, Texas] rounded out the top five in the irons of MTM Timon for MTM Farm.
With a talented string delivering top finishes this week, Chapot has a million-dollar decision to make in the coming days. “I’m still making plans for the [Zoetis] Million,” she said. “It will all come down to how the horses go this weekend.”
With the final two week of the HITS Saugerties Circuit well underway, qualifying for the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix at the HITS Championship September 7, is heating up. Grand prix qualifying opportunities will continue this Sunday. The $50,000 HITS Grand Prix presented by Zoetis takes the stage at 2pm and will be will be available live via webcast at HRTV.com and iEquine.com.
©ESI Photography
Laura Chapot and ISHD Dual Star jump to a win in Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis at HITS Saugerties.
©ESI Photography
Lindsay Yandon of HITS presents Laura Chapot and ISHD Dual Star with winner's awards, including a Horze Equestrian cooler, after Friday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis.
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$25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis
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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.
$10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome
Chapot actually got her winning streak started earlyin the week. She and 10-year old KWPN mare Zealous topped the 1.40m $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome over a field of 23, while she piloted Umberto to fifth. Both horses are owned by Mary Chapot.
While the allure of the Zoetis $1 Million Grand Prix led high-stakes veteran John Pearce [Bermuda Dunes, California] to make a cross-country trip, he jumped Johnny B Good to second for Forest View Farm in Wednesday’s Welcome. Amanda Flint [Long Valley, New Jersey] was third in the irons of Chester VDL for The Coverboy Group and Dorothy Douglas [Flower Mound, Texas] took fourth with S & L Elite, owned by S & L Farms.
Brook Ledge Horse Transportation presents a weekly jumper class throughout the HITS Saugerties summer and fall shows. Aside from the winner’s purse, Brook Ledge Open Welcome riders also compete for the Brook Ledge Rider Bonus, which includes a $1,500 shipping credit for the rider who accumulates the most points in those classes throughout the circuit.
©ESI Photography
Laura Chapot and Zealous on their way to a win in the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome on Wednesday.