Laura Chapot Earns the Win in the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome at HITS Saugerties

Saugerties, NY (July 28, 2016): Big money jumpers returned to the Grand Prix ring at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Week IV of the Saugerties Summer Series. The $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome kicked off an exciting week full of elite competition.

The team to beat was Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, and Out of Ireland, owned by The Edge. After an eight-place finish in last week’s Brook Ledge sponsored class, the two captured a major upgrade with the Week V blue ribbon. Chapot also reaped the red ribbon piloting Umberto, owned by Mary Chapot, a consistent contender in ribbons all season.

Thirteen would conquer the course set by Florencio Hernandez of Mexico City, with nine producing double-clears in the immediate jump-off, where the class would boil down to survival of the quickest. Riders and their mounts were met with a challenging test that boasted tall verticals, a triple bar, several combinations and distances that tested each pair’s navigational skill. 

First to go double-clear was Anne Kursinksi of Frenchtown, New Jersey, aboard Caspar’s Lasino, owned by Market Street, Inc. They set the tone for the remaining field, clocking in at 38.269, which would ultimately earn them sixth place.

Irish equestrian Kevin Babington, now riding out of Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, garnered the next clear jump-off round with Double O Seven 7. They passed the timers in 38.080, which would be enough to take home the final spot in the top five for fifth place.

Next of the top five to contest the shortened course were the victors, Chapot and Out of Ireland. They angled several verticals in the jump-off and executed a tight rollback from the triple bar to the second-to-last fence, where crucial seconds were shaved. They clocked in with a cool, clear 36.061 second round, which would remain unsurpassed.

A few more gallant trips were posted, but none came to close to Chapot’s time until Saugerties local Heather Caristo-Williams and Cosmopolitan 30, owned by Ralph Caristo, stepped in. They flew to the finish as the seconds ticked past, stopping the clock in 37.464, eventually settling them in fourth place.

Chapot followed with her second mount Umberto. They galloped through the course as the electric equestrian chased her own leading time, crossing the timers in 36.500, just fractions of a second shy behind herself and Out of Ireland.

Victoria Birdsall and Luxina, owned by Christina Fried, once again took home the third place title in the $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome after sealing their name in that spot last week. They valiantly chased Chapot’s two leading times, turning and burning with every landing. They crossed the finish in a speedy 37.169.  
 
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
1 Out Of Ireland The Edge Laura Chapot $2,800 0 0 36.061
2 Umberto Mary Chapot Laura Chapot $1,800 0 0 36.500
3 Luxina Christina Fried Victoria Birdsall $1,250 0 0 37.169
4 Cosmopolitan 30 Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo Heather Caristo-Williams $900 0 0 37.464
5 Double O Seven 7 Kevin Babington Kevin Babington $800 0 0 38.080
6 Caspar's Lasino Market Street, Inc.  Anne Kursinski $700 0 0 38.269
7 Icon D'or Theodore Boris Theodore Boris $600 0 0 40.147
8 Super Chilled Debra Wycoff Kevin Babington $400 0 0 40.562
9 Coberlina Orchard Farm Peter Lutz $375 0 0 40.755
10 Chanel Z IIan Ferder Victoria Birdsall $375 0 4 38.970
11 Dakota Sagamore Farms (Ny) Debbie Dolan Sweeney - 0 4 40.472
12 Dont Stop O Libertas Farm LLC Peter Lutz - 0 4 42.644

 

(C) ESI Photography 
Laura Chapot and Out of Ireland on their way to a $10,000 Brook Ledge Open Welcome Grand Prix win. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS! Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail media_info@HitsShows.com.