Peter Leone and Wayfarer Win $100,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix

SAUGERTIES, New York (June 9, 2015): Olympian Peter Leone and Wayfarer dominated a challenging field to win Sunday’s $100,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, the finale of the Spring Saugerties Series at HITS-on-the-Hudson. Leone also claimed third place on My Pleasure, owned by My Pleasure LLC.

Leone and Wayfarer, owned by Leone’s own Lionshare Farm, finished in 44.679 and were one of three entries to go double-clear out of the eight that moved into the jump-off in the Grand Prix, which was webcast live on HitsShows.com and is available for replay. Laura Chapot, who placed second on Quointreau Un Prince, also went double-clear and was a second shy of Leone’s first-place time. Chapot claimed fourth place, as well, on ISHD Dual Star, with a faster time of 44.853 but four faults.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my two up-and-coming international horses,” said Leone, of Greenwich, Connecticut. Wayfarer, he said, is a special horse to him and his family. “He was born in my barn. Raised in my fields. He has always, always been a good horse, and a winner since he was 5 years old.”

Going first in the jump-off was Michael Hughes on Luxina, owned by Christina Fried, who finished in 44.486 seconds, for the fastest course time, but had eight faults to earn sixth place. Second was Leone on My Pleasure, who finished clean in 46.306 and set the Great American Time to Beat.  “It’s always an advantage to ride two horses, versus one. You know the track, you know where you can make a tighter turn, where you can gallop faster. Going early with My Pleasure in such a big money class, I wanted to be prompt and clear,” said Leone.

Chapot went third on Quointreau Un Prince, whom she owns with Mclain Ward. They finished in a clean 45.740 and reset the Great American Time to Beat, which would hold for two more rounds. Next was Amanda Derbyshire on her Goldbreaker, finishing in 50.892 with eight faults to land them in eighth place. Leann Kelly on Leander, owned by Honor Way Farm LLC, took to the ring next and finished in 45.927 but eight faults put them into seventh.

Going sixth, Leone and Wayfarer went clean over all the obstacles and beat Chapot’s time by barely over one second to move into the lead. Next Chapot went again, on ISHD Dual Star, owned by Mary Chapot, but had four faults at the third fence to place fourth. Chapot and ISHD Dual Star also won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix in both Weeks I and III. Last in the ring was Jeffery Welles on Cord 11, owned by Meco Equestrian LLC, but he, too, had four faults at the third fence and finished fifth.

Leone said, “I’m so proud of how both of my horses jumped, and especially proud of my home-bred Wayfarer; this is his first big time Grand Prix victory.” Leone added that he wanted to thank his sponsors “and my entire support team at Lionshare Farm, especially Wayfarer's groom Valerie Huckstepp.”

Leone said he plans to jump Wayfarer in the Saugerties Summer Series and at the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix CSI-5*, presented by Wells Fargo, on September 6. “I have a really good feeling about Wayfarer excelling at the 5-star level in the future. He’s almost there and yesterday was proof of our progress.”

He continued, “I’ll be back for this summer and then the 5-star in September. I take my hat off to Tom Struzzieri and the improvements he continues to make at his shows, in particular the improvements he has made with the footing in all of his arenas, and the effort he makes at new and cutting edge jump material each year.”

The HITS Saugerties Series returns to HITS-on-the-Hudson for three weeks this summer, July 15 – August 7, when the Sunday Grand Prix purses will grow progressively each week from $50,000 to $75,000 to $100,000. Additional live webcasts will be announced and shown on HitsShows.com. The Saugerties Series culminates in the fall with the HITS Championship in September, which includes the Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix CSI-5*, presented by Wells Fargo.

(c) ESI Photography
Peter Leone and Wayfarer, owned by Leone's Lionshare Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut, took first place in Sunday's $100,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix, at HITS-on-the-Hudson III.

$100,000 Purina Animal Nutrition Grand Prix — HITS-on-the-Hudson III
1     Wayfarer     Lionshare Farm     Peter Leone     $30,000     0     0     44.679
2     Quointreau Un Prince     Laura Chapot & McLain Ward     Laura Chapot     $22,000     0     0     45.740
3     My Pleasure     My Pleasure LLC     Peter Leone     $13,000     0     0     46.306
4     ISHD Dual Star     Mary Chapot     Laura Chapot     $8,000     0     4     44.853
5     Cord 11     Meco Equestrian LLC     Jeffery Welles     $6,000     0     4     57.496
6     Luxina     Christina Fried     Michael Hughes     $5,000     0     8     44.486
7     Leander     Honorway Farm LLC     Leann Kelly     $4,000     0     8     45.927
8     Goldbreaker     Amanda Derbyshire     Amanda Derbyshire     $3,000     0     8     50.892
9     VDL Wittinger     Amanda Flint     Amanda Flint     $3,000     3     *     *
10     Broken Heart     Herbert Sambol     Jeffery Welles     $2,000     4     *     *
11     Robin De Ponthual     John Gallagher     Peter Lutz     $2,000     4     *     *
12     Donar R     Redfield Farm     Adrienne Iverson     $2,000     4     *     *

Hannah Patten and Filou VD Wateringhoeve Win $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, Presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines

Hannah Patten and her Filou VD Wateringhoeve took home the blue ribbon in Sunday’s $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines – the only pair to go double-clear in a jump-off of five.

“When I went in the ring, I was really just trying for a double-clean round. I wanted it to be a big confidence booster for Dexter and me,” said Patten, who finished the jump-off in 50.514. “When I won, I was so thrilled because I haven't even had Dexter for a full year yet, and we are still just getting to know each other. I really have to thank Mclain Ward and my trainers, especially Shaine Brooks, for all their help with him. It was a very special win for me.”

Catherine Tyree, who had two mounts in the class, placed second and fourth. She had four faults on her Don’t Go and finished in 43.416, and 12 faults on her Phenix Royal, finishing in 43.996. In third place was Caitlyn Connors, who also finished with 12 faults in 41.447. Hayley Carlson finished fifth in the jump-off on Paraguana Des Dames, owned by Ketcham Farm at Cream Ridge LLC, with 12 faults in 51.336 seconds.

The $10,000 Junior/A-O Jumper 1.45m Classic held each week at HITS Saugerties is a qualifier for the Vetera® XP Vaccines $250,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Prix at the HITS Championship on September 5-6 in Saugerties.

(c) ESI Photography
Hannah Patten and her Filou VD Wateringhoeve placed first in Sunday's $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines.

$10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines.
1     Filou VD Wateringhoeve     Hannah Patten     Hannah Patten     $2,800     0     0     50.514
2     Don't Go     Catherine Tyree     Catherine Tyree     $1,800     0     4     43.416
3     Bink-A     Caitlyn Connors     Caitlyn Connors     $1,250     0     12     41.447
4     Phenix Royal     Joseph & Mary Tyree     Catherine Tyree     $900     0     12     43.996
5     Paraguana Des Dames     Ketcham Farm at Cream Ridge LLC     Hayley Carlson     $800     0     12     51.366
6     S&L Slingback     Starlight Farms, LLC     Addison Gierkink     $700     2     *     *
7     Gabriel     WHISH LLC     McKayla Langmeier     $600     4     *     *
8     Cordero Zaffiro     Taylor Burns     Taylor Burns     $400     4     *     *
9     Carany     Hannah Patten     Hannah Patten     $375     4     *     *
10     Goodwins Loyalty     Christina Antonucci     Christina Antonucci     $375     4     *     *

About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. produces high quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in Saugerties, New York, 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 HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Mortgage Call, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, 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 or follow us on Twitter. Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.