HITS Championship week, the final week of the 2024 HITS-on-the-Hudson series at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, featured four derbies showcasing an incredible pool of hunter talent. In the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Great American Insurance Group, it was Brian Feigus that claimed the top spot with Four Aces. In the national derbies, Halie Robinson and Tangled Up in Blue were victorious in the $50,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, while the $50,000 USHJA Junior National Hunter Derby, presented by Voltaire, was won by J.J Torano and Disney, and the $50,000 USHJA Amateur National Hunter Derby, also presented by Voltaire, was won by Margot Peroni and Just Apple.
In the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Great American Insurance Group, 19 horse-and-rider pairs competed, with the top 12 returning for the second round. The course, designed by Kerry Kocher, featured 12 fences with four high options at fences 4, 5, 6, and 10.
“I thought the first-round track was a little bit more open,” explained Kocher. “There really only were the combinations to count, and other than that, it was really just about finding the jumps out of a nice gallop. The handy did present some inside turns, some of which I expected and others were more of a surprise. Overall though, I was happy with how it worked out, and I thought it flowed well.”
In the first round, Feigus and Four Aces earned a combined score of 182.5, with panel one scoring an 85.5 and panel two awarding an 89, along with all four high options. In the second round, Feigus excelled even further, achieving a 90 from panel one and a 91 from panel two, again with all four high options, culminating in a total score of 193. Feigus’s overall score of 375.5 secured his lead.
“It was a really fun course,” said Feigus of the handy track. “I kind of made the decisions on how daring to be as I was going and just seeing how Four Aces was feeling. I took it jump by jump to see what I was going to do in the moment. I got in the air at jump one and saw a track that I didn’t know was there, and he’s really scopey, so I could trust him. It ended up working out well. The turns just really showed up for me.”
Feigus imported Four Aces, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Acodetto 2 owned by Marita Zuraitis, recently in February 2024. While they have not been partners for very long, they already are very successful together. During the winter season, Feigus secured two $40,000 derby victories at HITS Ocala, and has since added several more impressive accolades to the list, now including the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby during HITS Championship week.
“He’s amazing,” enthused Feigus of Four Aces. “Every time we go into the ring, he surprises me. He always wants to win and do his job, and there’s no better feeling than that.”
Feigus, who has been competing at HITS venues most his life, appreciates the improvements made to the facility, all while maintaining the attitude and experience he values and has come to expect from HITS.
“The new rings have changed the whole atmosphere,” he said. “It’s more horse-friendly and people-friendly, and it’s so beautiful. To me, arguably, HITS Hudson Valley is one of the best, if not the best, facility in the country.
“[HITS COO] Joe Norick has been a huge, huge role model for me in the industry,” he continued. “He’s taken me under his wing in so many moments to make sure that I feel important in these things, and everybody here is so nice and so welcoming. It’s like family to me.”
In second place were Amanda Steege and her incredible partner Lafitte de Muze, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Darco x Malito de Reve) owned by Cheryl Olsten. They earned a score of 90 from panel one and 91 from panel two, plus all four high options, for a total of 189 in the first round. Their second-round scores were 89.5 from panel one and 87.5 from panel two, with four high options, resulting in a 185 for the handy round. Their combined score of 374 landed them in second.
Augusta Iwasaki and Small Safari, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare by Vigo D’Arsoilles, rounded out the top three. With scores of 183.5 in the first round and 183 in the second, they totaled 366.5 overall.
National derby competition unfolded over two days in The Ring at HITS Hudson Valley, showcasing an array of professional, junior, and amateur talent. The first round of the national derbies took place on Friday, September 6, with the top 12 in each class returning on Saturday, September 7, for the second round..
A total of 37 pairs competed in the $50,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, but it was Halie Robinson and Tangled Up in Blue that reigned supreme.
On Friday, Robinson and Tangled Up in Blue led the field with an impressive score of 188. The following day, returning as the final competitors in the handy round, they delivered another standout performance, earning a score of 196 to solidify their position at the top of a competitive group.
Robinson’s handy trip with Tangled Up in Blue, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood by Diarado owned by 3P Equine Partners, showcased exceptional skill, including a notable inside turn that distinguished their round from others.
“When we were walking the course, I figured it was probably unnecessary to do that turn, and I didn’t think the course was necessarily set for that, but Tangled Up in Blue is so good that we’re always trying to come up with things that will excite her,” explained Robinson, who is primarily based on the West Coast. “She is amazing and there is nothing that will ever challenge her.”
Finishing in a close second was Patricia Griffith with Oceanside, a seven-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Grey Top, owned by Hallowell Land Farm LLC. Griffith and Oceanside scored an 184 in the first round and a 187 in the second, resulting in an overall score of 371. Victoria Colvin and Gabriel, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Azteca VDL owned by JT Farm, completed the podium. Colvin’s scores of 181.5 in the first round and 185 in the second brought her to an overall score of 366.5.
Following the open class, J.J. Torano dominated the $50,000 USHJA Junior National Hunter Derby, presented by Voltaire, securing both the first and second places. His winning mount, Disney, a seven-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Lyjanero x Goodtimes) owned by Isalou Inc., showed consistency, earning scores of 186 in both rounds and achieving a top overall score of 372.
In second place, Torano had the ride aboard Moonlight, a 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Conthargos also owned by Isalou Inc. Moonlight also demonstrated remarkable consistency with scores of 182 in each round, culminating in a total score of 364.
Completing the top three was Madison Stewart with E Di Luca, a 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Diarado owned by Reynolds Cole. Stewart’s efforts were marked with scores of 175 in the first round and 175.5 in the second, resulting in a final score of 350.5
The $50,000 USHJA National Amateur Hunter Derby, presented by Voltaire, continued the derby excitement, with Margot Peroni clinching victory aboard Just Apple, her own 10-year-old KWPN gelding by Verdi. Peroni’s performances earned her a total score of 369, with scores of 186 in the first round and 183 in the second.
In a close second place was Augusta Iwasaki aboard Small Love, an 11-year-old Hanoverian mare (Chacco Blue x Silvio I) owned by Elizabeth Reilly. Iwasaki matched Peroni’s first-round score of 186 and scored a 183 in the second round, finishing with a total of 368.
Cara Garito rounded out the top three with her eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood, Tangelina, by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve. Garito’s rounds earned scores of 171 175.5, resulting in a final score of 346.5.
HITS Championship week concludes the HITS-on-the-Hudson fall series, but the horse show action continues on September 11 with the highly-anticipated 2024 The League Finals, presented by Marshall and Sterling. For complete results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
