International show jumping competition continued during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, on Friday, July 19, 2024, with the $40,000 Go Rentals CSI3* Winning Round. The week is the first of three that make up the Hudson Valley Showjumping Tour® Series, while the HITS-on-the-Hudson circuit runs through September 8. After two exciting rounds, Mark Bluman (COL) ran away with the win aboard Quick Chick 3.
The $40,000 Go Rentals CSI3* Winning Round featured a first-round course designed by Megan Rawlins (CAN), which included 13 obstacles and 16 efforts. Twenty-eight riders contested the track, where the top 12, regardless of penalties, then advanced to the second round and returned in reverse order on a clean slate. After round one, it was Bluman who was in the driver’s seat and would be last to return for the jump-off after crossing the timers in 75.65 seconds.
“I love it,” said Bluman of the winning round format. “It makes you challenge yourself a little bit in the first round so you get the best draw for the jump-off. I was thinking about that the whole way around. It’s great to go last in a jump-off. You’re able to see what the other riders are doing and get your plan ready.”
Rawlins’s second round course included nine obstacles and 10 efforts, which saw riders turning and burning across the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium as they raced for the fastest clear time. The leading time got faster and faster until Daniel Bluman (ISR) looked like he might have closed the door on the competition. He guided Hummer Z, the 10-year-old KWPN gelding (Harley x Hemmingway) owned by Abigail Wexner, through the course in 51.37 seconds. Nayel Nassar (EGY) followed and was hot on Daniel Bluman’s heels, but couldn’t quite catch him, ultimately finishing in 52.97 seconds aboard Ivory TCS, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Falaise de Muze x Ukato) owned by Evergate Stables LLC. The stage was then set for the final challenger in Mark Bluman. Undaunted, he turned on the afterburners with Quick Chick 3 and stopped the clock in 50.85 seconds for the win. Daniel Bluman settled for second, while Nassar finished in third.
“I watched my cousin Daniel Bluman’s round and he looked pretty fast,” said Mark Bluman of the second-round competition. “I knew I could do one less stride turning from fence one to fence two and one less stride down the middle line. I think that’s where I caught him. The course was fun to ride.”
Mark Bluman and Quick Chick 3 showed for the first time together almost exactly a year ago at HITS Hudson Valley in the 1.35m and 1.40m classes. Since then, they have developed quite the partnership, and Quick Chick 3 has become an integral part of Mark Bluman’s string, stepping up to the upper levels of the sport.
“Everything about her is special,” said Mark Bluman of his nine-year-old Holsteiner mare (Quo Vados x Capitol I). “She’s super sharp and super careful, extremely scopey, and super easy to ride, so it makes your job quite easy.”
Mark Bluman’s $40,000 Go Rentals CSI3* Winning Round victory is just the latest top placing for the talented rider. Based at his family’s Bluman Equestrian in North Salem, New York, Mark Bluman is a frequent competitor at HITS Hudson Valley.
“I love the facility,” expressed Mark Bluman of the venue. “The management team is great, and everybody’s so welcoming. We are always very happy to be here.”
International competition during HITS-on-the-Hudson IV comes to an exciting conclusion on Saturday, July20, with the $116,050 Core Specialty Insurance CSI3* Grand Prix. For full results, please visit www.showmanagementsystem.com.
