Jumper competition during HITS Championship week, the final week of the HITS-on-the-Hudson series at HITS Hudson Valley, concluded with an exciting finish in the $50,000 Douglas Elliman/Maria Mendelsohn National Grand Prix, held at the Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Stadium on Sunday, September 8, in Saugerties, New York. Colombian rider Mark Bluman put the exclamation mark on his amazing season at the venue as he and his mount, Zuperman MT, emerged victorious.
From the 26 starting pairs, Bluman was one of six to navigate the first-round course without faults. He maintained his flawless performance in the jump-off, racing through the finish in 35.411 seconds aboard the nine-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Corporal VDL x Cassiano) owned by Florencio Ramirez Martinez.
“Zuperman MT is always super game and he loves to go fast, so I really took advantage of that today,” said Bluman. “He’s usually a winner.”
While time proved to be a factor across the intricate course designed by Olaf Petersen Jr. (GER), as several combinations finished the first round over the allotted 79 seconds, Bluman appreciated the challenge. With four horses in the lineup, he saw the class as an excellent opportunity to build experience for some of his younger horses at the grand prix level.
“I had a few new rides in the class, and the track was well-suited for them,” he explained. “The jump-off played out well too, and there were a lot of places to make tight turns and some room to gallop, which made it a lot of fun.”
Taking second place was David J. Raposa (USA) (USA) aboard Lingote de Oro RBF, an eight-year-old KWPN gelding (Kannan x Heartbreaker) owned by Redfield Farm. Raposa delivered a strong performance with a jump-off time of 35.820 seconds to finish just behind Bluman.
Irishman Irishman Jordan Coyle and Jorisca, a 10-year-old KWPN mare (Dantos x Larino) owned by Falkirk Farm, LLC, rounded out the top three. Coyle, one of five riders to achieve double clear rounds, completed the jump-off in 37.330 seconds.
The final week of the HITS-on-the-Hudson series got underway with the $5,000 Adequan Open Welcome on Wednesday, September 4, where Hannah Selleck (USA) clinched the top spot aboard Billy de Beaufour. The 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Allegreto x Diamant de Semilly), owned by Descanso Farm, delivered an exceptional performance to secure the win in 38.22 seconds.
On Friday, September 6, the final $15,000 STX Open Speed class featured a total of 44 horse-and-rider combinations competing in the concluding event of the series. Clearly on a hot streak, Bluman earned both first and second in the class. His first-place ride was aboard grand prix mount, Zuperman MT, while his second-place mount was Tule, a nine-year-old Selle Français gelding (Rock’N Roll Semilly x Brandy de la Cour) owned by Florencio Ramirez. Heading into the final round of the STX Open Speed, Bluman was sitting second with 16 points behind Irish rider Philip McGuane. His victory earned him an additional 16 points, placing him two points ahead of McGuane and granting him the STX High Point Rider.
The weekend’s competition continued on Saturday, September 7, with the $10,000 Alliant Private Client Cup. Coyle emerged victorious this time around, guiding Keep Me With You N.C., a nine-year-old KWPN mare (Le Tot de Semilly x Indoctro) owned by Paul Van Den Bosch to a winning time of 33.330 seconds.
Following closely behind was Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Sade de Rialfo Z, an eight-year-old Zangersheide mare by Stakkato Gold owned by Pine Hollow Farm. Derbyshire raced through the timers in 33.418 seconds, finishing just off the pace of Coyle. Rounding out the top three in 34.574 seconds was Mckayla Langmeier (USA) and Royale VD Rollebeek, her seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Catoki x Thunder vd Zuuthoeve).
While the HITS-on-the-Hudson series has come to a close, The League Finals, presented by Marshall & Sterling Insurance, kick off on September 11. Dressage takes over the venue on September 19-22 with the Great American Insurance Group/United States Dressage Federation Region 8 Dressage Championship. Following that, the action will move to HITS Ocala for the exciting winter circuit.
