Week II of the 2025 HITS Hudson Valley Show Series, held May 27–June 1, picked up right where the opening week left off, delivering another round of top-tier sport to the scenic showgrounds in Saugerties, New York. Tucked in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, the venue once again lived up to its reputation for exceptional footing, a welcoming atmosphere, and the kind of charm that keeps riders and spectators returning season after season. The second installment of the Spring Series welcomed a strong field of competitors from across the country and abroad, each eager to make their mark in this ten-week stretch of elite competition. Among the week’s highlights was the $5,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby, where Anna Klee and St. Elmo’s Fire produced a winning performance defined by style, precision, and poise.
The class featured a field of 36 horse-and-rider combinations, who took on a thoughtfully designed course by Kerry Kocher of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Junior and amateur riders alike impressed in the first round, setting the stage for a competitive handy round, where bold choices and polished execution determined the final standings.
Returning for the handy round in the top spot after notching an 85 in the classic round, Klee once again delivered a consistent and confident ride — earning a score of 86, with four bonus points for taking all high options. Her final total of 179 secured the win.
“He really shines in the handies, so I knew I could trust him with some of the harder turns,” explained Klee. “I opted for an inside turn to the double that no one else did, and I think that’s where I earned some bonus points.”
Klee has owned the 16-year-old Belgian Warmblood (Zelote VDL x Lost Boys Nandor Fortuna) for four years, competing in the junior hunters under the guidance of Kristen Chance at New Chance Farm in Georgetown, Massachusetts. However, when it comes to what makes the flashy bay gelding stand out, Klee keeps it simple.
“He loves his people,” she explained. “He just knows his job, and he takes such good care of me.”
The junior rider from Beverly, Massachusetts, also praised the caliber of the event and the experience of competing at HITS.
“I really loved the course,” she said. “It was super open and flowy. I absolutely love showing here, especially doing the derbies in the bigger rings, like The Ring, where you can just gallop. My horses love to show here.”
Amateur rider Elizabeth Bailey Rodgers earned second place with a score of 172.75 aboard Afterglow, an eight-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Chacoon Blue x Call Me Number One) owned by Jens Dummeyer. Junior rider Makayla Cormier rounded out the top three on a score of 172.50 with Centurion, her eight-year-old Belgian Oldenburg gelding (Caesar x Calvados).
The week also featured the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, giving professional athletes their time to shine. It was a familiar duo in the winner’s circle as Michael Desiderio took top honors aboard Cocolores, Debbie Bianco’s 11-year-old Warmblood gelding (Casiro I x Raphael), earning a two-round total of 187.50.
“Cocolores is extremely brave and handy,” shared Desiderio. “When it comes to the handy, I know we are always on the same page.”
Based in Chester, New Jersey, Desiderio operates out of his family’s Tranquility Farm, which has made HITS Hudson Valley their summer destination for several years now.
“HITS has really stepped it up with all the improvements the past few years,” he noted. “I bring a lot of horses to these few weeks in the spring series, and all the clients enjoy their time here. It’s a venue we always look forward to competing at.”
Hannah Isop claimed second aboard Marcie Marcus’s Something Else, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Bisquet Balou vd Mispelaere x Weltenadel), with a combined score of 186.50. Rounding out the top three was Laura Bowery with In Bocca Al Lupo, Mare Eyfee LLC’s 10-year-old German Sport Horse gelding (Vulkato x Askari), finishing with a total of 186.
As the second week of the 2025 HITS Hudson Valley Show Series wraps up, anticipation is only building for more exciting competition as the third week of the Spring Series gets underway on June 4.
