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| Silvio Mazzoni and Remonta Habano win the Purina Mills Grand Prix. By ESI Photography |
Course designer Jose “Pepe” Gamarra made the $40,000 class his debut at HITS Commonwealth Park. His first round produced seven clears for the jump-off.
"The course was great," said Silvio, who gained momentum for Sunday's victory after a fourth-place finish in Friday's $15,000 Brook Ledge open jumper prix with Remonta Habano. "It was a very technical track, which asked a lot of the right questions."
Clear again
First to return in the jump-off was Alexa Lowe aboard Windsor Farm Sales' Amicello. They no time in setting the "Great American Time to Beat" at 45.31 seconds with a clear-effort.
Silvio followed and easily took the lead with a time of 39.74 seconds.
"This new footing is perfect for my horse," said Silvio. "He's very careful and was able to make a lot of neat, tight inside turns."
Almost a sweep
The winner of Saturday's $5,000 Devoucoux hunter prix, Patty Stovel, looked to sweep the weekend, this time aboard her own Carigor Z, with a Grand Prix win. But in the jump-off, she had four faults in 40.91 seconds, which ultimately finished sixth.
Harold Chopping was next to go and had four faults in 41.17 seconds, to settle behind Patty in seventh place aboard Candeloro, who is owned by WTBJ, LLC.
Kate Gerhart of Sellersville, Pennsylvania made her triumphant return to HITS Culpeper this month and quickly launched herself back into the ribbons with a strong round on Sunday on Cathy Gerhart's Timo. They finished in second place after a clear round in 41.21 seconds.
"I was so excited to get to show here this weekend," said Kate. "He's such a good boy. He's been fantastic and is so much fun to ride. I'm looking forward to going back to Saugerties this summer to once again, hopefully, qualify for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix."
Fast time
Ramiro Quintana came next with Meghan Moran Kraut’s Graf Lando and was poised to take over the lead. He posted the fastest time of 38.90 seconds, nearly a second faster than Silvio, but picked up four jumping faults, which landed him fifth place.
Last to go was one of the fastest rising stars in the ring, junior Hasbrouck Donovan with her own Delilah. The pair took home the third place ribbon in last week’s Grand Prix and had repeated that performance on Sunday with a time of 41.80 seconds.
This week, Hasbrouck and the rest of the team from Don Stewart Show Stables will travel north to HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York, where they hope their momentum continues.
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| Laura Linback and Mundelin. By ESI Photography |
Laura Linback of Mundelin, Illinois, took home the top prize in Friday's $15,000 Brook Ledge open jumper prix with Woodrun’s Uppsala, to kick-off the weekend of action in the Grand Prix ring. Second place went to Benjamin Meredith and Stephanie Barnes’ Violet, while Colombian Olympian Manuel Torres and Chambacunero, owned by TG Show Stables, were third.
The Cavalier Classic at HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia, highlighted the July series of show jumping in the heart of Virginia Horse Country. Now the road to the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix travels home to HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York, for one of the most highly-anticipated show circuits, ever.
Six more Grand Prix qualifiers for the Pfizer Million await, including the big ticket $100,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix on Sunday, 7 August as top riders from around the world make their way to the Empire State.
HITS-on-the-Hudson will also feature the return of the coveted USEF Junior Hunter Championship Finals from 1-3 August, with the winners of each section receiving an invitation to compete in the Diamond Mills $500,000 hunter prix final, which will take place from 10-11 September as a part of Pfizer Million weekend.
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