Thermal, Calif. – Feb. 1, 2018 – It was another successful week of hunter and jumper competition in the desert to wrap up Week II of the HITS Coachella Desert Circuit.
The week kicked off in the Grand Prix Ring with the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome where Ali Ramsay and Hermelien VD Hooghoeve took home top honors with a fault-free time of 43.293 seconds in the jump-off. Following close behind Ramsay was Shawn Casady aboard his partner Playboy Blue VH Z with a time of 43.464 seconds. Taking home third and fourth was Jill Humphrey aboard Fin Chin Fravanca and Carl Casim. Humphrey finished with times of 44.119 and 44.910 seconds, respectfully. Robert Blanchette and Coupis would take home the fifth place ribbon with a time of 44.999 seconds.
Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and Akuna Mattata would take home the blue ribbon on Friday in the $30,000 SmartPak Open Prix with a jump-off time of 40.283 seconds. Taking home the red ribbon in the Open Prix and winning the U25, which was held as an overlay, was Theodore Boris and Garkus Van Het Indihof with a time of 40.342 seconds. Guy Thomas and Jonkheer Z would take home third with a time of 41.814 seconds, followed by William Simpson and Chacco P in fourth with a time of 41.948 seconds. Delany Flynn took home the fifth place ribbon and second in the U25 classic with a time of 42.517 seconds.
Taking home the win in the $10,000 Electronic Vet 1.35m Classic Saturday afternoon out of a field of 46 horses was Susan Hutchison and Sig Fire Cracker. Hutchison rode to a first place finish with a jump-off time of 39.870 seconds. Following close behind was John Pearce aboard Bathsheba in second with a jump-off time of 40.199 seconds and Janet Hischer aboard Come Back Z in third with a jump-off time of 41.339 seconds. Fourth was by Keri Potter and Diabolical C, coming in with a time of 41.843 seconds, rounding out the top five was Matt Archer and Legolas with a time of 43.579 seconds.
In the $15,000 KindredBio 1.40m Jumper Classic Richard Spooner, the “Master of Faster”, and Arthos R took home top honors with a fault-free time of 37.747 seconds. Second place went to Kaitlin Campbell and Lorenzo-T with a time of 38.137 seconds, followed by Tina Yates and Campitello 5 in third with a time of 40.605 seconds. Kenneth Vinther and Colicchio would take home the white ribbon with a time of 40.822 seconds, and rounding out the top five was Pearce aboard his partner Chantico with a four-fault time of 38.469 seconds.
The crowd filled the stands on Sunday afternoon ready to cheer on riders competing in the $70,000 GoRentals Grand Prix. Yates and Zelote VDL took home the blue ribbon this Sunday with a fault-free jump-off in 39.304 seconds. In an interview with The Chronicle of the Horse, Yates said “I knew when I went in there I had to be quick and tidy, but not crazy. So that was my plan, and it all just fell together today.”
Second place was awarded to the only other rider who jumped fault-free in the jump-off, Blanchette and Coupis, with a time of 40.996 seconds. Third place was Potter and Bitalica with a four-fault time of 38.782 seconds, followed by Thomas and Jonkheer Z earning the white ribbon with a four-fault time of 39.786 seconds. Rounding out the top five was Derek Braun and Lacarolus with a four-fault time of 49.785.
A competitive field of 38 exhibitors showed with us in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Friday, all working to qualify for the 2018 HITS Championships in Saugerties, New York. Taking home top honors and moving up from a second place finish Week I was Hope Glynn and King of Hearts. Glynn scored an 88 in both rounds a two-round total of 176. The red ribbon was awarded to Jenny Karazissis and Big Shot with a first round score of 86 and second round score of 88 for an overall score of 174. Rounding out the top three in the class was last week’s blue ribbon winner, John French and Soldier. French scored an 84 in the first round and an 87 in the second round for a two-round total of 171.
Non-professional riders showed Friday afternoon in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, allowing riders to qualify for the HITS Championship. Taking home the blue ribbon, trophy and cooler was Shari Roseboom and Voila. Roseboom was in second place after her first round score of 83, but earned an 84 in the second round giving her a two-round total of 167 – a high enough score to push her into first place. The red ribbon was awarded to Amy Brubaker and Convaro who had the high score of 85 in round one and received a 79 in round-two for an overall score of 164. Rounding out the top three in the Prix was Katrina Pattinson and Sam I Am. Pattinson received scores of 76 and 77 in her two rounds for a final score of 153.
RESULTS
$5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Welcome
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. Hermelien VD Hooghoeve / Ali Ramsay / Ali Ramsay
2. Playboy Blue VH Z / Roberto Gomez / Shawn Casady
3. Fin Chin Fravanca / JH Sporthorses / Jill Humphrey
4. Carl Casim / Sydnie Young / Jill Humphrey
5. Coupis / Robert Blanchette / Robert Blanchette
6. Livia Z / Sharon Granberg / Janet L Hischer
7. Diabolical C / Jung M Cho / Keri Potter
8. Firestone S / Nicolette Hirt / John Pearce
9. Favoriet U / Wyndmont / Shawn Casady
10. Mini Coupe / Tammy Chipko / Tammy Chipko
11. Dakar VDL / HKC Collection LLC / Tina Yates
12. Carlo / RHYS Farms, LLC / Lindsay Archer
$30,000 Smartpak Open Prix
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. Akuna Mattata / Silver Raven Farms / Nicole Shahinian-Simpson
2. Garkus Van Het Indihof / Theodore Boris / Theodore Boris
3. Jonkheer Z / Emily Livermore / Guy Thomas
4. Chacco P / Will Simpson Stables / Will Simpson
5. Milan IV / Grace Jacobsen / Delaney Flynn
6. Chase / Harley Brown Equestrian Inc / Harley Brown
7. VDL Wittinger / Amanda Flint / Amanda Flint
8. Clintord / Cross Creek Farms, Inc / Michelle Parker
9. Mylord Cornet / Katherine Brewer / Harley Brown
10. Valinski S / Wyndmont / Shawn Casady
11. NJK No Regret / NJK Show Jumpers, Inc / Nicole Haunert
12. NKH Caruso / NKH LLC / Christian Heineking
$10,000 1.35m Electronic Vet Jumper
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. Sig Firecracker / Sig International, Inc. / Susan Hutchison
2. Bathsheba / Guy Mc Elvain / John Pearce
3. Come Back Z / Janet L Hischer / Janet L Hischer
4. Diabolical C / Jung M Cho / Keri Potter
5. Legolas / RHYS Farms, LLC / Matt Archer
6. Atlantis / New Venture Investments / Megan Jordan
7. Amai Du Bourgeonet / Wyndmont / Shawn Casady
8. Gameboy / Susan Hutchison / Susan Hutchison
9. Stakkato Pan / Serena Anand / Serena Anand
10. Churchill / Yennie Solheim Fuller / Olivia Brown
11. Laurence Z / Alix Fargo / Susan Artes
12. Seven Seas / Karen Coyne / John Pearce
$15,000 1.40m KindredBio Jumper
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. Arthos R / CNS Logistics, Inc / Richard Spooner
2. Lorenzo-T / Carly Ramsey / Kaitlin Campbell
3. Campitello 5 / Highpoint Farm, LLC / Tina Yates
4. Colicchio / Kenneth Vinther / Kenneth Vinther
5. Chantico / Forest View Farm & Karen Ball / John Pearce
6. Dacarlos / Mattias Ekeroth LLC / Mattias Ekeroth
7. Stakka Gold / Max Dolger / Max Dolger
8. Edesa’s Stallone / Estancia Farms Inc / Mariano Alario
9. Valiant / Harley Brown Equestrian Inc / Olivia Brown
10. Darco Son / October Hill Hunters and Jumpers / Christian Heineking
11. Jeronimo Bisschop / Russell Morgan / Russell Morgan
12. Asombro / Hannah Loly / Hannah Loly
$70,000 Go Rentals Grand Prix
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. Zelote VDL / Highpoint Farm, LLC / Tina Yates
2. Coupis / Robert Blachette / Robert Blachette
3. Bitalica / Julia Koetting / Keri Potter
4. Jonkheer Z / Emily Livermore / Guy Thomas
5. Lacarolus / Split Rock Farm Inc / Derek Braun
6. NKH Caruso / NKH LLC / Christian Heineking
7. Cristallo / Show Jumping Syndications Int’l / Richard Spooner
8. Hermelien VD Hooghoeve / Ali Ramsay / Ali Ramsay
9. NKH Calango / NKH LLC / Christian Heineking
10. Chacco P / Will Simpson Stables / Will Simpson
11. Akuna Mattata / Silver Raven Farms / Nicole Shahinian-Simpson
12. Quirado RC / Guy McElvain / Richard Spooner
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. King of Hearts / Natalie Alden / Hope Glynn
2. Big Shot / Dulcie Lou Morris / Jenny Karazissis
3. Soldier / Meadow Farms LLC / John French
4. Bella Vita / Stonepine Stables / John French
5. Bring It On / Legado Farms LLC / Nick Haness
6. Early August / Lanie Walkenbach / Lanie Walkenbach
7. Commonwealth / SAS LLC Shelley Campf
8. Top Shelf / Milissa Summer / Leslie Steele
9. Winterfell / Strasburg Morin Inc. / Brooke Morin
10. Lukatoni / Pamela Moellenhoff / Leslie Steele
11. Wallace Station / Infinity Equestrian, LLC / Marisa Metzger
12. New Look / Grace Spiegel / Shelley Campf
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Place / Horse / Owner / Rider
1. Voila / Enchantment Farms LLC / Shari Roseboom
2. Convaro / Michelle Kerivan / Amy Brubaker
3. Sam I Am / Hope Hattesohl / Katrina Pattinson
4. Askarri / Lauren Burke / Lauren Burke
5. Jolene / Pegasus Show Stable Inc / Avery Glynn
6. Stanwick / Alexis Sokolov / Alexis Sokolov
7. Chaccolina / Annabel Benito Margolin / Aya Clear
8. Roccoco / Avery Hellman / Eleanor Hellman
9. Golden Boy / Lola Stern / Lola Stern
10. Playboy / Tyler Francis / Tyler Francis
11. Conux / Georgy Maskrey-Segesman / Jaime Krupnick