(c) ESI Photography Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Chapot and McLain Ward, clear a HITS Endurance jump in the $50,000 Horze Equestrian Grand Prix Sunday at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV.
The win follows their blue ribbon in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix and Chapot's consistent stellar performance at HITS-on-the-Hudson so far this year. Seven horses made the jump-off Sunday, including two ridden by Chapot.
Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, when first in the jump-off on ISHD Dual Star, owned by her mother, Mary Chapot, but had a rail down to finish with four faults in 36.664 seconds and place fourth. Ronan McGuigan, of Far Hills, New Jersey, on his Capall Zidane took the ring next, but retired after an unfortunate refusal at fence 12a. Brianne Goutal, of New York, New York, on Rebeca LS, owned by Remarkable Farms LP, went third and finished in a clean 38.833 seconds to take the lead and set the Great American Time to Beat.
Judy Garofalo Torres, of Dover Plains, New York, on Quattro Queen, owned by Juan Torres, went fourth but had a rail down to finish in 39.340 seconds to take fifth place. Mauricio Guevara, of Plantation, Florida, and his Capano Z completed the next clean round and finished in a time of 42.326 to put them in third. Andrea Torres Guerreiro, of Waterford, Virginia, who won the $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper 1.45m Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines, earlier that day, had rails at the last two fences to finish with eight faults in 39.058 seconds, placing sixth.
Chapot, on Quointreau Un Prince, went next and, like their win in Friday's $25,000 Grand Prix, cleared all the jumps in a lightning fast round to claim the top prize. She credits her horse for their victory. "He does cover the ground really well. He is fast. For him, it's not like I was running. He has such a great length of stride. He covers a lot of ground without having to race."
She said of her consistent wins, including Sunday, "I think it's key for me not to think too much about who it is that's in the lead, and to just try and put in a really good round for my horse.”
The course was designed by Bernardo Cabral, of Lisbon, Portugal.
HITS Saugerties continues this week with HITS Tuesday I and HITS-on-the-Hudson V officially kicking off on Wednesday. On Sunday, the Grand Prix prize money increases yet again with the $75,000 AIG Grand Prix at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. For more information, please visit HitsShows.com.
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1 Faults JO Faults Time
1 Quointreau Un Prince Laura Chapot & McLain Ward Laura Chapot $15,000 0 0 36.991
2 Rebeca LS Remarkable Farms LP Brianne Goutal $11,000 0 0 38.833
3 Capano Z Mauricio Guevara Mauricio Guevara $6,500 0 0 42.326
4 ISHD Dual Star Mary Chapot Laura Chapot $4,000 0 4 36.664
5 Quattro Queen Juan Torres Judy Garofalo Torres $3,000 0 4 39.340
6 Victoria Santa Catalina Farm Andrea Torres Guerreiro $2,500 0 8 39.056
7 Capall Zidane Ronan McGuigan Ronan McGuigan $2,000 0 Ret. Ret.
8 Anabella Santa Catalina Farm Manuel Torres $1,500 4 * *
9 Brando Du Rouet Tolleshunt Investment Group Kirk Webby $1,500 4 * *
10 VDL Wittinger Amanda Flint Amanda Flint $1,000 4 * *
11 Capri David Raposa David Raposa $1,000 4 * *
12 Superbad The Coverboy Group Amanda Flint $1,000 8 * *