Saugerties, N.Y. - The Order of Go in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson III, was packed with talented riders known for bringing their A-game to the Grand Prix field, including the world’s number one leading rider, Mclain Ward.

After a virtual clean sweep in the Open Jumper division week I, winning the Brook Ledge Open Welcome and SmartPak Grand Prix, as well as the Kindred Bio Open Prix, Laura Chapot, of Neshanic Station, New Jersey, returned week III and once again conquered the Grand Prix Stadium with a rapid dash for both first- and second-place, as well as twelfth in the ribbons.

“I very much want to thank SmartPak for sponsoring these classes,” said Chapot. “They also sponsor me, so this was doubly a great thing—I’m definitely proud of this win.”

Manuel Esparza, of Mexico City, Mexico, designed a challenging course for the field of 34 horses and riders, with 11 returning for the jump-off.  In addition to the $25,000 Grand Prix prize purse, young equestrians were vying for top placings in the $2,500 Under 25 Jumper Classic which was held as an overlay class.

“The course was challenging and I was surprised there were so many clear”, said Chapot. “At the start of the class I was very excited to have a clear round, then everyone started to figure the course out a bit more as the class went on. I thought the course was great and [Manuel Esparza] is a great builder, so we look forward to seeing what he has for us on Sunday.”

Chapot and her winning ride, Quointreau Un Prince, co-owned with Mclain Ward, re-entered the jump-off first to contest the shortened course. They galloped across the ring on an exciting track around the gazebo to a vertical coming home, followed by a tight rollback turn to a combination that spelled trouble for many riders. Chapot and her mount met the challenge with ease as they zipped towards the finish, crossing the timers fault-free in 39.459, which would remain unbeaten.

Following Chapot was Peter Leone, of Greenwich, Connecticut, aboard Wayfarer, owned by Lionshare Farm. They put down a speedy round in 39.955 but a rail at A of the mid-course combination would earn them fifth-place.

Two more jump-off trips would pass before another clear round would be seen. The next fault-free round belonged to Sarah Segal and Ubris, owned by Chartwell. The Flemington, New Jersey, equestrian and her mount clocked in fault-free in 42.448, ultimately earning them the fourth-place prize.

Jimmy Torano and Quality followed Segal, but an unfortunate rail at a vertical would keep them out of the top-five as they crossed the timers in 42.276 for sixth-place.

Chapot returned with her second mount in the jump-off, ISHD Dual Star, owned by Mary Chapot. Again, Chapot laid down a blazing-fast time, clocking in clear in 39.887, just fractions of a second behind her own time to capture the eventual second-place as well as the win.

Lauren Ward of Brewster, New York, also returned to contend the shortened course aboard husband Mclain Ward's mount, Malou. Lauren and Malou were coming up on Chapot's time, but a rail at a vertical coming home followed by another rail after a rollback to A of the combination,  ultimately earned them the seventh-place prize.

Last to compete were the winners of last Sunday’s $75,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix, Michael Hughes, of Allendale, New Jersey, and Sans Soucis Z, owned by Caroline Lloyd.  They powered through the course, galloping across the ring to the vertical and making the rollback to the combination. As the clock ticked, they passed the timers fault-free in 41.807 to land third-place.

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
1 Quointreau Un Prince Laura Chapot & McLain Ward Laura Chapot $7,500 0 0 39.459
2 ISHD Dual Star Mary Chapot Laura Chapot $5,500 0 0 39.887
3 Sans Soucis Z Caroline Lloyd Michael Hughes $3,250 0 0 41.807
4 Ubris Chartwell Sarah Segal $2,000 0 0 42.448
5 Wayfarer Lionshare Farm Peter Leone $1,500 0 4 39.955
6 Quality Deborah Perkins Jimmy Torano $1,250 0 4 42.276
7 Malou McLain Ward Lauren Ward $1,000 0 8 40.831
8 Enjoy Louis Joseph & Mary Tyrees Catherine Tyree $750 0 8 50.367
9 Zelda T.K. Farm Sarah Segal $750 0 12 44.935
10 Temptation Tranquillity Farm Michael Desiderio $500 0 12 47.701
11 Triomphe Z Beyaert Farm inc. Mattias Tromp $500 0 Elim. 
12 Thornhill Kate Mary & Laura Chapot Laura Chapot $500 4 - -

$2,500 U25 Jumper Classic
Young, talented equestrians between the ages of 16 and 25 earned points toward qualifying for the U25 Championship in a new division implemented by the USEF to bridge the gap from Junior Jumper to the Senior Grand Prix level.

With his third-place finish in the Grand Prix, Michael Hughes of Allendale, New Jersey, placed first in the $2,500 U25 Jumper Classic with Sans Soucis Z, owned by Caroline Lloyd.

Catherine Tyree, of Chicago, Illinois, made out with the second-place finish aboard Enjoy Louis, owned by Joseph and Mary Tyree. Their jump-off score of eight faults in of 50.807 was also good enough for an eighth-place finish in the SmartPak Grand Prix.

North Salem, New York, equestrian Mattias Tromp came in third in the U25 Classic and eleventh in the SmartPak Grand Prix.  They advanced to the jump-off with a solid first round, but were eliminated in the jump-off.  

Fourth-place went to Cassandra Kahle of Langley, British Columbia, and Pyrenes De Louzes, owned by Fortune Equine, LLC and Cormac Hanley, of Warren, Vermont, sealed the final top-five finish with Captain Caruso.

Place Horse Owner Rider Prize Rd. 1 Faults JO Faults JO Time
1 Sans Soucis Z Caroline Lloyd Michael Hughes $750 0 0 41.807
2 Enjoy Louis Joseph & Mary Tyree Catherine Tyree $450 0 8 50.367
3 Triomphe Z Beyaert Farm, Inc Mattias Tromp $300 0 - Elim
4 Pyrenes De Louzes Fortune Equine LLC Cassandra Kahle $250 4 - -
5 Captain Caruso Cormac Hanley Cormac Hanley $225 4 - -
6 Wall Street Redfield Farm Cassandra Kahle $200 4 - -
7 S&L Slingback Kadley Holdings LLC Addison Gierkink $200 4 - -
8 Sandor De La Pomme Eve Jobs Eve Jobs $150 8 - -
9 Avon Beyaert Farm Inc Mattias Tromp - 12 - -
10 Emilou Harris Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone Christina Firestone - 16 - -
11 Beluga Emily Wygod Danielle Menker - 16 - -
12 Orientales Double S Farm, LLC Sima Morgello - 32 - -