In a tune up for Sunday's $100,000 United States Grand Prix League (USGPL) Invitational Grand Prix, Laura Bowery and her mount Indy Star II posted the fastest double-clear round to capture the $25,000 Devoucoux Wild Card Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper. Bowery outlasted a starting field of 26 riders to challenge course designer Olaf Petersen's first-round route and an additional six pairs that advanced to the jump-off to collect $7,500.

However, coming into the $25,000 Devoucoux Wild Card Grand Prix, Bowery was already qualified for Sunday's featured class with a spot in the top 20 of the USGPL Standings. The highest finisher in Friday's class not already qualified for Sunday's big grand prix was Evan Coluccio, who took home the fourth-place ribbon aboard his mount Hpnotiq but more importantly earning him a spot in the Invitational.

Coluccio coincidently earned a spot in last years $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix with a top placing in the Wild Card Grand Prix. He was first to go in the jump-off on Thursday aboard Hpnotiq and the pair went clear and set the Great American Time to Beat at 44.264.

Second to go in the jump-off were Roberto Teran and his mount Distant Star 3E. The Canadian was quick to push Coluccio off of the top of the leaderboard when they set the new time to catch at 42.614. Maryland's Tracy Magness and her grand prix horse Tarco Van Ter Moude were third to challenge the jump-off route. The combination had an unlucky rail down midway through the trip resulting in a fifth-place finish.

Bowery and Indy Star II were fourth in the order and they made a dash for the cash, stopping the clocks in 41.543 to win the blue. Following Bowery's clear effort were Robin Sweely and her mount Discovery. The pair laid a clear round of their own, stopping the clocks in a very fast 44.100 to finish in second place.

Gavin Moylan and his mount Con-Air were fifth in the jump-off order and were eliminated to finish in seventh place. Sitting in the enviable last-to-go spot was Tracy Fenney and her mount MTM Centano. The Texas native had two rails down to finish in sixth place.

Green Hunter Action
Some of the top pre-green hunters in the nation from as far away as Texas faced off for their share of the highest pre-green hunter purse in the nation during Saturday's $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic. When it was all over, Peter Pletcher of Magnolia, TX, had ridden Portofino to first place, and the $3,000 check was awarded to owner Far Niente Equine, LLC.

After the class, Pletcher made a comment that was echoed by many others who rode in the Classic. "Showing in the grand prix ring was really nice," he said. "It was exciting to be able to compete in the grand prix ring and give the greener horses that experience."

The event was a two-round classic judged by J. Walter Lee of Keswick, VA, and Peter Stoeckl of Oakville, Ontario. The course was designed by Rian Beals of Saugerties, NY. The class was held in the grand prix ring and for all the competing horses, this was their first time in the "big ring" at Culpeper. "Having the class in the grand prix ring was great," noted judge Jimmy Lee. "There were a number of entries that showed real promise, and I am sure we will see much more from them. Several of them looked quite special."

"This was a terrific class with a challenging course," added Stoeckl. "The last line near our judges position and the bending line to jump four probably offered the greatest challenges."

Portofino was the first horse to enter the ring for the classic and left with a score of 86, which would prove to be the top score of the afternoon. At the end of the first round there were a total of four scores above 80, but only Pletcher and Portofino would manage a second-round score in the 80's to take charge. His round two score of 84 gave him a total of 170 and the blue ribbon.

Finishing in second place