HITS' Holly Bachor and Joe Calcagno, alongside Mike McCormick, presented the awards to Tracy Fenney (© ESI Photography)
Fenney of Flower Mound, Texas and MTM Centano were one of 25 horse-and-rider combinations to ride the course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida which saw ten pairs advance to the jump-off.
"I thought Doug [Russell] did a great job setting the course," said Fenney. "It had a lot of good technical options and nice, flowing lines. I walked away with a good feeling about it."
Russell's first-round course featured 12 efforts, which included two different combinations.
Fenney, who had two mounts in the event, was fourth to show and the first to go clean on MTM Timon, owned by MTM Farm. Two trips later, Fernando Cardenas of New Hill, North Carolina and his own Orphan Car, went clean to secure a jump-off.
Derek Petersen of Archer, Florida and his first of two mounts, Lazaro, owned by Jordan Coyne, took the field three trips later and made it three for the jump-off with a clean round.
At the end of the first round, Gustavo Prato of Middleburg, Virginia and his own Hotspur 23; Helen Goddard of Lincroft, New Jersey and Blue Danube, owned by The Goddard Harrison Group; the winner of last week's $40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, Florida and Little Annie, owned by Todd Minikus LTD; Patty Stovel of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania and her own Carigor Z; David Jennings of Nashville, Tennessee and his own Marcus Aurelius; Fenney on her second mount MTM Centano; and Kristen VanderVeen of St. Charles, Illinois aboard Bull Run's Alpha & Omega, owned by Bull Run Jumpers; formed an all-star lineup for the jump-off.
First to show in the jump-off was Fenney and MTM Timon, who set the pace at 32.403 seconds, with four jumping faults.
Next to show was Cardenas on Orphan Car, established the early lead by setting the Great American Time to Beat at 37.762 seconds.
Petersen and Lazaro returned next and finished with eight faults in 32.176 seconds which ultimately placed tenth.
Fourth to return was Prato and Hotspur 23, who had four faults in 42.660 seconds.
Goddard and Blue Danube were next to show and took the lead with a clear round in 35.097 seconds.
Looking for their second Grand Prix win in two weeks, Minikus and Little Annie quickly placed themselves at the top of the group with a clear round in 32.670 seconds.
With four rounds remaining, Stovel and Carigor Z returned next and moved into second place with a clear round in 33.913 seconds. The team ultimately placed third behind Minikus.
Jennings, the winner of Friday's $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Prix, looked to capitalize with another big win as he and Marcus Aurelius took the field. The team had a clear round in 36.890 seconds, which ultimately placed fifth.
The winning duo of Fenney and MTM Centano returned next to take the lead in 32.132 seconds.
"He's [MTM Centano] not as fast as [MTM] Timon, but he turns so neatly," said Fenney. "I knew Todd [Minikus] was really fast, so I had to go for it," said Fenney.
Last to show and looking for the big win was VanderVeen and Bull Run's Alpha & Omega. The team looked to be en route to a victory with the fastest round of the jump-off; however, the last fence came down in 30.966 seconds, which earned them seventh place.
"I knew I needed to go fast for the win," said VanderVeen. "My horses have been great the past two weeks, and I'm very lucky to be competing against a lot of talented horses and riders."
VanderVeen and Fenney are both making their way to HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York this week for the final stretch to the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, which takes place on Sunday, September 12. Fenney currently sits in the number two spot in the Pfizer Million Eligible Rider Rankings, while VanderVeen is in 28th place.
"Mike [McCormick] and I really enjoyed Saugerties during the summer show circuit," said Fenney. "We're both excited to go back again, the show grounds are beautiful and it will be great to compete in the [Pfizer] Million."
HITS-on-the-Hudson VII in Saugerties, New York begins this Wednesday, September 1 and will host the last two remaining Grand Prix qualifiers as the Pfizer Million and music legend John Fogerty prepare to take the stage on Sunday, September 12.
In order to qualify for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, a rider must compete in eight or more HITS Grand Prix classes. The top 40 riders, based on money won by horse/rider combination, will be eligible to ride for the Pfizer Million. For more detailed information on the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, including ticket prices that include the special concert by music legend John Fogerty, please visit our website at HitsShows.com.
HITS, Inc. produces high-quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia. In 2010, HITS will take the industry to new heights when it hosts the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix in Saugerties on September 12.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com.
Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail [email protected].
© ESI Photography.
HITS' Holly Bachor and Joe Calcagno, alongside Mike McCormick, presented the awards to Tracy Fenney and MTM Centano.
© ESI Photography.
David Jennings and Marcus Aurelius on course in the $15,000 Brook Ledge Open Prix at HITS Culpeper.
$40,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health
PLACING, HORSE, OWNER, RIDER, PRIZE MONEY RD 1 FAULTS JO, FAULTS JO, TIME
1. MTM Centano; MTM Farm Tracy Fenney, $12,000, 0, 0m, 32.132
2. Little Annie, Todd Minikus LTD, Todd Minikus, $8,800, 0, 0, 32.670
3. Carigor Z, Patty Stovel, Patty Stovel, $5,200 0, 0, 33.913
4. Blue Danube, The Goddard Harrison Group, Helen Goddard, $3,200, 0, 0, 35.097
5. Marcus Aurelius, David Jennings, David Jennings, $2,400, 0, 0, 36.890
6. Orphan Car, Fernando Cardenas, Fernando Cardenas, $2,000, 0, 0, 37.762
7. Bull Run's Alpha & Omega Bull Run Jumpers, Inc., Kristen VanderVeen, $1,600, 0, 4, 30.966
8. MTM Timon, MTM Farm, Tracy Fenney, $1,200, 0, 4, 32.403
9. Hotspur 23, Gustavo Prato, Gustavo Prato, $1,200, 0, 34.660
10. Lazaro, Jordan Coyne, Derek Petersen, $800, 0, 8, 32.176
11. Van Gogh, Hugo Yslas, Gavid Moylan, $800, 4
12. Remonta Habano, Pato Muente, Silvio Mazzoni, $800, 4