Week III of the HITS Chicago Equifest Series is a Wrap!

The HITS Chicago Equifest Series has come to a close at Lamplight Equestrian Center. Equifest III was host to USEF-Rated Premier Hunter/Jumper 4* competition that featured a $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, $50,000 HITS Grand Prix, and $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Keep reading to catch up on the week's big winners!

The $2,500 HITS Open Welcome kicked off highlighted Jumper competition on Wednesday. Tiffany Hammack  rode GHANA FS Z to the win with a clean jump-off in only 37.59, for a tight victory of less than two-tenths of a second! 
 
  • 2nd Place: Lauren Hester & HAPPY FEET B [37.73]
  • 3rd Place: Ryan Sassmannshausen & SUEDWIND'S I'M UDO [4-faults, 42.53]


In Thursday's $5,000 1.35m Jumper Classic, Hester & HAPPY FEET B rose to the top spot on the podium. They were the only pair to go clean in the jump-off, putting down a time of 40.38. 

  • 2nd Place: Ella Mauritzson & BARCLAY B [4-faults, 41.78]
  • 3rd Place: JJ Atkinson & CENTAGRAAF BVR [11-faults, 50.76]
 

 

Stephen Foran and COLOUR YOUR DAY won the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Friday. The pair used a clean time of 39.06 to take the blue ribbon.

  • 2nd Place: Izabelle Quadracci & DETROIT J [41.86]
  • 3rd Place: Amanda Flint & HUDSON [4-faults, 36.78]

 

 

On Saturday, Hester and HAPPY FEET B once again found their way to the top of the podium in the $10,000 HITS Open Jumper Prix. Their jump-off time of 36.39 could not be matched by any other tandem. 

  • 2nd Place Jonathan Cohen & LANDER [39.55]
  • 3rd Place: Atkinson & CENTAGRAAF BVR [4-faults, 45.41]
 

The week's featured Jumper competition concluded with Sunday's $50,000 Buck Brothers Grand Prix. Brian Murphy and DENISON PARK COMBAT used a clean jump-off time of 42.161 to take the win by one-tenth of a second!

  • 2nd Place: Flint & HUDSON [42.292]
  • 3rd Place: Quadracci & DETROIT J [44.706]

 

 
 
JUMPER CLASSIC WINNERS
 
$750 Puddle Jumper Classic: Gillian O'Connor & BROOKLYN

$1,000 M&S Modified Child/Adult Jumper Classic: Dietre Griesinger & INSPECTOR GADGET

$2,500 Dever M&S Child/Adult Low Jumper Classic: Caroline Bridegman & EVER BLUE

$1,500 NAL Child/Adult High Jumper Classic: Lexi Mulkey & CHIPOTLE

$2,500 Chicago Equine/NAL Jr/A-O/AM Low Jumper Classic: Sydney Myers & SKARA GLEN'S SIGNATURE 

$5,000 Pyranha Jr/A-O/Am Medium/High Jumper Classic: Ella Mauritzson & KIR ROYAL SCF
 

 

The featured Hunter class for Equifest III was Friday's $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby. With scores of 89 in the first round and 92 in the second round, Kathleen Caya & COPA DU CACHE took the top spot with a total score of 181.

  • 2nd Place: Ryan Sassmannshausen & ROSALITA [177]
  • 3rd Place: Caya & JUSTIFIED [174]
 
 
HUNTER CLASSIC WINNERS
 
$1,000 Amateur/Owner Hunter Classic: Emily Tauscher & SOUL SISTER

$1,000 CWD Junior Hunter Classic: Cristian Hacker & MTM PASSPORT

$500 M&S/SmartPak/NAL Adult Hunter Classic: Colleen Nagy & COPA DU CACHE

$500 M&S/NAL Child Hunter Classic: Libby Smith & BONAFIDE
 
 
HITS Chicago returns with the Lamplight Fall Classic, September 15-19, that is host to USEF-Rated National/4* competition featuring USHJA Zone V Horse of the Year Championships, the Marshall & Sterling League Midwest Finals, and the NCEA Junior Medal Final - Midwest. This final week of competition in 2021 at Lamplight will also include the Parade of Champions! Don't miss out - HITS Chicago features competition for every level rider at the charming Lamplight Equestrian Center. If we can be of assistance in making your plans, please contact us at 224.238.7460 or email us