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SAUGERTIES,
NY (August
2, 2006)—Molly Ashe rode Jane Clark's Cocu
to win Thursday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix
at HITS Saugerties during week VI of HITS Saugerties'
Summer Circuit. She negotiated the fastest double-clear
round on Anthony D'Ambrosio's course.
Eight
horses out of 29 starters advanced to the jump-off,
with Ashe stopping the clocks in the jump-off
at 44.020 to secure the blue-ribbon. Ashe came
into Thursday's $25,000 HITS Grand Prix hot off
her triumph in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup. It
was the seond time, in the 35-year-old's career
that she secured the cup.
First
to go in the jump-off were Simon Nizri and Cataro
Ask. The horse/rider combination dropped only
fence 11A but Nizri's time of 44.020 was the slowest
of three pairs with four-faults leaving him in
sixth place. David Raposa and Pina Colada
were next and rails down on jumps three, five
and 12 plus 16 time faults pushed the horse/rider
combination into eighth place. Eliza Ferguson
Shuford and B C Olympia were next to challenge
D'Ambrosio. Eight jumping faults and 17 time faults
gave the North Carolina native a fifth place finish.
Federico Sztyrle and Fatalus Fatum became
the fourth consecutive pair not to make it through
clear, as a rail down at fence five resulted in
a fifth place finish.
Todd
Minikus and Pavorotti
were the fist to navigate the course clean setting
the Great American Time to Beat at 45.024. But
Ashe claimed the lead when Cocu made it
through clean in 44.113. The third consecutive
clean ride went to Patty Stovel and Shandor
41.However, Stovel's time of 46.488 couldn't
surpass Ashe. Stovel won third place honors and
a check for $3,250 for Shanor Syndicate.
Nizri and Genesis Jumping Sport had the
"last to ride" position, but a single
rail down left them in fourth place. However,
a fourth and sixth place finish for Nizri netted
him $3,250 in total prize money.
Ashe
earned some valuable points with the win as every
grand prix at all HITS horse shows, including
HITS Saugerties and HITS Culpeper is a qualifier
for the United States Grand Prix League Finals.
The finals for the league will be held in Culpeper
on October 1, where $100,000 in prize money will
be on the line. The event is limited to the top
30 United States Grand Prix League horse/rider
combinations.
Show
Jumping at HITS Saugerties continues this weekend
with competitions in up to 10 show rings. Week
VI culminates with the $75,000 Footings Unlimited
Grand Prix on August 6. Also, on Sunday HITS Saugerties
hosts its second annual World of the Horse that
kicks off prior to the grand prix. For more information
please, call 845.246.8833 during the week and
845.246.5515 on weekends or visit the HITS website
www.HitsShows.com.
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