HITS Coachella Desert Circuit Week II Wrap-Up

 


Another Successful Week in the Desert Comes to a Close

It was another successful week of hunter and jumper competition in the desert to wrap up Week II of the HITS Coachella Desert Circuit.

The week kicked off in the Grand Prix ring with the $5,000 Johnson Horse Transportation Open Welcome where Ali Ramsay and HERMELIEN VD HOOGHOEVE took home top honors with a fault-free time of 43.293 in the jump-off. Following close behind Ramsay was Shawn Casady aboard his partner PLAYBOY BLUE VH Z with a time of 43.464. Taking home third and fourth was Jill Humphrey aboard FIN CHIN FRAVANCA and CARL CASIM. Humphrey finished with times of 44.119 and 44.910, respectfully. Robert Blanchette and COUPIS would take home the fifth place ribbon with a time of 44.999.

Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and AKUNA MATATA would take home the blue ribbon on Friday in the $30,000 SmartPak Open Prix with a jump-off time of 40.283.Taking home the red ribbon in the Open Prix and winning the U25, which was held as an overlay, was Theodore Boris and GARKUS VAN HET INDIHOF with a time of 40.342. Guy Thomas and JONKHEER Z would take home third with a time of 41.814, followed by William Simpson and CHACCO P in fourth with a time of 41.948. Delany Flynn took home the fifth place ribbon and second in the U25 classic with a time of 42.517.
 
Nicole Shahinian-Simpson and AKUNA MATATA are all smiles after finishing first in the
$30,000 SmartPak Open Prix.

Taking home the win in the $10,000 Electronic Vet 1.35m Classic Friday afternoon out of a field of 46 horses was Susan Hutchison and SIG FIRE CRACKER. Hutchison rode to a first place finish with a jump-off time of 39.870. Following close behind was John Pearce aboard BATHSHEBA in second with a jump-off time of 40.199 and Janet Hischer aboard COME BACK Z in third with a jump off time of 41.339. Fourth was by Keri Potter and DIABOLICAL C, coming in with a time of 41.843, rounding out the top five was Matt Archer and LEGOLAS with a time of 43.579.

In the $15,000 KindredBio 1.40m Jumper Classic Richard Spooner, the “Master of Faster”, and ARTHOS R took home top honors with a fault-free time of 37.747. Second place went to Kaitlin Campbell and LORENZO-T with a time of 38.137, followed by Tina Yates and CAMPITELLO 5 in third with a time of 40.605. Kenneth Vinther and COLICCHIO would take home the white ribbon with a time of 40.822, and rounding out the top five was Pearce aboard his partner CHANTICO with a four-fault time of 38.469.

The crowd filled the stands on Sunday afternoon ready to cheer on riders competing in the $70,000 GoRentals Grand Prix. Yates and ZELOTE VDL took home the blue ribbon this Sunday with a fault-free jump-off in 39.304. In an interview with The Chronicle of the Horse, Yates said “I knew when I went in there I had to be quick and tidy, but not crazy. So that was my plan, and it all just fell together today.”
 
Tina Yates and ZELOTE VDL pose for a win shot with the GoRentals representatives after winning the $70,000 GoRentals Grand Prix. 
 
Second place was awarded to the only other rider who jumped fault-free in the jump-off, Blanchette and COUPIS, with a time of 40.996. Third place was Potter and BITALICA with a four-fault time of 38.782, followed by Thomas and JONKHEER Z earning the white ribbon with a four-fault time of 39.786. Rounding out the top five was Derek Braun and LACAROLUS with a four-fault time of 49.785.

A competitive field of 38 exhibitors showed with us in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix on Friday, all working to qualify for the 2018 HITS Championships in Saugerties, New York. Taking home top honors and moving up from a second place finish Week I was Hope Glynn and KING OF HEARTS. Glynn scored an 88 in both rounds a two-round total of 176. The red ribbon was awarded to Jenny Karazissis and BIG SHOT with a first round score of 86 and second round score of 88 for an overall score of 174. Rounding out the top three in the class was last week’s blue ribbon winner, John French and SOLDIER. French scored an 84 in the first round and an 87 in the second round for a two-round total of 171.

Non-Professional riders showed with us Friday afternoon in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix, another class where riders were riding to qualify for the HITS Championship. Taking home the blue ribbon, trophy, cooler and all of our congratulations was Shari Roseboom and VOILA. Roseboom was in second place after her first round score of 83, but earned an 84 in the second round giving her a two-round total of 167 – a high enough score to push her into first place. The red ribbon was awarded to Amy Brubaker and CONVARO who had the high score of 85 in round one and received a 79 in round-two for an overall score of 164. Rounding out the top three in the Prix was Katrina Pattinson and SAM I AM. Pattinson received scores of 76 and 77 in her two rounds for a final score of 153.

Hope Glynn and KING OF HEARTS, blue ribbon winners in the
$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.
Shari Roseboom and VOILA jumping to a first place finish in the
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.

Keep up with all of the excitement as we dive “hoof-first” into Desert Circuit III by following us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. Also, check out our new livestream of Hunter 1 and the Grand Prix Ring with our new ShowHorse TV by clicking the yellow button at the top of the HitsShows.com homepage!

All Photography is Courtesy of ESI Photography