Photo by ESI Photography (Kelsey Hart and Agostino in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby. )
The Junior Rider from Albany, NY, rode against 30 other starters on a course set by Rian Beals. In the first round, Hart scored a 77.5, which put her in fourth place. The early leader was Kristen Bumpus riding Hannah Curran's Inspired, who scored an 83 in the first round and earned the right to go last in the handy round.
Hart and Agostino took charge in the second round scoring an 81 to put the pressure on the competition. Bumpus and Inspired scored a 75 to finish in second place and give Hart the victory.
Hart has been on a roll at HITS Saugerties! She rode her horse to a victory in the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Derby during HITS-on-the-Hudson I, then the horse-and-rider team finished second in the Derby during HITS-on-the Hudson II. In all, Hart has collected $8,000 in prize money from the popular Devoucoux Derby during the spring series of horse shows at HITS Saugerties.
"We are so proud of Kelsey," said trainer Monty Kelly, of Stepping Stone Farm. "Her horse seems to step up to the plate during the biggest classes. It was certainly a great run for her."
Taking third place in the Devoucoux Derby was Fidelity, owned and ridden by Lauren Vogel. Fourth place was awarded to Amanda Forte riding Journeys End Farm's Paramount and in fifth place was junior rider Sydney Smith, in the irons of her own horse Calimero.
"I have fallen in love with the Derbies," said Hart. "I look forward to them all week and my horse seems to really come out with his game-face on."
Hart's win in the Devoucoux Derby was just the icing on the cake for Stepping Stone Farm. In the Rated Hunters earlier in the week, Professional Rider Amy Momrow rode Deborah Brennor's mare, Star Quest Serenade, to weekly championships in the First Year Green Hunters and the Regular Working Hunters.
In the Low Hunter and the Pre Green Hunter, Momrow rode Monty Kelly's Wolfpack to the weekly crown to highlight the week for Albany, New York's Stepping Stone Farm. One week earlier, Shaine Brooks, another professional at Stepping Stone Farm, rode Wolfgang to the weekly championships in each division.
"We are looking forward to the summer," said Kelly. "With HITS being so close to our farm and the diverse schedule it's great for us because we can bring almost our entire barn to Saugerties."
This spring and summer the all-new Devoucoux Hunter Derby is a featured event at both HITS Saugerties and HITS Culpeper and represents the 13th division to count for points in the Marshall & Sterling League. The Devoucoux Derby Finals will be offered at the 2010 Marshall & Sterling League National Finals on September 15-19 in Saugerties, NY.
Show Jumping at HITS Saugerties takes a five-week hiatus and then returns to the popular HITS-on-the-Hudson venue on Wednesday, July 21, for the mid-summer three-week HITS Summer Series. During the summer shows, Grand Prix riders will have six more chances to qualify for the historical Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix that will take place at HITS-on-the-Hudson 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, please visit our website at www.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].