Saugerties, New York, USA – August 30, 2020 – The two-week Hits Saugerties Fall Series began last week with Hits-on-the-Hudson VII, the prelude to the Hits Championship, the Richest Weekend in Show Jumping. Hits VII featured the final Devoucoux and Platinum Performance Hunter Prix qualifiers of the season, as well as Marshall & Sterling League classes and classics and two Grand Prix. With fall in the air, riders put the their best foot forward in preparation for next week’s Championship classes which include the $500,000 AIG Grand Prix, $250,000 Diamond Mills and $100,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Finals, $15,000 Green Hunter Prix, and $25,000 Black Barn Jr/A-O/Am Jumper Prix.
The field was stacked with top riders and horses for Sunday’s $50,000 Hits Grand Prix. Six riders cleared the first round with no jumping faults, but only 4 finished within the time allowed, setting the stage for a fast and furious jump-off. Taking home first place and the lion’s share of prize money was Jenni McAllister (USA) and Escada V S.
The American guided the 13-year-old chestnut Swedish Warmblood mare (Escudo 19 x For Feeling) through the timers in 40.172, beating the field by just over a half of a second, to be awarded the winner’s trophy. In addition, Hylofit presented one of their cutting-edge Heart Monitoring System to the Grand Prix winner every Sunday at Hits Saugerties.
Mimi Gochman (USA) was consistent once again, finishing third aboard Celina BH (Canstakko x Carthago 7) after their second fault-free effort, timed in 40.855 seconds.
Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Cornwall BH (Con Air x Cambridge) matched the clean scorecard of the eventual winners, rounding out the top three in 48.571 seconds.
Click here for the results
