Natascha Gates Pilots Quickie to Victory in the $40,000 Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Super 8 Grand Prix presented by Trapper's Chop House at Summer in the Rockies II

Colorado local and German native, Natascha Gates of Elizabeth, CO, and Quickie soared to a win in the $40,000 Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Super 8 Grand Prix presented by Trapper's Chop House on Saturday, June 18, at The Colorado Horse Park (CHP), during week two of the Summer in the Rockies Series (SIR). Quickie lived up to his name, showcasing his speed in the biggest class of the week, and finished the short course in 41.25 seconds. Armando Hassey of Parker, CO, guided S&L Zeppelin to second place, collecting four faults and completing the jump-off with a time of 37.92 seconds, while Mark Martens of the Netherlands piloted Indoktro K Van't Kattenheye to third place with a time of 38.58 seconds and four faults. Competition at CHP continues on Wednesday, June 22, with the start of the Summer in the Rockies III featuring the $50,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix on Saturday, June 25.

Gates entered the class with the simple goal of riding a clear round. Quickie, a 2006 Oldenburg gelding (Quality x Shira) has been under the guidance of Gates for almost his entire career, as she purchased the gelding as a foal, and then imported him to the United States as a three-year-old. "I honestly just wanted to ride a clear round. I thought to myself, there are only five in the jump-off and the worst that can happen is finishing in fifth," said Gates. "That was my strategy. I just wanted to stay clean and accurate." Quickie showcased his continued progress to Gates on Saturday evening, finishing a competitive clear effort in the first round to move the pair forward to the jump-off round, which featured five combinations including last week's winners Armando Hassey and S&L Zeppelin. "I bought him when he was three weeks old and I had ridden his mother in Europe. I imported him when he was three and started him under saddle," she commented. "He's ten now and to see and experience the whole process from when he was started to now makes me very happy." Quickie and Gates will return to compete next week at CHP before taking a few relaxing weeks off in anticipation of contesting the two biggest weeks of the Summer in the Rockies Series, week six and week seven. "We have three more weeks here and then he will get two off before the bigger weeks six and seven at the end of July. If I stay healthy and my horse stays healthy that will be the plan," she added. Courtney Frederick and Soulshine Take $20,000 Open Welcome Stake presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center at SIR II Courtney Frederick of Longmont, CO, and her mount, Soulshine, took home the blue ribbon on Thursday, June 16, in the $20,000 Open Welcome Stake presented by Littleton Equine Medical Center. The duo rode to a double clear effort, taking the win with a time of 40.22 seconds in the jump-off round. Bjorn Ikast of Parker, CO, and Candy Man placed second with a time of 40.48 seconds, while Karen Cudmore of Ohama, NE, and Super Bad rounded out the top three, finishing the jump-off in 41.72 seconds. Frederick and Soulshine, a 2003 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Equestrian Investments, LLC, have been partners for six years. The duo also captured a sixth-place finish in the $40,000 Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, & Suites, Super 8 Grand Prix presented by Trapper's Chop House during SIR II. With their top performances throughout the week, it is clear that the duo has risen to the top of their game.