Todd Minikus captures the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties aboard Olinda

SAUGERTIES, NY(June 15, 2007)--Todd Minikus must not have been in a giving mood during Thursday's $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties.

On Addison Phillips' 18th birthday, Minikus and his mount Olindaedged out Phillips and her mount Trezebees en route to collecting $7,500 in prize money for owner Houlihan Lawrence.

"Second place isn't a bad birthday present," said Phillips. "Just to compete against riders like Todd (Minikus) and Margie (Engle) is a thrill for me. I hope to have a lot more chances during my career."
Phillips was first to go in a jump-off that included five horses and set the Great American Time to Beat at 37.301 aboard Trezebees. The duo's time landed them in second place.

Next to go was Libby McKinney and Gun Du Desfi. They had the time, but heartbreak at the final hurdle pushed them into fourth place. "I didn't think I would get to the last jump that early," said McKinney. "I wasn't aware of my time and shouldn't have pushed it at the end."

Then it was Minikus' turn to challenge course designer Olaf Petersen's jump-off course. Minikus and Olinda took the lead when he stopped the clocks at 35.379 to take over first place. "After watching the first two trips, I learned that I am getting too old to compete with these young women," said Minikus. "Addie and Libby really put the pressure on me. They are two fantastic up-and-coming riders."

Margie Engle and Hidden Creek's Calippo 12 went fourth in the jump-off. The final effort in the jump-off spoiled her run at a double-clear afternoon as she finished in fifth place. She was also sixth aboard Hidden Creek's Wappino, collecting $2,750 in prize money for the afternoon.

The envious last-to-ride position belonged to Nona Garson and her mount Languster. They were clean but not fast enough to take home the blue ribbon, as they took third place for Ryan Automotive when they finished with a time of 37.411.

Week III of show jumping at HITS Saugerties continues all weekend and culminates on Sunday, June 17 with the $75,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix. The $22,500 Children's/Adult Championship and the $40,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship close out the spring shows this weekend at HITS Saugerties. After that, HITS Saugerties takes a five-week hiatus before returning on July 25 for three more weeks of world-class show jumping. The summer series concludes with one final week of show jumping beginning on September 5, followed by the Marshall & Sterling League Finals, September 13-16 when acclaimed singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega will be performing for the Year-End High Point Awards Celebration.

HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter-jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.

©2007 Lili Weik Photography

Todd Minikus and Olinda win the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix.