©ESI Photography. David Beisel and Ammeretto jump their way to a win in the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix.
OCALA, FL (February 28, 2014) – Grand prix on-lookers let out a roar at the HITS Ocala Tournament as professional rider David Beisel of Goshen, Ohio rode the speedster stallion Ammeretto to a second straight win after last Sunday’s $50,000 Strongid C 2X Grand Prix. With a flying finish over the last oxer, they were through the timers to best the field by more than two seconds in the jump-off of the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis, for owners Dale and Barbara Neilson’s Equine Holdings, LLC.
The course, designed by Manuel Esparza of Mexico City, Mexico, challenged nineteen riders with open gallops, a liverpool, big oxers, rollbacks and a vertical-oxer-vertical triple combination. Many fell victim to both the clock and jumping efforts in the first round with the triple combination and the large oxer at fence twelve, the last fence of the course, proving to be the most troublesome.
“In the first round, Ammeretto was a little fresh. I tried to steady him and be careful, but he had a lot of rubs,” stated Beisel. “This course offered a lot of gallop, as well as some places where you had to slow up. Ammeretto understands the gallop part, but the slow-down, not so much.”
There were only six qualified to return to jump off, but the field was stacked with several riders who have already pocketed grand prix wins this circuit. Lisa Goldman of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois and the big chestnut Centurion B, owned by Mary Goldman, was the first to go, setting the Great American Time to Beat at a very fast 42.15 seconds. This time would hold until Ammeretto took the stage as the last horse to jump.
Following Goldman was VDL Zedaldine with Amanda Flint of Long Valley, New Jersey in the irons for the Coverboy Group. They went clean in a time of 48.60 seconds for a fourth-place ribbon. Melissa Rudershausen of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania riding her own Gunner took fifth place with no faults and a time of 43.54 seconds. With many ribbon placings this circuit, Jared Petersen of Archer, Florida aboard Derek Petersen’s Titus 2:11 went clean with a time of 45.42 seconds to finish third.
But last to go, and taking aim at qualifying in a top spot for the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix on March 24, David Beisel in the irons of the feisty Ammeretto entered the ring. Characterized as the ‘little horse with the big motor’, Ammeretto carried Beisel in an all-out effort with a clean round and blazing time of 40.16 seconds to best the field.
“I decided to let him roll in the jump-off. I just stayed balanced and went with him and he was wonderful,” admitted Beisel. “I’d like to thank my wife, family and sponsors, including CWD, for all their support.”
Grand prix action returns on Sunday as the HITS Ocala Tournament continues with the $50,000 Ring Power Grand Prix, presented by Zoetis. The showdown will return to the Ocala Horse Properties Stadium as excitement builds for the first-ever Great American $1 Million Grand Prix. The Great American Million will debut as the second jewel in the HITS Triple Crown of Show Jumping Monday, March 24 in the new Ocala Horse Properties Stadium.
About SmartPak
SmartPak powers healthy horses and happy riders. The patented SmartPak Supplement Feeding System makes it easy for riders across the country to take the best care of their horses. Founded in 1999, with the purpose of simplifying the administration of nutritional supplements and medications to horses, the system has been adopted by thousands of barns and horse owners across the country, who value knowing that their supplements will be fed correctly. For more information, visit SmartPak.com.
About Zoetis
Building on 60 years of experience as Pfizer Animal Health, Zoetis delivers quality medicines and vaccines, complemented by diagnostics products and genetics tests and supported by a range of services. They work every day to better understand and address the real-world challenges faced by those who raise and care for animals in ways they find truly relevant. Zoetis produces a comprehensive range of safe and effective products, including equine vaccines, dewormers and sedative analgesics, to help professionals and individual horse owners keep their animals healthy. Both veterinarians and horse owners know and trust the Zoetis will help their horses live longer, healthier lives. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com.
For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS: join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!
HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • Media_Info@HitsShows.com • HitsShows.com