HITS Thermal Mid-Circuit Report: Kyle King’s Birthday Ride

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© Flying Horse Photography. Kyle King and Corrine Super's Capone I.

THERMAL, CA (February 17, 2011) — Kyle King (Ocala, Florida) celebrated his birthday with a bang when he rode Corrine Super’s Capone I to a triumph in Sunday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California.

Winning Sunday’s feature class was extra remarkable for the birthday boy, who won the Grand Prix with the largest starting field to date at the 2011 HITS Desert Circuit. They were the top horse-and-rider combination out of the 49 horses that challenged International Course Designer Florencio Hernandez’ (Mexico City, Mexico) first-round course which featured 12 obstacles and 15 efforts, including a trio of double combinations in a time allowed of 79 seconds.

Thirteen riders took a shot at Hernandez’ first-round course and failed until accomplished equestrian Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Westlake Village, California) and Octavia Farms’ Lancaster 144 made it all the way home clear. Three trips later, Mexico’s John Perez (Cruz Manca, Coajimaipa, Mexico) and his own La Cantera Catrin wowed the crowd watching the action in the Strongid C 2X Stadium with a clear round of their own to force a jump-off.

In all, 10 teams advanced to the second round. Hernandez’ jump-off course consisted of nine efforts, which included a double combination down the last line in front of the Oasis VIP Club. Michaels-Beerbaum and Lancaster 144 were the first of the 10 to go in the jump-off and the decorated member of Team Germany went clear setting the Great American Time to Beat at 38.05 seconds. At the conclusion of the class, they would finish in second place.

John Perez and La Cantera Catrin were the next duo to show in the jump-off. Fresh from a second-place effort in Saturday’s $50,000 HITS CSI-W Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Perez gave it his best shot coming home clear and stopping the clocks in 41.25 to finish in fourth place.

Rich Fellers and McGuiness, owned by Harry and Mollie Chapman, were the victors in last Sunday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, and were the third pair to show in the jump-off. The pair couldn’t make it two in a row, as they dropped two rails on the track and finished in 10th place.

Canadian Olympian John Pearce had two rides in Sunday’s jump-off. He was up first aboard Elizabeth Oliver’s Lionel and they were looking like they would come home clear, but had heartbreak at the final hurdle, resulting in four faults and a seventh-place ribbon.

Amateur rider Joelle Froese (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada) entered the ring in the fifth spot aboard her own Condor, and was clearly looking to break the string of bad luck that had earlier riders scattering across the course. Luck was on Froese’s side, as they made it home clear in 39.97 seconds for a third-place finish.

Kyle King and Capone I followed and made it two clear rounds in a row. They were fast and clean coming all the way home in 37.95 seconds to take the lead in the jump-off.

Show jumping legend Hap Hansen (Encinitas, California) and Linda Smith’s Archie Bunker were seventh to challenge the course. A rail midway through their trip put Hansen and Archie Bunker in the eighth place spot. Karen Cudmore and Shea were next to take a shot at the leading time, and it looked like they had achieved their goal. The final fence proved to be their nemesis and with a time of 37.11 seconds, they had to settle for fifth place. With just two rounds left in the jump-off, Pearce and Forest View Farm Inc’s Son of A Gun were the next to show, but a single rail down left the duo in sixth place.

Saer Coulter (San Francisco, California) and Springtime, owned by Copernicus Stables, held the coveted last-to-go spot. The last fence on the course had already caused grief for earlier riders, and Coulter was no exception. Ninth place was the final tally for the pair.

When all was said and done, it was King and Capone I who reigned victorious in the class.

For complete results from Sunday’s $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, click here.

About SmartPak Equine

Founded in 1999, SmartPak Equine is the country’s largest online and catalog retailer serving the needs of the active and engaged horse owner. The patented SmartPak supplement feeding system has simplified the process of feeding horse supplements and medications, making it easier for thousands of riders to keep their horses healthier by ensuring their supplements are being fed correctly. SmartPak’s diverse and expansive product offering includes its own line of supplements, tack, and horse blankets as well as an extensive selection of leading brands of equine health, apparel, tack, and equipment. SmartPak is a six-time Inc. 500/5000 honoree and is the only equine company ever named to the Inc 500 list. SmartPak is backed by Waltham, MA-based North Bridge Growth Equity.

HITS, Inc. • 319 Main Street • Saugerties, NY 12477-1330
845.246.8833 Tel • 845.246.6371 Fax • www.HitsShows.com

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