Horses - Welles Wins $15,000 Open Jumper Prix at HITS Catskills IV with Julius - August 2001 - Equiworld

Welles Wins $15,000 Open Jumper Prix at HITS Catskills IV with Julius

ELLENVILLE, NY (July 27, 2001)-Following his one-two finish in the $10,000 Open Jumper Welcome Stake on Wednesday, Jeffery Welles, 39, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, took his second-placed horse, Julius, and rode him to the win today in the $15,000 Open Jumper Prix at HITS Catskills in Ellenville, New York. Welles and Julius, a 10-year old Dutch gelding, were the fastest of 10 double-clear rounds in a field of 31 horses, taking home $4,500 for owner Daybreak Farm, Inc. Today's Order of Go included U.S. Olympic Team Members Anne Kursinski, Peter Leone, Nona Garson, Todd Minikus, Lauren Hough, and Canadian Olympian Ian Millar.

Course Designer Ken Krome of Westminster, Maryland, built a 13-jump Round One that included a double at Fence No. 6 and a triple combination at Fence No. 9. Time Allowed was set at 96 seconds. Thirteen horses were clear and qualified for the Jump-Off.

In the Jump-Off, riders were required to jump a course of seven single jumps in a Time Allowed of 48 seconds. Out of 13 horses in the Jump-Off, all but three went clean. Welles was the fifth rider on course with Julius and put in an untouchable time of 34.690. Eight horses chased Welles, but none could catch him. The closest time to the leader's was Millar on Nicos, owned by Todd Snell, who clocked in at 35.584, but the fraction slower put him in second place by .894.

"Julius jumped very well in the first round," said Welles. "I went early in the Jump-Off and since there were so many clear and three clear before me, I knew I had to gallop along. I just really took a shot and he left the jumps up. The classes have been really fast this week. They were very good courses."

The $15,000 Open Jumper Prix is held every Friday at HITS Catskills horse shows.

$15,000 Open Jumper Prix, July 27, 2001
HITS Catskills IV, Ellenville, New York
Course Designer: Ken Krome

Pl#/Horse/Rider/Owner/Prize Money/Rd 1 Faults/J-O Faults & Time
1/Julius/Jeffery Welles/Daybreak Farm Inc/$4,500/0/0-34.690
2/Nicos/Ian Millar/Todd Snell/$3,300/0/0-35.584
3/Eros/Anne Kursinski/The Eros Group/$2,250/0/0-35.684
4/Legato/Peter Leone/Lionshare Farm/$1,500/0/0-36.338
5/Playboy/Todd Minikus/YZ Partners/$1,200/0/0-36.464
6/Ivar/Ian Millar/Millar Brooke Ltd/$900/0/0-36.838
7/Gardenio/Todd Minikus/YZ Parnters/$750/0/0-37.090
8/Lassango/Lynne Little/Raylyn Farm/Marilyn Little/$600/0/0-37.090

Number of horses who competed in this class: 31
Class Prize Money: $15,000

HITS CATSKILLS 2001 SHOW JUMPING ACTION:
HITS Catskills I, May 23-27
HITS Catskills II, May 30-June 3
HITS Catskills III, July 18-22
HITS Catskills IV, July 25-29
HITS Catskills V, August 1-5
HITS Catskills VI, August 29-September 2
FEATURED EVENTS:
May 27 $100,000 EMO Grand Prix 1pm
June 3 $100,000 Nevele Grande Grand Prix 1pm
July 22 $100,000 Avis Grand Prix 1pm
July 29 $100,000 Cosequin® Grand Prix 1pm
August 5 $100,000 Nevele Grande Grand Prix 1pm
September 2 $100,000 Rio Vista Grand Prix 1pm
SPECIAL EVENTS:
July 22 Taste of the Hudson Valley For Exhibitors Only 2pm-4pm
July 29 Kids Day 11am-1pm

www.HitsShows.com