Saugerties, New York, USA – July 21, 2024 – The $24,500 Horseflight 1.40m-1.45m Jumper Classic closed out the first week of the HITS Hudson Valley Jumping Tour at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, on Sunday, July 21, 2024. A field of 26 horse-and-rider combinations competed, but Colombian athlete Mark Bluman (COL) and Alpha de Ternoire were the quickest of them all.
The class ran with an immediate jump-off, testing riders on their ability to move from the first round to the short course without leaving the arena. Bluman was the final competitor in the class. Using this to his advantage, he got a close look at previous riders, studying where he could cut time. He then raced through the timers in 36.192 seconds for the decisive victory.
Tori Corts (USA) followed in second with a time of 38.650 seconds aboard her own Semi Automatic, an 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Amaretto d Arco.
Ali Wolff (USA) and Quirie 2, her own 17-year-old German Sporthorse gelding (Quadrigus M x Quidam’s Rubin), claimed third in 39.237 seconds.
“I saw Tori’s jump-off and I knew exactly where I could take a couple bigger risks than she did and it paid off,” explained Bluman.
While Alpha de Ternoire is normally the mount of Bluman’s student Alexa Schwitzer, Bluman took the reins for the week, and what a week it was. They scored wins in the 1.30m on Wednesday, the $15,000 STX Open Speed on Friday, and finally the cherry on top with the $24,500 Horseflight 1.40-1.45m Jumper Classic on Sunday.
“He is quite the easiest horse in the barn,” said Bluman of the 14-year-old Selle Français gelding (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Olisco) owned by Over the Top Stables LLC. “He’s just a competitor and he’s always been great. He is very experienced, and the course rode pretty easy for him.”
Competition buzzed all around the facility during Hits-on-the-Hudson IV, and the action-packed schedule continues heading into two more sold-out weeks. For Bluman, the crowd is one of the many perks of competing at Hits Hudson Valley.
“The HITS management team has done an unbelievable job and more people want to come here,” said Bluman. “This week was busy, but the next couple of weeks are going to be even busier, and we’re looking forward to that.”
Final Results – $24,500 Horseflight Jumper Classic – 1.40m -1.45m
1) Mark Bluman (COL) & Alpha de Ternoire – 0 / 0 – 36.192
2) Tori Corts (USA) & Semi Automatic– 0 / 0 – 38.650
3) Ali Wolff (USA) & Quirie 2– 0 / 0 – 39.237
Source: Press Release from Hits Horse Shows
Photos: © ESI Photography
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