WINS WEEK II $25,000 AIKEN SADDLERY GRAND PRIX, PRESENTED BY PURINA ANIMAL NUTRITION WITH CILIA M
For Immediate Release: June 21, 2020
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken’s own Daniel Geitner and November Hill’s Cilia M rode away with the win in the $25,000 Aiken Saddlery Grand Prix, presented by Purina Animal Nutrition Week II of the Aiken Summer Classic, besting a field of twenty eight horse and rider teams over a course designed by Steve Stephens of Palmetto, Florida.
The course proved to be challenging with only three horse and rider teams turning in clear first rounds. Doug Payne of Aiken, South Carolina in the irons of Jane Dudinsky’s Quintessence was the first pair to post a clear first round in a time of 78.431 seconds. Four rides later ensured a jump off when Hanna Toering of Waterford, Virginia piloted her own Balou Moon BHF through the timers after a clear first round in a time of 76.779 seconds.
Four rides later, Geitner and Cilia M added themselves to the jump-off roster with their clear first round in a time of 78.703 seconds. “It was a very technical course and definitely big enough,” said Geitner. “Since I had rails with my earlier rides, I was able to use that to my advantage to help navigate that first round. Cilia is still a little inexperienced and hasn’t had nearly the mileage the other horses have. She jumped really well in the first round and handled those technical questions pretty easily,” he said.
Stephens set the jump off round with a time allowed of 44 seconds. Payne and Quintessence were the first to go but a heartache rail at the last fence gave them four jump faults in a time of 39.814 seconds. Toering and Balou Moon BHF followed in the order and turned in a clear round with a time of 36.055 seconds. The heat was on for Geitner and Cilia M.
The pair turned in clear round and galloped through the timers in 34.804 seconds. “She was on her game,” said Geitner, “and to be honest, she’s been a bit of a hard luck story and I’m glad she pulled through,” he added.
Madeline Reich of Birmingham, Alabama and Lyons Creek Sporthorses, LTD’s Harakiri Z placed fourth with their first round performance with one time fault in 83.070 seconds.
Geitner and Oak Ledge Farm’s Fazous also picked up the fifth place as the fastest of the four-fault first rounds with their time of 75.012 seconds and also earned a sixth place with November Hill’s Vesta De Lavardin for their four fault first round in a time of 75.734 seconds.
Tom Foley of Wellington, Florida rode Carson Grisham’s Blaze of Glory II to a seventh place finish with their four fault first round in a time of 75.737 seconds. Eighth place was awarded to Sydney Long of Atlanta, Georgia and her own Take Two for their four fault first round in a time of 77.528 seconds.
Catogi, owned and ridden by Grant Seger of Aiken, South Carolina finished in ninth place for their four fault first round in a time of 78.330 seconds. Tenth place was awarded to Kris Killam of Naples, Florida aboard Empire Show Stables’ Boreale De Talme and eleventh went to Kyle Dewar of Ocala, Florida and Joan Burke’s F Gunsmoke RHF. Jamie Gibson of Ocala, Florida and Lucky Horses, LLC’s Caddie Rwrapped up the class with a twelfth place finish.
Located at 1044 East Pine Log Road in Aiken, Aiken Saddlery, together with Purina Animal Nutrition, is a proud sponsor of the Aiken Summer Classic and the Official Feed Supplier.
Purina Animal Nutrition is the Official Feed for the Aiken Summer Classics and the presenting sponsor of the Week II $25,000 Aiken Saddlery Grand Prix, presented by Purina Animal Nutrition.
Purina feeds are precisely formulated for your horse’s age and lifestyle. You’ll see the proof in strong hooves, shiny coats, and healthy horses. As the leader in animal feed, they are passionate about helping horses reach their fullest potential.
PAYNE PILOTS VANDIVER TO THE WIN IN THE $7,500 WELCOME
Twenty nine riders kicked off the jumper action in the Week II $7,500 Welcome with just about half of the class advancing to a second round opportunity and ten turning in double clear rounds, but it was Doug Payne of Aiken, South Carolina in the irons of Debi Crowley’s Vandiver who took home the blue ribbon.
Course designer Steve Stephens set the second round time to beat at 50 seconds.
Grant Seger of Aiken, South Carolina and Grey Fox Crossing’s Cantucchini were the first team to turn in double clear rounds, setting the new time to beat at 42.692 seconds.
Kyle Dewar of Ocala, Florida and his own Clever Van De Helle followed in the order with double clear rounds and a second round time of 40.661 seconds, setting the new time to beat and taking the lead.
The next to turn in a clear second round was Shoshana Altschuler of Wilimington, Delaware, and Saint Amour Stables’ Valegro DHZ. Their time of 43.537 seconds would see them finish in ninth place overall.
Penny Brennan of Buhl, Alabama and her own Vertigo Delorme were the next to go clear in their second round with a time of 41.572 seconds, placing them in fourth place overall.
Next to turn in double clear rounds was Doug Payne and Debi Crowley’s Vandiver. The pair turned in a lightning fast second round in 40.517 seconds and took the lead.
Camille Maddrix of Leeds, Alabama, and Tim Maddrix LLC’s Jack Straw turned in a clear second round in a time of 43.284 which would secure them eighth place overall.
Dewar returned to the ring, this time in the irons of his own Chapeau. The pair posted double clear rounds with a second round time of 43.062 seconds which would see the pair finish in seventh place.
Madeline Reich of Birmingham, Alabama, and Lyons Creek Sporthorses’ Harakiri Z was the next to post double clear rounds. Their second round in a time of 42.728 would earn them a sixth place ribbon.
Seger and Grey Fox Crossing’s Frieda 285 followed with double clear rounds. Their second round in a time of 45.635 seconds awarded then a tenth place ribbon overall.
Kris Killam of Naples, Florida, and Tophorses’ LLC’s Gangster CHS were the final horse and rider team to turn in double clear rounds and just missed beating Payne and Vandiver’s time with their own 40.611, which would insure Payne’s victory and earn Killam and Gangster CHS a second place ribbon.
Final results had Payne and Vandiver with the win followed by Killam and Gangster CHS in second. Dewar earned a third in the irons of his own Clever Van De Helle and a seventh with his own Chapeau. Brennan and Vertigo Delorme earned fourth while Seger and Cantucchini placed fifth.
DANIEL GEITNER AND BANKS MILL WIN THE $15,000 USHJA INTERNATIONAL HUNTER DERBY
Twenty one horse and rider teams hunted for the blue over a course designed by Nancy Wallis of Lambertville, NJ but it was Daniel Geitner of Aiken, South Carolina and his own Banks Mill that bested the field with a combined score of 390.
The pair sat in second position after the Classic round with a score of 181. Liza Boyd of Camden, South Carolina and Rebekah Warren’s Cassico were in the lead after the Classic round with a score of 184.
“Being second after the Classic round and riding against the top two hunter riders in the country-Liza [Boyd] and Hunt [Tosh], I knew I had to take all the chances in the Handy round in order to win,” said Geitner.
The Handy Round was close with Geitner earning a score of 209 and Boyd earning a 201 which sealed the win for Geitner and Banks Mill with an overall score of 390 and Boyd and Cassico earning an overall score of 385. “The course was tough,” commented Geitner. “The high options were tough and the course was tricky enough,” he commented. “I feel very lucky to have a horse like him [Banks Mill]. He is a classic light boned thoroughbred and just moves beautifully across the ground. He won the Classic last week and he is just a really special horse. He’s only done a couple of Derbies but he has the scope and style to really be a great Derby horse,” he said.
Ceil and Kenny Wheeler’s Autograph, ridden by Hunt Tosh of Milton, Georgia, placed third overall for their combined score of 379.
Player, owned by Jeanne Pitre and ridden by Katherine Le Blanc of Folsom, Alabama, earned a fourth overall for their combined score of 361.5. Kelly Sims’ Private I, True Enough and Bacchus, all ridden by Michael Britt-Leon of Marietta, Georgia, collected fifth through seventh place ribbons with scores of 361.5, 358 and 351, respectively.
Geitner returned to the arena to collect the eighth place ribbon with his and Nancy McBrayer’s Pen and Ink. Jeanne Pitre’s MTM Amour, ridden by Katherine Le Blanc earned a ninth place ribbon and Cora, owned by Lucky Horses and ridden by Jaime Gibson of Ocala, Florida, earned a tenth place ribbon.
Jordan Lubow of Mobile, Alabama, rode her own Anthemis Z to an eleventh place finish and Geitner wrapped the class up with a twelfth in the irons of Gesture, LLC’s Santana.
TINA TURNER ROCKS THE $1,500 USHJA PONY HUNTER DERBY
The pony hunters were out in full force as twenty pony rider teams competed over a course designed by Nancy Wallis of Lambertville, New Jersey, in the $1,500 USHJAPony Hunter Derby. It was Tina Turner, owned by Team Weston, LLC and ridden by Lauren Gee of Valdosta, Georgia, who rode away with the blue ribbon for their overall score of 169.
Second was awarded to Merrylegs South’s Days of Our Lives, ridden by Elle Boyd of Camden, South Carolina. The pair earned an overall score of 164.
Gee returned to the winner’s circle to collect a third place ribbon, this time in the irons of Aquitaine Equine’s Eastside for their combined score of 151.5.
Farnley Crown Prince, owned by Caroline Gilmer and ridden by Finley Clement of Waxshaw, North Carolina, placed fourth overall for their combined score of 140.
Fifth place was awarded to My Boy, owned and ridden by Campbell Clement also of Waxshaw, for their combined score of 146.
Elegance, owned by GC Ponies, LLC and ridden by Sophie Jane Poore of Aiken, South Carolina, earned sixth for their overall score of 144.5 and seventh place was awarded to Champagne Wishes, owned and ridden by Lesly Moore of Palm Beach, Florida.
May-B Tango, owned by Jackson Creek Stables and ridden by Karma Jackson of Aiken, South Carolina, earned an eighth place and Bit of Laughter, owned by Team Weston, LLC and ridden by Lauren Studstill of Lakeland, Georgia, finished ninth overall.
Bieber, owned by Katherine Dewar and ridden by Adele Dewar of Ocala, Florida, earned tenth, Mr. Toffee, owned and ridden by Lauren Studstill placed eleventh and Olympian’s Dainty Rose owned by Tittle’s Sport Horses and ridden by Suzette Tittle of Roswell, Georgia, wrapped up the class with a twelfth place finish.
SELECT WINS THE $5,000 MARSHALL & STERLING CLASSIC HUNTER DERBY
Daniel Geitner was on a winning streak Week II and besides winning the $25,000 Aiken Saddlery Grand Prix, presented by Purina Animal Nutrition, the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, he also piloted Katherine Orrell’s Select to the blue ribbon in the $5,000 Marshall & Sterling Classic Hunter Derby, besting a field of thirty one horse and rider teams over a course designed by Nancy Wallis of Lambertville, New Jersey.
“Select is a super brave and quiet horse-I can pull him out for those classes and always count on him. He’s not ever going to let me down. He’s done everything and is a really cool guy,” said Geitner.
Finally Farm, Inc.’s Family Style, ridden by Liza Boyd of Camden, South Carolina, earned second place and Odyssey, owned and ridden by Eleese Shillingford of Alpharetta, Georgia took home third overall as well as the $500 Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Non Pro Rider Bonus.
Terry Brown’s Brulee, ridden by Hanna Toering placed fourth while Big Bang, owned by Emelie Burgess and ridden by Gigi Manigault of Charleston, South Carolina, placed fifth. The pair also won the Marshall. & Sterling 3’3” $300 Non Pro Rider Bonus.
Frederica, owned and ridden by Megan Schall of Minneapolis, Minnesota, earned a sixth place finish and won the $500 Marshall & Sterling 3’ Non Pro Rider bonus.
Whiskey at Midnight, owned by Flickerdale Farm, LLC and ridden by Rachel Kennedy of Brookeville, Maryland, placed seventh overall. Eighth was awarded to Casanova, owned by Sarah MacMilland and ridden by Jessica Cross of Orlando, Florida.
Askaro, owned and ridden by Missy Luczak-Smith of Charlotte, North Carolina placed ninth overall and also was awarded the $300 Marshall & Sterling 3’ Non Pro Rider Bonus.
Cher Canaday’s Echelon, ridden by Scott Armour of Moreland, Georgia, finished up the Derby in tenth place overall and Doug Payne rode his own Quiberon to an eleventh placing. Without a Trace, owned and ridden by Jessica Hunkiar of Tallahasee, Florida, wrapped up the class with a twelfth place finish and also won the $200 Marshall & Sterling 3’ Non Pro Rider Bonus.
Kathryn Crump of Athens, Georgia, and her own Cotes Du Rhone won the $200 Marshall & Sterling 3’3” Non Pro Rider Bonus.
