Hi-Perf for MCrea, Avenir

By Staff Report May 25, 2013

Christine McCrea and Avenir nabbed the first high-performance blue of the 2013 HITS on the Hudson season, winning the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix presented by Zoetis on Saturday, March 25 in Saugerties, NY.

McCrea of East Windsor, CT, rode a 13-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding owned by Candy Tribble & Windsor Show Stables, Inc. The pair rode sixth in the first-round order and posted the second clear round after Peter Wylde of Wellington, FL, was first to leave the rails up Marina Azevedo’s course, riding Lewin 5, owned by Societe Cirile de Necurie de Meautry. Eight others joined them for a 10-horse jump-off, which left McCrea as one of only two double clear rounds.

With the north berm of the grand prix stadium now boasting a new and improved VIP Club, exhibitors and spectators alike looked on as competitors tackled the 13-obstacle course of 16 jumping efforts.

Avenir, a 12-year-old Belgian-bred gelding, has been under the direction of McCrea for about three years and, according to her, is a horse that knows his job. “He is such a fighter. He knows that the game is to go fast and clear, so as long as I ride him well he is always right there for me. He is in it to win it.”

McCrea returned second in the jump-off and set an early Great American Time to Beat of 34.95 seconds. Jonathan Corrigan of Oyster Bay, NY was quick to challenge on Sagamore Farm’s Olympic De Chamant. They were clear, but couldn’t catch McCrea and Avenir. They posted a time of 35.92 seconds to settle for second.

Kevin Babington of Keene, KY, was the fastest of the four-faulters and rode Mark Q to third. Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, New Jersey picked up four faults with Quointreau Un Prince, owned by Chapot and McLain Ward, and finished fourth. Heather Caristo-Williams of Saugerties, NY, rounded out the top five with a single rail aboard Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Caristo’s Evening Star.

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