Todd Minikus and Ultimo Van Ter Moude Galloped to the Win In the $50,000 Budweiser Grand Prix

Colts Neck, NJ – Riding Ultimo Van Ter Moude Todd Minikus of Loxahatchee, FL, shaved the final turn to the Wachovia plank to stop the clock in 33.301 seconds to win the $50,000 Budweiser Grand Prix, presented by Wachovia, at the Beacon Hill Equestrian Grand Prix.  Held at the Beacon Hill Show Stables in Colts Neck, NJ, the Budweiser Grand Prix drew 22 entries over a long course designed by Richard Jeffery.

Only three riders qualified for the jumpoff.  The youngest rider, 22-year-old Lara Gay of New York, NY, was the first to return. Gay and her new mount Nairobi had a rail at the first fence, leaving the door open for Laura Bowery to take the lead.

Bowery rode Indy Star II into the ring with authority, hoping for a clean, fast trip that would hold up to Minikus and his fast riding style.  Bowery managed to keep the rails from hitting the grass and posted a time of 36.329 seconds.  It was fast enough to put the pressure on Minikus.

When he rode in on Ultimo Van Ter Moude the race began.  Despite the fact that the 11-year-old Belgian-bred stallion kicked out against his leg, Minikus kept the momentum and raced to the final turn.  It was there the big grey slipped slightly but Minikus made the distance to the plank to win the class.

“I think Laura and I were about even at the second to the last jump so I knew the only way I could get her was the turn back to the plank,” said Minikus.  He said of the turn, “I let him shift a little to the left and made it work. I guess that’s the luck of it.”

Andrew Ross, 44, had luck and speed on his side when he outraced fifteen other riders in the jumpoff to win the $15,000 NJ Life Magazine Junior/Amateur-Owner Prix aboard Electra. Ross was the final rider to face the course of eight obstacles and knew he had to beat the time of 34.897 set by Philip Richter aboard Glasgow. Ross was quick off the combination and kept up the pace all the way to the end to take the blue.  Electra is a 10-year-old Thoroughbred mare who was off the track when he got her.  Electra and Ross were also named champion in the junior/amateur-owner jumper division.

In the $2500 Children’s Jumper Classic it didn’t look as if Devon Esrick of Odessa, FL, was going to lay down the fastest trip with Tadafanory after a stalled approach to the rock jump. But to cheers and encouragement from fans in the VIP tent, Esrick picked up the pace and galloped into the lead. The pair stopped the clock clean in 37.257 seconds, edging out Ann Davidson and Luck Line M by only 2/10ths of a second.  Davidson had to settle for the red ribbon.

Following the victory gallop Esrick returned to the arena to collect the championship ribbon for the children’s jumper division.  Reserve was awarded to Olivia Clancy and Casper.

In the $2500 Adult Jumper Classic it was a repeat performance for Kali Jerman who collected the blue for the second consecutive year. This year Jerman of Holmdel, NJ, rode Inca, a 16-year-old Mecklenburg mare to the win.  Jerman, 20, has been riding the bay mare for only two weeks. She said, “This was only my second show in a year. I was very nervous.” 

Jerman is quick to give thanks to her trainer Hugo Huesca who also owns the mare. She said smiling, “I feel very lucky.”

Full results from the Beacon Hill Equestrian Grand Prix can be found on www.ryegate.com.  For more information about the show please visit www.bhegp.com.