BY: HORSES DAILY
SAUGERTIES, New York- Caitlyn Connors and her Bink-A mastered a challenging course to claim first place in Sunday’s $10,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, presented by Vetera® XP Vaccines. “It was very technical,” said Connors of the course. “That’s actually my second high junior class I’ve done with him [Bink-A]. He was very, very good though. He took care of me and I tried to help him as best I could.”
Connors was one of four riders who went clear in the first round. The class was offered as II.2.A/B option, with the choice to return for the jump-off immediately or to come back at the end. Ashley Baker and her D Elia Van Het Molenhof were the first to go clear in Round 1 and immediately went on to the shortened course. They had one rail, earning four faults, and finished in 38.195 seconds to ultimately take third place.
After the first round was complete, Connors and two other riders returned for the jump-off. Connors and Bink-A went first and finished in 34.500 seconds, setting a time that would be impossible to beat. Going next was Katie Gray on her Q Two, but a crowd-disappointing refusal towards the end of the course earned them four jumping faults and three time faults to place them in fourth. Catherine Tyree, who had a total of four mounts in the jumper classic, went last in the jump-off on Phenix Royal, owned by Joseph & Mary Tyree. Finishing in a clean 35.893 seconds, Tyree ended the day in second place.