SAUGERTIES, NY (August 10, 2025)-Darragh Kerins and Night Train had the fastest double-clear round in Thursday’s $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties for the second week in a row to secure $7,500 in prize money for Double H Farm. This time it was Course Designer Anthony D’Ambrosio who cut the field from 25 down to five for the jump-off. Going first in the jump-off were Kerins and Night Train. The duo navigated the jump-off course without any faults as they set the Great American Time to Beat at 42.286 to secure the blue ribbon.
“I was first to go in the jump-off and I knew I had some fast riders behind me,” said Kerins. “When I went into the ring, I wanted to go as fast as I could. I gave it my best shot and it turned out well.”
Night Train, eight years old, is owned by Double H Farm. Kerins has been showing him for just over a year. The mount also took home the top prize in last week’s $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties. Kerins also was fifth aboard his other mount Orlando. In all, he earned a total of $9,000 in prize money for Double H Farm.
“Double H Farm has given me some great horses to ride this summer,” said Kerins. “I am very grateful to them.”
Second to go in the jump-off was Ramiro Quintana aboard Sydney. The duo made it all the way home clean but their time of 45.584 was well off the pace set by Kerins and Night Train. Quintana would secure a yellow ribbon and $3,250 in prize money for Kathryn Quirk.
Todd Minikus and Olinda took the stage next. The seasoned veteran navigated the course without any rails down, but his time of 42.441 was just a hair slower than Kerins and Night Train. Minikus, who is fresh off an appearance at the Pan Am Games, finished in second place.
Michelle Spadone was fourth to go in the jump-off. She had an unlucky rail down midway through her trip aboard Melisimo, as she grabbed the white ribbon. Her fourth-place finish earned Morgan Hill Partners $2,000 in prize money.
Kerins, who held the last-to-ride position with his mount Orlando decided not to jump him when he saw Spadone drop a rail. “I want to save him for Sunday,” said Kerins. “He is coming off a three-week break and I want to keep him fresh. He jumped super today and there is a lot of prize money on the line Sunday. We will take our best shot then.”
On Sunday, competitors will take aim at the top prize of $22,500 in the $75,000 In the Woods Log Homes Grand Prix.
With the victory, Kerins continues to earn some valuable points for the USGPL Standings. The top-30 USGPL riders in the USGPL Standings will be invited to compete in the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix which will be held at HITS Culpeper during the USGPL Finals on Sunday, September 30. As it stands now, Kerins and Night Train have $19,500 in qualifying prize money which puts them right in the thick of things for the Invitational.
HITS offers five more qualifying Grand Prix classes for the $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix this summer at its HITS Saugerties and HITS Culpeper equestrian facilities. At HITS Saugerties, competitors have three chances remaining to secure enough prize money to make the cut. The next chance occurs on Sunday, August 12, in the $75,000 In the Woods Log Homes Grand Prix. HITS Culpeper offers two more opportunities to qualify when show jumping returns to Commonwealth Park on August 22.
Week VI of show jumping at HITS Saugerties continues all weekend and culminates on Sunday, August 12, during the $75,000 In the Woods Log Homes Grand Prix. The $22,500 Children’s/Adult Championship and the $40,000 Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Championship close out three consecutive weeks of shows at HITS Saugerties. The summer series concludes with one final week of show jumping beginning on September 5, followed by the Marshall & Sterling League Finals, September 13-16 when acclaimed singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega will be performing for the Year-End High Point Awards Celebration that will be catered by Tavern on the Green Catering.
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter-jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.
1 Night Train Darragh Kerins Double H Farm $7,500 0 0 42.286
2 Olinda Todd Minikus Houlihan Lawrence $5,500 0 0 42.441
3 Sydney Ramiro Quintana Kathryn Quirk $3,250 0 0 45.584
4 Melisimo Michelle Spadone Morgan Hill Partners $2,000 0 4 46.873
5 Orlando Darragh Kerins Double H Farm $1,500 0 Did not Jump
6 Magdaline Beth Underhill Beth Underhill $1,250 2
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