Source:  HITS News Release (edited)

 Canadian Olympian John Pearce scores a one-two punch in Friday's $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at HITS Thermal

Canadian Olympian John Pearce made it clear that he is determined to make a return trip to the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix when he scored both the blue and red ribbons in Friday's $25,000 SmartPakGrand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, at the HITS Desert Horse Park in Thermal, California. 

Pearce, of Bermuda Dunes, California, and Forest View Farm's Chianto took the victory gallop in the Friday's feature class after he got the best of the 33 starters that challenged Canadian Course Designer Danny Foster's first-round course and the 13 pairs that advanced to the jump-off to secure $7,500 in first-place prize money.

© Flying Horse Photography.
Canadian Olympian John Pearce rides Son of a Gun in the $25,000 Smartpak Grand Prix, 
presented by Pfizer Animal Health. 

"Danny (Foster) did a beautiful job on the course," said Pearce. "For the first Grand Prix of the circuit, he hit it right on the money! He couldn't have done it any better."

"Chianto feels great," added Pearce. "He has had a nice break since showing in the World Equestrian Games (WEG) and I hope he can maintain jumping at this level. If he does, there is no doubt he is a contender to win the Pfizer Million this year."

In Foster's seven-obstacle jump-off round, Pearce was the early leader aboard Forest View Farm's Son of a Gun. The horse-and-rider-combination was the seventh pair to show in the jump-off and set the Great American Time to Beat at 39.517 seconds.

"That horse [Son of a Gun] is going to do a lot of great things this circuit," said Pearce. "I have not shown him since HITS Saugerties, where he was second in the FEI World Cup class. I have a great feeling about what he is going to do this winter."

Pearce and Son of a Gun were on top of the mountain until Pearce returned to the ring aboard Chianto in the 11th spot of the jump-off round. The duo made the dash for the cash crossing the timers in 38.500 seconds to earn the triumph.

Taking third place in Friday's feature class was Karl Cook (Woodside, California) in the irons aboard Signe Otsby's Asb Conquistador and fourth-place honors went to Lisa Carlsen (Spruce Grove, AB, Canada) aboard La Boom Syndicate's La Boom. With Carlsen taking fourth place, three of the top four spots in the class belonged to the Maple leaf all on a course set by a Canadian builder. 

After the class, Pearce said he was excited about the likelihood of his qualifying for the second annual Pfizer Million that will take place on Sunday, September 11 at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties, New York. "We had the best time there last year," said Pearce, who finished third in the historical class aboard Chianto. "The jumps were beautiful and the course was breathtaking. My mother and the rest of my family even came out to watch."

Action for the High-Performance riders at HITS Thermal continues on Sunday when the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health, takes the stage in the Strongid® C 2X Stadium. Sunday's feature class is the second of 16 Qualifying Grand Prix at HITS Thermal for the highly-anticipated Pfizer Million as riders on the West Coast look to earn a place in this year’s magnificent class.