Aaron Vale Accelerates with Boxster to Win $100,000 USGPL Invitational Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper

Culpeper, VA - October 4, 2004 - For the second year in a row, Aaron Vale of Aiken, South Carolina, has captured the $100,000 U.S. Grand Prix League Invitational Grand Prix. Vale's mount for the win, Boxster, is a 16.3 hands, 9 year-old Australian Thoroughbred gelding, jointly-owned by Stuart & Karen Tinney and Tim Game, all of Sydney, Australia. Todd Minikus and Gardenio, owned by YZ Partners LLC, took second place in the competition. U.S. Olympic Team Silver Medal Winner McLain Ward and George finished third.

Out of a field of 32 starters, five horses managed to go clear over Olaf Petersen's thirteen-obstacle first-round course. For the jump-off, Peterson shortened the course to eight obstacles. McLain Ward and George were first to attempt the course. The pair had a four-fault performance in a time of 53.14 seconds. Canadian Jonathan Millar and Karat also pulled down a rail in a slightly slower time of 54.80 seconds for fourth place overall. Callan Sollem and Allison finished with eight faults in a time of 50.04 seconds for fifth place. Todd Minikus and Gardenio were next up, and the pair set a blistering pace. Minikus took almost 4 seconds off the fastest time, crossing the timers in 46.60 seconds with all the rails up. Last to go, Vale had an edge that never seems to fail him. He followed Minikus' tracks and somehow shaved a second off his already fast time to finish in 45.40 seconds with all the rails still in place. The win went to Vale for the second year in a row.

Of the challenge Minikus had set in the jump-off, Vale commented, "I knew I could make up the time in the galloping. Todd's horse is a very good Warmblood, but this Thoroughbred has the speed. He's also a very careful horse, and very adjustable, you can lengthen and shorten him with no worries about him coming back. You could say he accelerates and breaks well, just like the little Porsche sports car he's named after." Vale and Boxster were also the winners of Friday's $25,000 Grand Prix.

Other major award winners at the USGPL Invitational Finals included:

$25,000 Jr/A-O High Jumper Invitational - Lacy Morrone and Jewel's Emerald II
$15,000 Jr/A-O Low Jumper Invitational - Robin Swinderman and Lord Byron Z
$10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Invitational - Milan and Patty Stovel
Charles Owen Children's Medal - Marissa Messina
HBO Junior Medal - Julianne Kruger, Verona, New Jersey

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