John Bragg Stacks the Leaderboard in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Thermal, California (January 22, 2015): John Bragg left the show ring with a stack of ribbons after taking first, second, fourth, eighth and ninth place in the HITS Desert Circuit I $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

The Rancho Santa Fe, California, native is no stranger to the HITS Thermal spotlight and claimed first place on Laura Strasburg's Social Hour, and second on his own Quesera.

“It’s always a fun class. The courses were great,” said Bragg, who was awarded $1,500 for first place, with scores of 88 and 90 to total 178 on Social Hour, and $1,000 for his scores of 85 and 87, to total 172, on Quesera. Twelve horses competed in round two—five of which were ridden by Bragg. He was fourth place on Penelope Murray’s Nostalgic, eighth place on Grady Lyman’s Cansas and ninth on Pamela Moellenhoff’s Lukatoni.

Bragg said the course had some interesting options in it. “It was great. It was a really fun course to ride,” he said, adding that sunny skies temperatures in the mid-70s, made Week I particularly nice.

Bragg wasn’t the only one with multiple prizes. Hope Glynn placed third, sixth and twelfth in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

After her own success in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix, Hope Glynn’s day just got better when her student, Molly Baumhoff, riding Lauren Henry’s chestnut gelding, Esteban La Paz, took the blue ribbon in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. With scores of 84 and 86 for a total of 170, theirs was a dominating performance to win $450. Natalie Templeton took second place and $300 on her own Carison B with scores of 76 and 80 to total 156.

"It was very exciting," said Hope Glynn, who has trained Baumhoff for 10 years. "Molly gets to show one maybe two times a year, she's a busy mom...That she's able to come out and lay it down speaks to her abilities."

The $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final at the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York, this September. The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is a qualifier for the $250,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final, also in Saugerties.


(c) ESI Photography
John Bragg on Laura Strasburg's Social Hour take first place in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.


(c) ESI Photography
John Bragg and Social Hour get the blue ribbon in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix    

Place 

Horse     

Owner

Rider

Prize

  1. 1/2

Total 

1

Social Hour

Laura Strasburg

John Bragg

$1,500

88/90

178

2

Quesera

John Bragg

John Bragg

$1,000

85/87

172

3

Woodstock

Sabrina Hellman

Hope Glynn     

$700

86/84.5

170.5

4

Nostalgic

Penelope Murray  

John Bragg

$500

81/84

165

5

Faraon

Pavla Nygaard

Tanya Levorchick

$400

80/83

163

6

Roccoco

Avery Hellman

Hope Glynn

$325

84/78

162

7

Small Talk

Catherine Runk 

Rose Carver

$300

78/80

158

8

Cansas

Grady Lyman

John Bragg

$275

82/46

128

 


(c) ESI Photography

Molly Baumhoff and Esteban La Paz jump in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.


(c) ESI Photography

Esteban La Paz is decorated with a blue ribbon after winning the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix with Molly Baumhoff.

 

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Place    

Horse    

Owner    

Rider    

Prize    

  1. 1/2

Total 

1

Esteban La Paz   

Lauren Henry    

Molly Baumhoff  

$450

84/86  

170    

2

Carison B    

Natalie Templeton  

Natalie Templeton  

$300

76/80  

156

3

Carenzo     

Alex Maida    

Alex Maida    

$200    

60/78

138

4

Czech Point    

European Equine Associates  

Emma Townsend  

$150

40/30

70


Charles Owen Leading Hunter Rider

In other Desert Circuit I hunter action, Jamie Taylor captured the Charles Owen Leading Hunter Rider after a dominating performance in the Second Year Green Working Hunter Division on Emma Waldfogel's Zaretina. For her championship effort, she will receive a Charles Owen helmet.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, maker of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. Devoucoux offers a wide range of saddles in many colors and sizes and matching accessories. Devoucoux craftsmen are devoted to creating beautiful products that reflect their obsession with quality and lovingly finished work. For more information on Devoucoux, visit devoucoux.

About Platinum Performance
Platinum Performance provides more than 10 supplements essential to your horse’s health and conditioning in just one scoop. Platinum Performance® Equine addresses a horse's total body health from joint and hoof care to athletic performance and coat health, and is the 2014 sponsor of the $250,000 Hunter Prix Final and all qualifiers. For more information on Platinum Performance, visit platinumperformance.com.

About Charles Owen & Co.
Known throughout the world as the leader in equestrian helmet design, Charles Owen & Co. represents more than 100 years of innovation and style for a safer world. Each Charles Owen helmet is handcrafted using the highest quality materials. With the largest range of helmet styles and shapes, independently certified to up to four international equestrian safety standards, Charles Owen offers a wider range of protection in a potential accident. For further information, please visit www.charlesowen.com.


About HITS, Inc.

HITS, Inc. produces high quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the Village of Saugerties, HITS has been producing shows since 1982 and is now a nationwide company with world-class circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York, and Virginia.

While hosting the richest weekend in show jumping at HITS-on-the-Hudson, HITS also formed the Triple Crown of Show Jumping. This includes the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Mortgage Call, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, in Saugerties, New York.

For more information and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com. Stay connected with HITS, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.


2015 Horse Show Dates

HITS Desert Circuit  |  Thermal, CA  |  January 13 - March 15, 2015
HITS Ocala Winter Circuit    |  Ocala, FL  |  January 13 - March 23, 2015
HITS Arizona Winter Circuit  |  Tucson, AZ  |  January 28 - March 8, 2015
HITS Culpeper Show Series  |  Culpeper, VA  |  April / July / August / September
HITS Saugerties Show Series  |  Saugerties, NY  |  May-June / July-August / September
HITS Championship  |  Saugerties, NY  |  September 2-6, 2015
Marshall & Sterling Insurance League National Finals  |  September 9-13, 2015
National Sunshine Series  |  October 28 - November 8, 2015