National Sunshine Series I Hunter Round-up

National Sunshine Series I Hunter Round-up

THERMAL, CA (November 4, 2015): Excitement filled the air at National Sunshine Series I with anticipation for the $100,000 USHJA Hunter Derby debut on Saturday, November 7, as hunter riders continued to prepare for the Week II main event. 

John Bragg, of Laguna Beach, California, and Lukatoni, owned by Pamela Moellenhoff closed out the weekend winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix. Boasting double 87s for a total of 174, and two consecutive round highs, they sealed the deal with just two points between them and the second place rider. 

As round one came to a close it was anybody’s game with a handful of competitors receiving scores in the mid-80s. Bragg moved up to go sixth in the second round order and he proved to be in peak condition when he bested the prior five competitors, to place him at the top of the charts for the time being. 

Ninth in the second round order was Michael Leon and Spot On, owned by West Coast Equine Partners LLC. The pair, who earned and 86 in the first round, quietly and craftily made their way through the course hoping to prevail over Bragg. Leon received another 86, totaling 172 for second place. 

Hugh Mutch aboard Bunistar, owned by Naomi Rubin, anchored the final round order. With a first round score of 83, they cruised to a cool second round 86.5 for a total of 169.5 and third place.  Fourth place was presented to Buddy Brown and Finally Ours, owned by Derby Hill, while fifth place went to Philip Cillis and Julie Hancock’s Willow CBF.

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John Bragg and Lukatoni take home a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix blue ribbon from National Sunshine Series I in Thermal, CA. 

$3,000 West Coast Pony Hunter Finals
Ponies took center stage at National Sunshine Series I for the $3,000 West Coast Pony Hunter Finals. Stella Wasserman, of Beverly Hills, California, rode Silly Putty, owned by Skyler Fields, to a well-deserved victory with scores of 84 and 85, for a total of 169, to take home the blue ribbon.  

Sara Someck rode her own Pocket Pony to second place with scores of 74 and 84, totaling 157. With scores of 77 and 78, for a total of b155, Katalina Rickard and Snapshot, owned by Kate Considine, received third place. Rickard and her second entry of the day, Elite Hollywood Smoke, owned by Micaela Kennedy, followed in fourth place with scores of 70 and 80, totaling 150.  Rounding out the top five, Sophie Peizer and Page 6, owned by Norgan, Inc, had scores of 72 and 77 for a 149 total. 

Unique to the National Sunshine Series, this iconic class gives young hunter riders the opportunity to showcase their hard work and dedication to the sport in a finals-type setting. By providing an inclusive show schedule pony enthusiasts can prove themselves in the ring while associating with the high performance riders showing in a nearby hunter or jumper ring.

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Stella Wasserman and Silly Putty on their way to a $3,000 Wes Coast Pony Hunter Final win at National Sunshine Series I in Thermal, CA. 

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
It was a ‘Happy Friday’ indeed for Lindsay Maxwell, of Los Angeles, California, and Widget, owned by Tracey Burroughs, who claimed last week’s $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. Calm, cool and collected they received scores of 83 and 86, totaling 169, for the blue ribbon, although it was a two-round game of cat-and-mouse with the second place finisher. 

As the second to last entry of round one, Maxwell received an impressive 83 which bested all of the previous competitors, but with one entry left, nothing was set in stone. Grace Pearson and her own Camblaso took their first trip of the class and cruised to a new round high score of 84, to top Maxwell. 

In the second round, it came down to the final two yet again. Maxwell wowed the judges receiving the round high of 86 to bump her to the top spot. Maxwell’s fate was unknown, as she waited for for Pearson, the last entry of the day, to give the course a second chance. With a small mistake at the second obstacle, Pearson received a score of 83, for a total of 167 and second place. 

Mia Minervini and her own Casperia earned third place with scores of 76 and 81, totaling 157. Following in fourth place was Pearson on her second mount of the afternoon, Cenerife, owned by Barbara Pearson, and fifth place was awarded to Julia Damour on her own Bookmaker with scores of 73 and 75 for a total of 148.  

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Lindsay Maxwell and Widget cruise through the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix course for the win at National Sunshine Series I in Thermal, CA.