An Apple a Day Won't Keep Tracy Fenney Away

Tracy Fenney Dominates Competition in the $100,000 HITS Grand Prix

Week II of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit is a wrap! Competition at HITS Post Time Farm continued this week with the Platinum Performance and Diamond Mills Hunter Prix held under the new lights in the Main Hunter Ring on Friday evening, and doubled to award $100,000 in the Sunday Grand Prix. Ten weeks of USEF-Rated Hunter/Jumper competition continues, now through March 28, culminating with the seventh edition of the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix.

As you make your plans to join us for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, please be sure to review the USEF Covid Protocol and the HITS Covid Protocol prior to your arrival.

Read on for a recap of featured class winners from the Ocala January Festival or click here to enter for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit!

Taking home first place and the only rider to go double clear in the $5,000 Open Welcome in the Grand Prix Stadium on Wednesday was Kaitlyn Williams aboard her own CASSIO MELLONI. The pair posted a time of 43.113 in the jump-off for the lead.

2nd Place: David O'Brien & NIGHTSHADE SCF [4-Faults, 40.554]
3rd Place: Cassandra Kahle & PYRENES DE LOUZES [8-Faults, 51.649]

Daniel Geitner followed up last week's win in the Open Welcome by taking the blue ribbon in this week's  $10,000 HITS Open Prix aboard GHIRADELLI for Dayna Gant, with a time of 43.262. 

2nd Place: Tracy Magness & INTENZ VAN HD [46.664]
3rd Place: Molly Dinapoli & QUANDOR BZ [49.213]

Friday featured the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix in the Stadium where Aaron Vale claimed the top placing aboard EYE CATCHER for owner Troy Glaus. Vale was the last to return in the jump-off and gave it his all as he crossed the timers in 35.806 besting the field by nearly two seconds.

2nd Place: Dorothy Douglas & MTM CHELSEA 98 [37.742]
3rd Place: Hunter Holloway & PEPITA CON SPITA [37.77]

David Jennings rode CANNTINUE to the win in the $10,000 Jumper Classic for Juniper Farms, crossing the timers in 43.092.

2nd Place: Andre Thieme & CHECK ME [43.475]
3rd Place: Vale & BALOU'S CAPTAIN [44.371]

Jumper Classic Winners
 
$1,000 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Low: Kristina Gallo & CANTURINIO
$1,500 M&S Child/Adult Jumper Classic - Medium: Grace Taylor & MANSFIELD

$2,000 M&S NAL/WIHS Child Jumper Classic - High: McKinley Egenhofer & K.T. ALIDA
$2,000 M&S NAL/WIHS Adult Jumper Classic - High: Rebecca Cameron & AMONZA

$2,500 Pyranha NAL Jr/A-O/Am 1.25m Jumper Classic: Madelyn Cardelli & CHASINTA
$5,000 Jr/A-O/Am 1.35m Jumper Classic: Madison Kondracki & STAKKO
$5,000 U-Dump Jr/A-O/Am 1.45m Jumper Classic: Haley Gassel & HAMBESI
 
Week II of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit came to a close with the $100,000 HITS Grand Prix in the Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The course designed by Mr. Danny Foster of Ontario, Canada included a variety of elements to test the riders skills, including a triple bar and three double combinations. With the spread of faults that accrued, the fact was that accuracy was essential in the first round.
 
Six riders jumped clean and after a few course adjustments would return for the jump-off. It was a case of saving the best for last as Tracy Fenney entered the ring to jump-off aboard MTM APPLE, owned by MTM Farm. Fenney had watched the riders go before her and knew just what she had to do, capturing a time of 44.363 and the lion's share of prize money.

"Dorrie [Douglas] stood at the gate nd we watched the first horse go and they had a jump down but it was pretty fast," Fenney commented about the jump-off. "The second horse went, David [Jennings], and he was nice and slow with Sharn [Wordley] only beating him by a couple seconds. I knew I could be a little bit aggressive but not hairball it where I would make a mistake."
 
 
Just about a year ago, the partnership between Fenney and MTM APPLE was fairly new and over the past year the two have certainly progressed. "I thinks she's more mature, but she still feels good and little green in places and rides a little croooked but she just tries hard," Fenney said about the Danish Warmblood. 

While Fenney went last in the jump-off, she said "I like to go near the beginning and just go. I don't like taking in factors of do you have a jump down - I like to just go like I go." While Fenney isn't sure what her plans are for the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix, you can expect to see her competing in featured competition in the upcoming weeks of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. "It's just so horse friendly and the horses love it here," Fenny exclaimed. "They just seem so content with themselves - it's just lovely for a horse environment."

2nd Place: Sharn Wordley & BARNETTA [46.391]
3rd Place: Jennings & CENDATUS PS [48.812]
 
Featured hunter competition at the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit includes the Platinum Performance and Diamond Mills Hunter Prix, USHJA National and International Hunter Derbies, Hunter Classics and more throughout the season at HITS Ocala. Several special hunter classes are scheduled to take place in the Main Hunter Ring under new lights installed this year, giving hunters their time to shine.
 
Vale went two for two in featured competition on Friday, following up his win in the SmartPak Grand Prix by topping the field in the $10,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix aboard JAGERBOMB for Infinity Equestrian, LLC. Impressive scores of 90 and 92 across the two round Prix totaled a 182 and the first place award.

2nd Place: Jennifer Alfano & NOLAN [177]
3rd Place: Elizabeth Vail & ENZO W [175]
 
 
Riders competed under the lights in the Main Hunter Ring for the top prize in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. Winning the first place award was Madison Ramsey and MAGURO with scores of 86 and 88 for a cumulative score of 174.

2nd Place: Schuyler Dayner & WINTER ROMANCE [169.5]
3rd Place: Alexa Bayko & GARSINO [167]
 
 
Hunter Classic Winners

$1,000 A-O Hunter Classic - 3'6": Anna Wells-Sharp & PLAY THAT SONG
$1,000 Eastern Hay A-O Hunter Classic - 3'3": Christina Kourgelis & CAYETANO

$1,000 Antares Junior Hunter Classic - 3'6": Christopher Coberley & UNDERCOVER
$1,000 Junior Hunter Classic - 3'3": Annabelle Brown & FAMILY STYLE

 $1,000 Perfect Products Pony Hunter Classic: Maddie Tosh & STORYTELLER

$500 M&S NAL/WIHS SmartPak Adult Hunter Classic: Matthew Starr & SAPHIRA
$500 M&S NAL/WIHS Child Hunter Classic - Horse: Hayden Weinstein & BON JOVI
$500 M&S NAL/WIHS Child Hunter Classic - Pony:
Adina Gesthalter
 & SWEARS LIKE A SAILOR

M&S Bit O' Straw Hunter Classic: Beth A. Ford Estey & KODIAK HARBOR
 
Click here for the full listing of results from the HITS Ocala January Festival.

USEF-Rated National/5* competition continues next week with the HITS Ocala Premiere, February 2-7. Don't miss out - the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit continues with more competition and fun at HITS Post Time Farm! For more information or to enter for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, click here
 
If we can answer any questions or provide any additional information as you make your plans for the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, please do not hesitate to contact us at 352.620.2275 or info@hitsshows.comEnter today!