Ocala Hunters take it to the Top in Week III


Ocala, FL (February 8, 2017): Horses and riders descended on HITS Post Time Farm for a shot at winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix or the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. It was the third week of competition at HITS Ocala and riders were hungry to place atop the best of the best.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Hunt Tosh of Alpharetta, Georgia, grabbed his second win in the Devoucoux Hunter Prix of the 2017 HITS Ocala Winter Circuit. Last week, Tosh won the class aboard Gotham, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker, in addition to a third place prize with Wiser, owned by Ceil and Kenny Wheeler.

This week, Tosh claimed the victory with Casanova, another winning ride owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. They won the class with scores of 86 and 89 for a total of 175. Tosh would claim another ribbon with  Wiser, this week in sixth place.

Second in the ribbons went to Amanda Steege of Bedminster, New Jersey, riding Loxley, owned by Finale Partners, LLC. They were awarded a first-round score of 87 and a second-round score of 85 for a total of 172. Steege also took home fifth place with Zidane, owned by Susan Darragh.

Aiken, South Carolina equestrian Daniel Geitner brought home the third-place prize riding Sky Pilot, owned by Allison Wolfe Mills. The judges gave the pair scores of 84 and 85, respectively, for a total of 169.

Fourth place was Caitlyn Shiels of Hampshire, Illinois riding Cassius, owned by Don Stewart. They earned scores of 84 and to secure a total of 167.
 
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize R.1 Score R.2 Score Total
1 Casanova Dr. Betsee Parker Hunt Tosh $1,500  89 86 175
2 Loxley Finale Partners, LLC Amanda Steege $1,000 87 85 172
3 Sky Pilot Allison Wolfe Mills Daniel Geitner $700 85 84 169
4 Cassius Donald Stewart Caitlyn Shiels $500 84 83 167
5 Zidane Susan Darragh Amanda Steege $400 82.5 84 166.5
6 Wiser Ceil and Kenny Wheeler Hunt Tosh $325 84.25 81 165.25
7 Tiganello B.O.C. Group Shachine Belle $300 82 83 165
8 In The Know Madeline Schaefer Samantha Schaefer $275 83 81 164
(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY
Hunt Tosh and Casanova on their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win. 
 
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
A supremely talented crop of riders turned out to challenge the course and prove who the ultimate in hunter style was.

Melissa Marshall of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania won aboard her own mount, Valiant. The pair received eighth place in the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix during Week II and they jumped their way up the standings to claim the blue ribbon victory in Week III.

Marshall and Valiant took the lead in the first round with a score of 83, combined by a second-round score of 79, they brought the win home with a total of 162.

The second-place prize belonged to Lauren Lindner of Warren, New Jersey and Quantonius, owned by Nicole Peterson. They earned a 79 in the first round, improving to an 81 in the second round to total 160.

Williston, Florida equestrian Samantha Perlman piloted Willow Bay, owned by Ann Cohen Farm, to the fourth place ribbon. The earned a total of 159, combined by scores of 80 and 79, settling them just behind Lindner.

Fifth place belonged to Grafite, owned and ridden by Madison Pan-kita. Their scores of 80 and 77.5 earned them a total of 157.5 to round out the top five.
 
 
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize R.1 Score R.2 Score Total
1 Valiant Melissa Marshall Melissa Marshall $450 83 79 162
2 Quantonius Nicole Peterson Lauren Lindner $300 79 81 160
3 Willow Bay Ann Cohen Farm Samantha Perlman $200 79 80 159
4 Grafite Madison Pan-kita Madison Pan-kit $150 80 77.5 157.5
5 Erosmith Annie Walsh Annie Walsh $125 73 83 156
6 Exclusive Sydney De Grazia Sydney De Grazia $100 77 78 155
7 Upcountry Fitou M&M Stopford Mackensie Bowles $100 81 70 151
8 Felix 1996 Clare Leach Cailtyn Sheffer $50 78 72 150
(C) ESI Photography 
Melissa Marshall and Valiant on their way to a $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix win.
(C) ESI Photography 
Melissa Marshall and Valiant  winning the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.
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, Virginia, a new property coming to Chicago, Illinois in May 2017. 

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  in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix FEI CSI-5* 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 and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail media_info@HitsShows.com.