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HITS » Week II Hunters Grab the Spotlight at HITS Ocala

Week II Hunters Grab the Spotlight at HITS Ocala


Ocala, FL (January 30, 2017): The second week of qualifying opportunities for hunter exhibitors in Florida commenced with the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix and the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. Both classes are qualifiers for the ever-prestigious hunter events of the season at the HITS Championship in September: the Diamond Mills Hunter Prix Final and the Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final.

$5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix
Hunt Tosh was victorious in Saturday’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard Gotham, owned by Dr. Betsee Parker. They topped the field the highest scores in both rounds, a 90 and an 89, respectively for a winning total of 179.

Not only would Tosh take home the blue ribbon, but the third place prize as well aboard Wiser, owned by Ceil and Kenny Wheeler. Their total of 170, combined by scores 84 and 86, would score just behind second place earner, Harold Chopping piloting Celtic Gold, owned by Meg Valnoski.

Chopping rode Celtic Gold to a first-round score of 85, improving to an 86 in the second round for a total of 171.

Fourth place belonged to Ehrin Rittmueller and Chicago, owned by Christine Braeutigam, with a total score of 168, and the top five rounded out with Cassandra Kahle riding Applause, owned by Nevergreen Farm, LLC, with a total score of 166.
 
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize R.1 Score R.2 Score Total
1 Gotham Dr. Betsee Parker Hunt Tosh $1,500  90 89 179
2 Celtic Gold Meg Valnoski Harold Chopping $1,000 85 86 171
3 Wiser Ceil and Kenny Wheeler Hunt Tosh $700 84 86 170
4 Chicago Christine Braeutigam Ehrin Rittmueller $500 83 85 168
5 Applause Nevergreen Farm, LLC Cassandra Kahle $400 82 84 166
6 Lockhart Erin Galsterer Ehrin Rittmueller $325 79 84 163
7 Love Affiar Jordynn Shaffer Morgan Ward $300 81 79 160
8 Voyager Copper Fox, LLC Hillary Johnson $275 77 81 158
(C) ESI PHOTOGRAPHY
Hunt Tosh and Gotham on their way to a $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix win. 
 
$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix
Erin Brody brought home the win in Saturday’s $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix with Z, owned by Heritage Farm, Inc. They took a score of 83 in the first round, combined with their second-round score of 85 for a total of 168.

Second place was awarded to Carla, owned and ridden by Cara Garito. They garnered the highest score in the first round, an 86, and combined with their second-round score of 81.5, took the prize with a total of 167.5.

Third in the ribbons was Amy Lloyd Thomson riding her own Paramount. The received an 82 in the first round from the judging panel, and with a second-round score of 83.5, raked in a total of 165.5.

Alexa Bayko, winner of several Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala, finished fourth on Whisper, owned by Monica Hunt. The top five rounded out with Leigh Gallagher riding Eternity, owned by Tibri, LLC.
 
Place Horse Owner Rider Prize R.1 Score R.2 Score Total
1 Z Heritage Farm, Inc Erin Brody $450 83 85 168
2 Carla Cara Garito Cara Garito $300 86 81.5 167.5
3 Paramount Amy Lloyd Thompson  Amy Lloyd Thompson $200 82 83.5 165.5
4 Whisper Monica Hunt Alex Bayko $150 85 80 165
5 Eternity Tibri LLC Leigh Gallagher $125 79 79 158
6 Contina Jacquelyn Maggiore Jacquelyn Maggiore $100 75 78 153
7 Loki Redfield Farm Jessica Barno $100 78 74.5 152.5
8 Valiant Melissa Marshall Melissa Marshall $50 74.5 77 151.5
(C) ESI Photography 
Erin Brody and Z on their way to a $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix win.
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.