PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2006

INDIO, CA (February 4, 2006) -- Don't try to tell Leslie Steele that good things happen to those who wait.

Steele was the eighth to tackle designer Anthony D'Ambrosia's course, but the first to post a clean round leaving her with a wait of over an hour in Friday's $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix before the jump-off.

"Waiting is a drag but it sure beats the alternative," said Steele, who finished seventh with AW Butterfly Hula. To pass the time, she walked back to her barn a few times because it's too hard to watch, being so amped for the jump-off. Once she was back in the saddle during the jump off phase, Steele had eight faults to place seventh.

Meanwhile, Richard Spooner couldn't catch his breath. The Indio Desert Circuit's all-time leading money winner had five mounts, bringing three into the jump-off. Quirno 3 delivered Spooner another victory posting the jump-off's best time of 39.36. Ezrah also had a clean-round at 40.08 giving him second place in the competition.

"Obviously, you have the advantage when you have multiple horses in the jump-off," said Spooner. "When you step up your game, you are stepping it up to beat yourself. I didn't have to worry about anyone else."

His third mount, Airtime, smacked into jump 12, a white and blue vertical jump near the end of the course, leaving him sixth. In the opening round, Robinson and Live Fire each made him happy too.

"All five of my horses are fresh and ready," he said. "I should have had all of them in the jump-off but it was my fault. Complete rider error."

Course designer Anthony D'Ambrosio, of Red Hook, NY, said before that grand prix that he would have liked to see about six horses make it past the first round.

"The course was great for me," said Spooner. "Any time you have three rides in the jump-off it is a good day."

Jenn Serek and Shin Shin also posted a clean round in the jump-off but her time of 43.08 was well off Spooner's pace, but still good enough for third place.

Mark Watring aboard Brilliant also completed the jump-off without knocking down a rail but a time fault cost them a clear round. He completed the round in 48.16 and grabbed fourth place. "I had a slow horse and I was going for a clean run," said Watring.

Jill Henselwood and Black Ice also posted a clean opening round, and she went for it in the jump off, her time was super fast, actually too fast approaching the jump-off's last obstacle and she settled for the fastest four fault score and fifth place in today's Ariat Grand Prix.

The winner of last Friday's $30,000 Ariat Grand Prix, John Pearce couldn't get out of the first round with either Archie Bunker or Uriso.

For complete horse show results please visit http://www.hitsshows.com.

$30,000 Ariat Grand Prix - Friday, February 3, 2006
HITS Desert Circuit II - Indio, CA
Course Designer: Anthony D'Ambrosio, Red Hook, NY

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