OCALA, FL (February 2, 2012) – HITS Ocala kicked off the 2012 Winter Circuit in style with perfect weather, immaculate grounds and eager competitors during the first two weeks of unrated competition and Post Time Farm. Hunter and Jumper riders alike took advantage of early qualifying opportunities as the fever surrounding HITS’ Championship Weekend begins to spike. Qualifiers for the 2012 Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final will continue to be offered throughout the 2012 winter circuit.

Highlighting the past two weeks was the $20,500 Marshall & Sterling Children’s/Adult Jumper Championship, which crowned Charlene Graham of Fairport, New York as Champion after four legs of competition.

Jonathan Millar finishes first and second in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health

As pre-circuit competition came to a close, Jonathan Millar of Ontario, Canada, found success in the weekend’s featured Grand Prix class after he placed first and second in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health. Millar claimed the blue ribbon aboard Iron Horse Farm’s Cantero Z and then added a second-place finish aboard Contino 14, owned by Millar Brooke Farm, LTD.

Course designer Doug Russell of Ocala, FL set a first-round track that produced five clear rounds for the jump-off. Advancing to the jump-off along with Millar and his two horses where Jordan Coyne of New Port Richey, FL aboard her own Lazaro; Patty Stovel of Chester Springs, PA and her own Carigor Z; and Hugh Graham of Ontario, Canada aboard King Ridge Stables’ Distant Star 3E.

“We got very lucky with another gorgeous day of weather,” said Millar. “I thought the course was designed just right. We had a great jump-off and my horses were just fantastic today.”

Millar and Cantero Z were the first to show in the jump-off and easily set the Great American Time to Beat at 37.864 seconds, which went untouched and earned him the win. Millar was also last to show in the jump-off on his second mount Contino 14 and rode nicely to the finish with a clear round in 38.777 seconds to sweep first and second place.

Stovel and her own Carigor Z produced a clear round in 39.368 seconds to ultimately finish in third. Jordan Coyne and Lazaro finished with four jumping faults in 37.939 seconds to which land them in fourth place.

Hugh Graham and Distant Star 3E posted a quick time of 37.264 seconds, but suffered eight jumping faults to settled in fifth place.

“The pre-circuit was very nice,” Millar commented. “The footing was great today and all the horses jumped well over the past few weeks. We really enjoyed it here. I’d like to thank Iron Horse Farm, the owners of Cantero Z. I hope to return at some point during the circuit to pick up some more Grand Prix classes.”

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Jonathan Millar and Cantero Z on course in the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health.

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HITS’ Caity Howley and Lisa Engel presented the first and second place ribbons to Jonathan Millar, who won the $25,000 HITS Grand Prix, presented by Pfizer Animal Health aboard Cantero Z and received second place aboard Contino 14.

$2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome

Amanda Flint and her own Superbad kicked-off the second week of pre-circuit competition with a win in the first $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome of the season. Tracy Magness was in hot pursuit of Flint and rode Mr. & Mrs. Bartko’s Consulado to a second place finish. Millar warmed up for a Grand Prix victory by guiding Millar Brooke Farm Ltd.’s Calvin Klein to a third place finish in the Brook Ledge Open Welcome. Rounding out the top five was My Weber aboard Available Jumpers.com’s Available Heartbreaker in fourth and Maria Van Buskirk in the irons of her own VDL Theresa Lady in fifth.

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Amanda Flint and her own Superbad on course in the $2,500 Brook Ledge Open Welcome at HITS Ocala.

Kelley Farmer and Vox capture a win in the $2,500 Devoucoux 3’3” Hunter Prix

This weekend’s Devoucoux Hunter Prix marked the second Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final qualifier of the season at HITS Ocala. Kelley Farmer of Keswick, VA and Larry Glefke’s Vox were one of 31 horse-and-rider combinations to compete on a course designed by Doug Russell of Ocala, FL and finished the class with the blue ribbon.

As the top 12 riders returned for the second round, Farmer sat in second place behind Maggie Gould and Bases Loaded, owned by AM Free Inc. A second round score of 90 for Farmer and Vox clinched the win as Amanda Steege of Bedminster, NJ and Michelle Barber’s Harvard finished in second place. Gould and Bases Loaded ultimately finished with third place honors.

High-Performance rider and 2011 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix finalist Tracy Fenney of Flower Mound, TX, made her return to competition this week and started the season off with a fourth place finish in the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix aboard MTM Farm’s MTM Follow Me. Fenney is once again on the road to the richest weekend of show jumping as a perennial contender for the Pfizer Million and Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final.

“It’s always good to be in Ocala,” said Fenney. “This is a second home for us and our horses and one of my favorite places to be during the year. We just started showing again this week after a long break and this was a good way to start. Last year, this was one of my favorite classes and it’ll be great to qualify again for the finals.”

Brandie Holloway rounded out the top five aboard Hays Investment Corp.’s Cornerstone.

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HITS’ Lisa Engel presented the first place ribbon and awards to Kelley Farmer and Vox in the $2,500 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

After Hours

As HITS Ocala moves into seven weeks of show jumping competitions, festivities are underway at the HITS Overlook VIP Club. Featured during Week I will be food service by local favorite Ipanema. Special events will also be hosted throughout the circuit. For a complete list of upcoming special events, visit HitsShows.com.

Coming up

The first A-rated week of competition at HITS Ocala begins this week and will mark the first of seven consecutive rated weeks of show jumping at Post Time Farm including the first two sponsored Grand Prix of the season – the $25,000 SmartPak Grand Prix on Saturday and the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix on Sunday. Riders from around the world will travel to HITS Ocala this season to pack the show rings with some of the most exciting show jumping in the nation as qualifiers for the Pfizer $1 Million Grand Prix, Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final and $250,000 HITS 3’ Hunter Prix Final act as the main attractions.