David Connors and Karmin Win $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix; Alexa Bayko Celebrates Her Birthday with $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Win Aboard Anucci

Ocala, Florida (February 7, 2015): Course designer Doug Russell of Ocala, Florida, utilized the entire Ocala Horse Properties Stadium to create a challenging two rounds of hunter competition at HITS Ocala Week IV. Both the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix and $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix courses included broken lines, long approaches and rollbacks.

Thirty seven jumped the first round of the Devoucoux with the top 12 returning for a second attempt at the blue ribbon. The combined scores determined the winner with less than a point between the top two horses.

Ocala native David Connors aboard Karmin, a horse he co-owns with Bill Ellis of Four Winds Farm, was the winner with scores of 85 and 87 for a total of 172. Connors’ last minute decision to show in the class proved to be a strategic one, walking out of the ring with a smile and the $2,800 purse.

“This is her first time in the stadium. She was champion earlier in the week in the Green Conformation, after which we took her home and turned her out,” said Ellis. “I asked David yesterday afternoon if he wanted to show Karmin in the Hunter Prix and he said ‘sure’. This morning we braided her up and here we are.”

“I had a blast riding in this ring. It was my first time and a great experience. Karmin was as calm as could be,” added Connors.

Hasbrouck Donovan of Gainesville, Florida, rode her own Cymplify to a competitive first round score of 83.5. Donovan was first to go in round two and lead the class with a high of 88, earning second place overall with a score of 171.5.

Finishing third with scores of 82.5 and 86.5 for a total of 169 was David Beisel of Goshen, Ohio, aboard Lavish, owned by Phyllis Harlow.  Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, North Carolina, rode Caroline Russell Howe’s Caramo to fourth with scores of 85.5 and 83.25 for a total of 168.75.

“It’s a fantastic class in the stadium. It lets the good jumpers and the mature horse excel. I love the fact that HITS offers a hunter classic with money each week,” said Chopping.

Lauren Schweppe riding Sandrimo, owned by Meadowood Farm, rounded out the top five with scores of 84 and 84.5.

About Devoucoux
Devoucoux, maker of fine French saddles, is proud to be the title sponsor of each and every qualifying Hunter Prix leading up to the phenomenal Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final. Devoucoux offers a wide range of saddles in many colors and sizes and matching accessories. Devoucoux craftsmen are devoted to creating beautiful products that reflect their obsession with quality and lovingly finished work. For more information on Devoucoux, visit devoucoux.com.



(C) ESI Photography
David Connors and Karmin win the $10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS Ocala in Ocala, Florida.

 

$10,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	Karim	Four Winds Farm	David Connors	$2,800	85/87	172
2	Cymplify	Hasbrouck Donovan	Hasbrouck Donovan	$1,800	83.5/88	171.5
3	Lavish	Phyllis Harlow	David Beisel	$1,250	82.5/86.5	169
4	Caramo	Caroline Russell Howe	Harold Chopping	$900	85.5/83.25	168.75
5	Sandrimo	Meadowood Farm, LLC	Lauren Schweppe	$800	84/84.5	168.5
6	Castello	Colleen McKenzie	Jennifer Jones	$700	83/85	168
7	Allawishus	Kathryn Mittauer	Megan Wexler	$600	87/80	167
8	Winner HS	Peggy Jones	Patty Stovel	$450	82/84	166

 

 

 

 

Alexa Bayko Celebrates Her Birthday with $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Win Aboard Anucci

For the second time this winter, Alexa Bayko from Salisbury, Massachusetts, emerged victorious on Monica Hunt’s Anucci in the HITS Ocala $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix. Anucci’s jumping style matched Bayko’s riding to produce consistent scores of 82 and 80 for a combined 162, taking first place by one point.

“It’s Alexa’s birthday today - what a great way to celebrate,” said Hunt after the win.

“It’s great that this class has a final at the end of the year. It’s something for juniors and amateurs to strive to qualify for. It’s a nice finish to your show year,” added Bayko, referring to the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final at the HITS Championship in Saugerties, New York, later this year.

Lena Rae Reeb from Weston, Connecticut, riding Jamie Ringel’s Private Ryan left round one feeling confident with the high score of 83. Last to go in round two, right behind Bayko, Reeb scored a 78 for a combined total of 161, securing her second place.” 

“The ring was beautiful and my horse was great,” said Reeb. “In the second round I gave it my all but Alexa just had the better ride.”

Third place went to Kristine D’Andrea of Orange, Connecticut, riding her own Zoe. The pair had the high score in the second round of 82 moving up from their earlier score of 78 for a combined total of 160. Betty Oare of Orange, Virginia, finished fourth on her own Tryonite, with scores of 77 and 79 for a combined total of 156. Kalifornia Dreamin’ and Kelley Norton placed fifth with scores of 73 and 81 for a total 154.

About Platinum Performance
Platinum Performance provides more than 10 supplements essential to your horse’s health and conditioning in just one scoop. Platinum Performance® Equine addresses a horse's total body health from joint and hoof care to athletic performance and coat health, and is the 2015 sponsor of the $250,000 Hunter Prix Final and all qualifiers. For more information on Platinum Performance, visit platinumperformance.com.

(C) ESI Photography
Alexa Bayko and Anucci on their way to a $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix win at HITS Ocala Week IV. 

$1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	Anucci	Monica Hunt	Alexa Bayko	$450	82/80	162
2	Private Ryan	Jamie Ringel	Lena Rae Reeb	$300	83/78	161
3	Zoe	Kristine D’Andrea	Kristine D’Andrea	$200	78/82	160
4	Tryonite	Mr. & Mrs. Ernest M Oare	Betty Oare	$150	77/79	156
5	Kalifornia Dreamin’	Kelley Norton	Kelley Norton	$125	73/81	154
6	Contina	Jacquelyn Maggiore	Jacquelyn Maggiore	$100	80/67	147
7	US Marshall	Kiki Hopkins	Rachel Hopkins	$100	75/69	144
8	Kavalier	Corinne Milbury	Corinne Milbury	$75	72/68	140

 

 

 

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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, and Virginia.

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, presented by Mortgage Call, in Thermal, California, the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, and Saugerties $1 Million Grand Prix, presented by Wells Fargo, 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 or follow us on Twitter.

Media should contact the HITS Media Team at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com.