Saugerties, NY -- September 13, 2017 – When 13-year-old Augusta Iwasaki traveled cross-country to participate for the first time in the prestigious $100,000 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix Final at HITS Championship, she proved that her miles in the pony ring had paid off, BIG. Iwasaki, of Calabasas, California, emerged triumphant after mastering all four-rounds of the Platinum Performance $100,000 Hunter Prix Final. Iwasaki consistently bested the competition. Atop ILLUSION, owned by Iwasaki & Reilly, she placed first in Round 1 and Round 2. Then in Round 3 and Round 4, Iwasaki placed first on SMALL ADVENTURE, also owned by Iwasaki & Reilly, with whom she ultimately took home the $30,000 share of the prize purse.
“It’s very exciting to win! KiKi [SMALL ADVENTURE] has always been such a good horse,” remarked Iwasaki. “She is so sweet, and she is bomb-proof, so it’s a pretty easy ride on course.”
When asked if the event is nerve wracking with so much prize money at stake, Iwasaki nonchalantly answered, “I try not to think about that. I just go in ring and do my best.” Iwasaki has been riding since the age of 4. “From the time my mother first sat me on a horse, I loved it, and I have never stopped riding.”
Iwasaki rides and trains with her mother Elizabeth Reilly at Makoto Farms in Agoura Hills, California. Reilly founded the successful show barn in 2008 with her husband and partner, Chris Iwasaki. Over the years, Makoto Farms has produced top riders and horses who have won numerous championships and national titles across the country.
After fifty entries competed in Friday and Saturday’s two preliminary rounds, courses designed by Rian Beals of Saugerties, the total of those scores determine the top 25 competitors who advanced to jump in Round 3 on Sunday. Only the top four from Round 3 would return for one last test to prove who would reign supreme. Iwasaki and SMALL ADVENTURE had brought their A-game and claimed the lead in both the third and final rounds by over twenty-five points.
Iwasaki and SMALL ADVENTURE finished the third round with a total score of 255, tabulated by three Judging Panels, which tied the pair with Hallie Grimes atop CUSTOM MADE whose total tallied 255. In the Final Round, Iwasaki pulled ahead of Grimes when judges awarded the duo a final round score of 254, for their ultimate winning total of 509.
Hallie Grimes of Houston, Texas, went home with second place piloting CUSTOM MADE to a Round 4 score of 227, for an overall score of 482 for second place.
Alexa Bayko of Haverhill, Massachusetts rode CARERO to a score of 245.5 in the third round, for the second highest score heading in to challenge the final four. They jumped to a score of 235 in the final round for a total of 480.5, and the ultimate third place prize.
Jillian Rosenwasser and ECHAPPE, captured the final spot in the top four. After going into the final round with a score of 245, they scored 204 to earn a total of 449 for the fourth-place payout.
Emily Smith, an Educator and Nutritionist, flew in from Texas to present the Awards on behalf of Platform Performance. “We love being involved with HITS, and I love the Hunter Prix in particular, as we are able to connect with the Juniors and Amateurs and their amazing 3’ horses," remarked Smith. "And HITS makes the Final into a really big deal, the rings are all decorated, the VIP tables are clad in white, and it is so impressive to hold the Final in the Grand Prix Ring. I just love being here, every time.”
Platinum Performance® was founded in veterinary practice nearly two decades ago, it is now a widely recommended therapeutic nutrition brand by equine veterinarians in the United States, and the brand of choice for high level equine athletes around the world.
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RESULTS | PLATINUM PERFORMANCE $100,000 HUNTER PRIX - OVERALL SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2017
Plc |
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Horse / Owner |
Rider |
Rnd 1 |
Rnd 2 |
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|
Prize Money |
1 |
696 |
SMALL ADVENTURE |
Augusta Iwasaki |
255.000 |
254.000 |
|
509.000 |
$30,000.00 |
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Iwasaki & Reilly |
R1: 84.000, 86.000, 85.000 R2: 84.000, 86.000, 84.000 |
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2 |
130 |
CUSTOM MADE |
Hallie Grimes |
255.000 |
227.000 |
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482.000 |
$22,000.00 |
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Can We Keep It |
R1: 87.000, 84.000, 84.000 R2: 77.000, 75.000, 75.000 |
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3 |
548 |
CARERO |
Alexa Bayko |
245.500 |
235.000 |
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480.500 |
$13,000.00 |
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Alexa Bayko |
R1: 86.000, 77.500, 82.000 R2: 78.000, 77.000, 80.000 |
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4 |
202 |
ECHAPPE |
Jillian Rosenwasser |
245.000 |
204.000 |
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449.000 |
$8,000.00 |
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Donna Rosenwasser |
R1: 82.000, 80.000, 83.000 R2: 65.000, 74.000, 65.000 |
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5 |
139 |
ZENTINA B |
Samantha Karp |
245.000 |
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245.000 |
$6,000.00 |
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Samantha Karp |
R1: 81.500, 83.000, 80.500 |
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6 |
734 |
APPLAUSE |
Jessica Barno |
240.500 |
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240.500 |
$5,000.00 |
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Nevergreen Farm |
R1: 81.000, 79.500, 80.000 |
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7 |
266 |
CONTINA |
Jacquelyn Maggiore |
237.000 |
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237.000 |
$4,000.00 |
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Jacquelyn Maggiore |
R1: 80.000, 76.000, 81.000 |
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8 |
1178 |
LANZERCA |
Nicole Oliynyk |
232.000 |
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232.000 |
$3,000.00 |
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Missy Palmisciano |
R1: 75.000, 78.000, 79.000 |
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9 |
143 |
ETERNITY |
Leigh Gallagher |
232.000 |
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232.000 |
$3,000.00 |
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Leigh Gallagher |
R1: 72.500, 82.000, 77.500 |
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10 |
292 |
BLUE GRASS |
Sarah Kessler |
227.000 |
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227.000 |
$2,000.00 |
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Summer Stone Farm |
R1: 78.000, 73.000, 76.000 |
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11 |
605 |
FUTURO |
Sarah Wanger |
226.000 |
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226.000 |
$2,000.00 |
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Amy Wanger |
R1: 72.000, 81.000, 73.000 |
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12 |
159 |
QUITE FUN |
Katherine Delagarza |
225.000 |
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225.000 |
$2,000.00 |
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Redfield Farm |
R1: 76.000, 79.000, 70.000 |
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