Ashton Alexander and Quinta Bella Win $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV

SAUGERTIES, New York (July 22, 2015): Ashton Alexander and Quinta Bella, owned by Signe Otsby, took first place in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV.

Alexander and Quinta Bella earned the highest score in Round 1, a 90, and came back in Round 2 to earn an 89, for a total of 179 in Saturday’s class. Their total score was two points higher than second-place finisher Heather Caristo-Williams, on Sunset Hill, owned by Jacqueline Thorne, who earned an 88 in Round 1, the second-highest score, and came back with a strong 89 in Round 2 for a total of 177. Amy Momrow and Aeroplane, owned by Melissa Wight, earned an 86.5 in Round 1, the fourth-highest score, and an 89 in Round 2, to claim third with a total of 175.5.

This is the first time Quinta Bella has competed in a Devoucoux Hunter Prix, Alexander said. "I thought it was a very nice, open, smooth round,” she continued. “I liked having the option to go up the bank -- it was something new.”

Caristo-Williams said this is Sunset Hill's second year competing as a pre-green hunter. "We're moving him up," she said. "I'm just thrilled with his performance, I couldn't ask for him to be any better. He was super – this was our first time doing this class. He was wonderful, a showman. He loves to just go in there and do his thing."

The Devoucoux Hunter Prix is held each week at HITS-on-the-Hudson and is a qualifier for the Diamond Mills $500,000 Hunter Prix Final held on September 4-6 during the HITS Championship.

(c) ESI Photography Ashton Alexander and Quinta Bella, owned by Signe Otsby, earned the highest score in the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV on Saturday.

(c) ESI Photography Ashton Alexander and Quinta Bella, owned by Signe Otsby, are presented with a blue ribbon, trophy and Horze cooler after winning the $5,000 Devoucoux Hunter Prix.

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	Quinta Bella	Signe Otsby	Ashton Alexander	$1,500	90/89	179
2	Sunset Hill	Jacqueline Thorne	Heather Caristo-Williams	$1,000	88/89	177
3	Aeroplane	Melissa Wight	Amy Momrow	$700	86.5/89	177.5
4	Coco	Maya Nayyar, LLC	Maya Nayyar	$500	86/85.5	172.5
5	Revelstoke	Christine Watkins	Hannah Isop	$400	85/85.25	170.25
6	Cascor's Splendor	Maria Moalli	David Oliynyk	$350	84/85.5	169.5
7	Red Ryder	Tracy Freels	Hanna Isop	$275	81/86	167
8	Zofia Cor	Kristi Smith	Sydney Smith	$275	77/85	162

Danielle McIlquham and CoCo Chanel Take Top Prize in $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix

Trainer David Oliynyk had something to be proud of Sunday when two of his students finished first and second in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix out of a field of 48 competitors. Danielle McIlquham finished first on her CoCo Chanel and Nicole Oliynyk placed second on her Sea Walker, both of whom train at Oliynyk Show Stables, in Plainville, Massachusetts. Rounding out third was Nicole Sardella on Writtle, owned by Maryellen Sardella.

"It's great to have both of us in the top two, never mind out of that many horses," said McIlquham, who attributed her win to CoCo Chanel’s consistent performance. "She's just so perfect. She helps me out so much."

Oliynyk said he was "thrilled" to have his students win the top two, as well as sixth place (Kelly Lively on Shannondell Farm, Inc.’s Celtic B). "Three of the top six. I was very pleased with that," he said. "They all work so hard and the horses are quite nice. It's just a pleasure to watch them go around."

Second place finisher Nicole Oliynyk said, "It's great. I went early in the first round and was lucky to have a good score, which always helps. Going into the second round, you're more confident."

McIlquham and CoCo Chanel earned the highest score of Round 1, an 88. They went last in the second round and finished with an 86, also the highest score, for a total of 174. Nicole Olynyk and Sea Walker earned an 86, the second-highest Round 1 score, and came back second to last to earn an 84 in Round 2, also the second-highest score, for a total of 170. Sardella earned an 85 in Round 1 and an 80 in Round 2 to total 165.

The $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix is held each week at HITS-on-the-Hudson and is a qualifier for the Platinum Performance $250,000 Hunter Prix Final on September 4-5 during the HITS Championship.

(c) ESI Photography Danielle McIlquham and her CoCo Chanel took the top place in Sunday's $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix at HITS-on-the-Hudson IV.
(c) ESI Photography Danielle McIlquham and her CoCo Chanel are presented with a blue ribbon, trophy and a Horze cooler in the $1,500 Platinum Performance Hunter Prix.

Place	Horse	Owner	Rider	Prize	Rd. 1/2	Total
1	CoCo Chanel	Danielle McIlquham	Danielle McIlquham	$450	88/86	174
2	Sea Walker	Nicole Oliynyk	Nicole Oliynyk	$300	86/84	170
3	Writtle	Nicole Sardella	Maryellen Sardella	$200	85/80	165
4	Anucci	Jess Lusty	Jess Lusty	$150	83/81	164
5	Grand Cru	Kiara Rusconi	Kiara Rusconi	$125	80/82	162
6	Celtic B	Shannondell Farm, Inc.	Kelly Lively	$100	75/81	156
7	Pocage Marblesien	Jennifer Ritucci	Holly French	$100	75.5/80	155.5
8	Cartier	Mike Rosenwasser	Jessica Rosenwasser	$75	74.5/79	153

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About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. produces high quality, international-level hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in Saugerties, New York, 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 HITS 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.